Ask The Medicare Specialist

Hello Aaron. I won’t be 65 until August 19^th but I’ve already received 2 mailings over the past 2 weeks, one from Jacksonville NC, and another from Oakland MD, telling me that I will need to enroll in Medicare soon.  Both have sent me questionaries to fill out and mail in. Plus, lately, my phone has been ringing off the hook. It sounds to me that these are private businesses, trying to get me to enroll in a Medicare plan through them. Do I need to start taking steps toward enrolling in Medicare now? Is this something that I can do through you? Should I ignore all the mail and phone calls, and just wait on you to help me through this?

The mailings Anthony mentioned, just a couple of the hundreds he will receive prior to his birthday, are designed to impersonate an official Social Security or Medicare document with the hopes he fills it out, signs and mails it back without reading the fine print. Those who fall for this tactic will have their contact information sold to multiple Medicare agents, and the phone will never stop ringing. People turning 65 are targets because enrolling someone new to Medicare in an Advantage Plan results in a double commission. The reason many are never given the Supplement option is due to first year payments to agents being as much as 300% to 400% larger for Advantage Plans than Supplements.

Anyone currently getting Social Security will automatically receive their Medicare card in the mail three and a half months before turning 65. If Anthony is already collecting, his card with both Medicare Parts A and B, will arrive around April 15^th. Those who aren’t on Social Security prior to age 65 need to apply for Medicare. However, that can’t be done until 90 days prior to the month of their birthday. Anthony, for example, won’t be able to enroll until May 1^st for an August 1^st effective date. I suggest signing up for Medicare online at ssa.gov. The process is surprisingly easy for those turning 65. You can go directly through Social Security, but an appointment is needed and they’re often 45 days out. If you don’t want to apply online, call Social Security at least a month before the first day you’re allowed to apply to avoid delays.

We can counsel and guide everyone through the process of enrolling in Original Medicare, including those who worked past age 65 and have an extra step in the application process.

Ignore all advertisements for Medicare plans! TV, radio, and mail. Hang up immediately if anyone solicits you over the phone! As I already pointed out in today’s column and have been writing about since I started “Ask the Medicare Specialist,” very few agents have your best interest in mind. Their primary concern is convincing you to enroll in whatever plan or company pays the biggest commission. In my opinion, nothing influences choices by those on Medicare make more than agent compensation.

But that’s not how The Health Insurance Store operates. We will take you from the very start of when and how to enroll, to fully understanding Original Medicare A and B, Advantage Plans, Supplements, and Part D prescription coverage, and then help choose the best option for your personal situation, which often includes recommending a plan we get paid zero commission such as retiree coverage.

Once someone becomes a client, our job is just beginning. As or more important than helping people initially enroll a plan is being available when issues or questions arise. This can include erroneous bills which are a very common problem, claim denials or delays, prescription costs, and literally anything even remotely policy-related.

If you have questions about any Medicare-related topic or would like to set up an appointment for a no-cost consultation, give our office a call or email me personally, Aaron@GetYourBestPlan.com.