At our office we receive a lot of questions regarding Medicare. We've included a few of those common questions below in the hopes of helping provide down to earth advice for your Medicare planning process.
Susan’s Commonly Asked Questions
About Medicare
Will I automatically be enrolled in Medicare?
Depends. If you are receiving Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled.
If you are not receiving SS, you will have to enroll yourself. That is something we can help you with!
I’m getting a lot of phone calls, mail and see ads on TV that all tell me I need to enroll quickly! How do I know what to believe ?
Enrolling in Medicare is important, and you want to take your time to make sure you make the right decision for you. For most people (anyone that will continue with employer health insurance after 65 may be excluded), the deadline to enroll without penalty is 3 months after your 65th birthday.
Please feel free to give us a call at 620-365-3523 for peace of mind and to discuss Medicare options that are specific to our area.
Do I have to take Social Security to enroll in Medicare?
No. You can have Medicare and not elect Social Security.
If I have other coverage, should I sign up for Part B?
Maybe. There are many options that could support your healthcare coverage. Feel free to give us a call to see if this would be a good decision for you.
What is Part D?
It is coverage for your prescriptions at the local pharmacy or mail order.
What is Part C?
Medicare Advantage. This is different from Medicare Supplements (Medigaps), and each have their individual pros and cons. You cannot enroll in both. We offer support and understanding in both.
I receive “official looking” mail that looks like it is from Medicare. How do I differentiate between official mail and advertisements?
Many (probably most) of those are advertisement. You can confirm this by looking for the small print that says, “not connected or endorsed by any government entity”.
What can I expect for monthly average premium cost for my Medicare needs (at age 65)?
2024 Medicare Part B base cost = $ 174.70
Average Supplement Premium = $ 130 (based on our experience)
Average Part D Prescription Premium = $ 35 (based on our experience)
Total Average Premium (per month) = $ 335 (based on our experience)
What if I don’t want to spend $335 per month?
Medicare Advantage plans start at $0 premium. Even with enrollment in a Medicare Advantage plan, the individual must still pay the Part B premium of $174.70.
Word of caution - You likely will receive high pressure sales concerning these plans. They do come with substantially higher deductibles and copays.
Susan’s Red Flags
We can't stand when our community has been told half-truths that had a negative impact on their health coverage. Below we have included a few common topics that we want our community to be aware of to empower you to make informed decisions regarding your Medicare needs.
I received a call saying Medicare is issuing new cards. Is this true?
Key Points:
Medicare is not issuing new Medicare cards!
Medicare cards DO NOT expire
Please do NOT give your Medicare number over the phone
Medicare will not call you
I see websites that will provide me Medicare quotes but I have to enter a bit of personal information. Do you recommend this?
Exercise caution when entering your personal information into websites claiming to provide Medicare information/quotes. Best practice is to understand how your information will be used. Example – will they share/sell your phone number thus resulting in numerous Medicare sales calls.
I am receiving so many phone calls, how do I know if they are legitimate?
The overwhelming majority of people calling you are marketers and/or insurance agents trying to sell you policies that may not best fit your needs.
I see a lot of TV ads talking about additional benefits for Original Medicare. Do I need to call those numbers?
Most TV ads (including those starring former football stars and actors) are referring to Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C). These are not additional benefits that supplement original Medicare. If you were to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you would forfeit your Original Medicare.
Have you received calls/mailers saying: “Medicare is changing” OR “You may not be receiving all of your Medicare benefits”
These calls/mailers are trying to confuse you into buying a new policy
What is changing is the Medicare copay and deducible payments. This happens every year and is nothing new.