You can technically enroll in Medicare and Medicare products on your own. You can do all your own research on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement Plans. Or you can look into all of the providers available. You can even search for quotes for these plans on your own. However, is this the best way to enroll in Medicare? We don’t think so. The issue with doing your own research is that you may not find all of the information you need. Due to years of experience, a Medicare Agent will have more information for you, including things not commonly found on the internet.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t pay your Medicare agent. Since the insurance companies pay your agent for their services, you never pay them a dime. Your premium will also not increase just because you used an agent. So using an agent is free and absolutely no hidden fees. They are there to give you all the information you need and help you find the best options for you.
What Is A Medicare Agent
Before we dive into why you should use an agent, let’s look at what they actually do. A Medicare agent is a licensed expert who assists you in reviewing and evaluating Medicare plans and their benefits, as well as assisting you in selecting and enrolling in the best plan. There are two types of Medicare agents. The first is an independent agent. This type of agent works with numerous insurance providers and can enroll you in any of their plans. The second type is a captive agent. These agents work with one specific insurance company. EZ’s agents are independent so we can provide you with plans from all providers.
Benefits of Medicare Agent
We know it’s hard to trust that you’ll be in good hands. So, we’ve made a list of reasons a Medicare agent could be beneficial to you. Since EZ’s agents are independent we’ve based this list on the benefits of working with independent agents.
1. Expert Knowledge
Simply put, Medicare can be confusing. You can spend countless hours reading about Medicare and its products and you could get a fairly solid understanding of how it operates. However, our Medicare agents continuously educate themselves and are familiar with Medicare’s rules and regulations, which changes frequently. A simple mistake, such as missing your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), could result in penalties or delays in coverage. Even selecting the wrong Medicare Supplement Plan can leave you with big gaps in your coverage. Meaning you’ve got unnecessary money coming out of your pocket for healthcare costs that you could have saved with the right plan. When it comes to Medicare, the devil is in the details. Our agents will ensure that you are educated and supported through your entire Medicare journey.
2. Help Choosing a Plan
Once you’re eligible for Medicare it’s not as simple as enrolling. You have some options to consider. For instance, you can choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original medicare. If you enroll in Medicare Advantage through a private insurer you’ll still have Medicare but your coverage comes directly from the Advantage plan rather than Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage can include additional coverages such as vision, hearing, dental and wellness programs. They also usually have prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D.
On the other hand you can choose to stick with Original Medicare and then purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan and enroll in Part D on your own. Going this route also gives you these additional benefits but deciding which path to take depends on your specific needs. You need a thorough understanding of each path in order to choose the right one. There are so many factors to consider, like your budget, provider networks, and current prescriptions. Our licensed agents understand the pros and cons of both paths and as they get to know your circumstances, they can help you figure out which is the best one for you.
3. Help with underwriting
Underwriting is a process that private insurance companies use to figure out your health stats when you apply for health insurance, such as Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement. The process helps companies decide how much your premium will be. Our Medicare sales agents are very familiar with the underwriting application questions from various companies. Suppose you are interested in switching Medicare Supplement companies. We can match you with the company that is most likely to accept you –even if you have a medical condition that you think might make you ineligible. We’re here to find you coverage, no matter what.
4. Benefit clarity
When you’re searching for coverage or deciding what choice is best for you, you’ll mainly be looking at benefits. Our agents can help you read through all the legal jargon to find out what benefits are specifically being offered and if they’re beneficial to you.
5.Access to a variety of providers
Medicare agents work for you, not the insurance company. So we won’t just offer you plans from one source, we offer you dozens of options. We can research pricing for nearly every provider in the country for any given plan. For instance, Medicare Supplement Plans are standardized, meaning the plans all have the same benefits no matter where you live or who you buy them from. So, say you like Plan G, you can compare prices from all the available providers in your area. Why pay more than necessary for the same coverage? When you work with a Medicare agent you never will.
6. Continued service
Your relationship with your agent continues even after you enroll in Medicare. During the annual enrollment period, your agent can help you review your coverage. Then, they can help you decide if your current plan is still the best option or whether you need to make adjustments. They will then help you make those adjustments. They can also help you with any concerns or questions about your coverage no matter the time of year or how long you’ve had Medicare. Once you find an agent they are available to you the entire time you have Medicare.
7. Time saver
Working with a Medicare agent can save you a great deal of time. You won’t be stuck spending hours, days, or even months researching Medicare and looking for plans on your own. Agents can compare every plan for you quickly and efficiently. They can also answer any questions you have immediately and accurately rather than having to read through hundreds of internet searches hoping to find the answers you need and hoping the answers you find are accurate .
8. It’s free!
You don’t pay any fees to work with a Medicare agent. Using their services is completely free. You’re probably wondering, “So, how do they get paid?”. Their pay comes directly from the insurance companies. Most agents are paid commission. When they enroll you in a plan, the insurance company pays them for the first year of coverage as well as an initial sum for each year you are enrolled. Now, don’t worry, they aren’t incentivized to enroll you with a specific company. So you don’t have to worry that they’ll push you to enroll with a certain company to get more commission. They’re only motivation is getting you enrolled in the best coverage possible.
Choosing a Medicare Agent
After you provide us with some fundamental information through EZ, we will provide you with quotes and match you up with an insurance agent who is the most suitable for your circumstances. Who we match you up with depends on a variety of factors, including your location and the kind of coverage you’re looking for in a plan. We take measures to ensure that your agent is familiar with the area in which you live. This way, you won’t have to worry about being assigned an agent who lives in another part of the country and who isn’t as knowledgeable about the services provided in your area as a local agent would be.
Why Work With EZ
EZ is able to help you with enrolling in Medicare, buying a Medicare Supplement Plan, or even just answering any questions you might have. We can also help determine which options are best for you. Our insurance agents work closely with a number of the country’s most well-known and respected insurance companies. They are able to give you a free analysis and quotes that compare all of the plans offered in your area. First our agents will talk with you about your medical needs and your budget. Then we help in finding you a plan that we can help customize to fill those needs while staying well within your budget. We can actually save you hundreds of dollars a year. If you’re ready to start, simply enter your zip code into the bar below or give us a call at 877-670-3602 and we’ll get the process started right away.
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is an important time if you’re considering your Medicare options. It’s natural that everyone has their own opinions regarding Medicare and the best coverage. While advice from family and friends can be helpful, when it comes to Medicare, there are a lot of myths passed around. Maybe you’ve come across information on social media or in conversation and wondered “Is that really true?”. You deserve accurate information about your coverage options so we’ve compiled a list of 10 common myths that we’d like to debunk for you.
There’s a misconception that since Medicare is a government benefit, seniors don’t have to pay for it because it has already come out of their taxes. While that would be great, it’s unfortunately not entirely true. Medicare Part A, or hospital coverage, doesn’t have any premiums. That is as long as you have paid your Medicare taxes for at least 40 calendar quarters. Even so, you still have a deductible and copays. So that part of the myth is kind of true.
However, Part A is the only Medicare product with no premium. Part B, medical coverage, has a monthly premium of $164.90 as of 2023. It’s important to note that the premiums are adjusted annually, meaning some years they increase and some years they’ll decrease. These premiums might also be higher for enrollees with higher income. The good news is that if you’re on Social Security, your Part B premium can be paid directly from those benefits, so while you may not be paying directly out of pocket, you are still paying for it. Additionally, if you choose the Medicare Advantage route you may also have to pay a monthly premium.
2. Medicare covers all healthcare costs.
Medicare does cover a large portion of your healthcare but not everything. Between Part A and Part B most of your hospital and basic medical expenses are covered.
Even with the services it does cover you are still responsible for deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. As you can see there are still several services that you may need that aren’t covered. Such as hearing, vision, and dental care. There is also no prescription drug coverage in Original Medicare (Part A and B). Typically to get those things covered most people will enroll in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage), or a Medicare Supplement Plan. Any of those options do provide coverage for the gaps in your Medicare coverage.
3. You are automatically enrolled in Medicare.
This is another myth that is only partially true. If you have been receiving Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement Board Benefits (RRB) for at least 24 months after you turn 65, then you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. Be aware that even after automatic enrollment, you are responsible for enrolling yourself in either Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D or any Medicare Supplement Plans.
Now, if you’re not receiving Social Security or RRB, then enrolling is entirely up to you. The best thing to do is to enroll during your IEP, which will begin 3 months before you turn 65 and will end 6 months after your 65th birthday.
4. I can enroll in Medicare at any time.
This is completely false and can be one of the most detrimental myths to believe. If you don’t enroll during your IEP, you can face enrollment restrictions as well as a penalty. You will then have to wait for the next eligible enrollment period, which is known as the General Enrollment Period (GEP). The GEP lasts from October 15th to December 7th every year. The penalty for waiting is a premium increase of 10% for twice as many years that you were eligible and did not enroll. To make that simpler, If you did not enroll in Part A for 2 years after your IEP then the penalty would apply to your premium for the next 4 years. For Part B, the increase only lasts for the amount of time you did not enroll, so it would only apply for those first 2 years.
Now having said that, another way that you can avoid these penalties, aside from applying on time, is if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). To trigger an SEP you would have had to still be working and have credible health coverage through your employer or through your spouse’s employer during your IEP. Once you leave your job or lose the group plan coverage, you then have 8 months to enroll without penalty. Another way you can get an SEP is if you are under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to illness or disability, but have health insurance through a caregiver or spouse’s employer-sponsored health insurance. However, this only applies if their company has at least 100 employees.
5. Medicare costs the same for everyone.
While Medicare offers the same benefits to everyone, the cost is not universal. How long you worked and paid Medicare taxes, as well as your gross income determine your premiums and deductibles. The more you make, the more you will end up paying just like with regular health insurance. Additionally enrolling in Medicare Advantage, or Part D, or any Medicare Supplement Plans will change how much you pay for Medicare. So it varies greatly from person to person depending on their specific circumstances.
6. I can only enroll if I’m healthy.
This is a huge myth, Original Medicare cannot deny your coverage due to illness or a pre-existing condition due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act. If you have certain medical conditions like End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS, you are eligible for Medicare even if you aren’t 65 yet. Once you turn 65 or retire you are eligible for Medicare Parts A and B, period. Also,there are no penalties or premium increases for pre-existing conditions. If you have certain medical conditions like End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS, you are eligible for Medicare even if you aren’t 65 yet.
7. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Plans are the same thing.
This is not true at all. They are similar in that private companies offer them but they are entirely different. Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare. It may include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Supplement Plans are additional coverage you can buy to fill in the gaps left by your Original Medicare. Additionally, you can buy one or the other but not both.
8. Medicare doesn’t have as many options.
You may believe that Medicare is a one-size-fits-all program because it’s a government program. However, this is another one of those pesky Medicare myths. Medicare typically provides significantly more health insurance options than your employer’s group coverage. Whereas you may have had only a few plan options to choose from when enrolling in employer coverage, Medicare provides you with dozens of options. Medicare allows you to tailor your coverage to your specific needs.
9. Medicare will notify me when it’s time to enroll.
Obviously you don’t want to be late enrolling in Medicare. Nobody wants to have a penalty added to their premium. Unfortunately, Medicare does not give you an enrollment reminder when it’s time for you to enroll. The good news is that if you have Social Security Benefits or RRB before you’re 65, you will automatically enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. On the other hand, if you don’t have those benefits you have to remember to enroll on your own. So, it’s important that you note the specific times when you can enroll.
10. I am on COBRA so I don’t need to sign up for Medicare Part B.
COBRA does not count as active employment. To delay Part B enrollment without incurring a penalty, you or your spouse must be actively employed and covered by a group health plan. Additionally, if you are already on COBRA and your Medicare begins, your COBRA status will change when you turn 65. Meaning your COBRA coverage will end. You won’t be eligible to delay Part B without incurring a penalty. You may even experience a delay in the start of your Part B coverage, which could result in a serious coverage gap.
EZ Can Help
Now that you have all the facts it’s time to enroll with the help of EZ. EZ is able to help you enroll in Medicare, purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan, or just help you weigh your options. Our insurance agents collaborate with some of the most reputable insurance providers in the country. They are able to provide you with a free analysis that compares all of the plans that are available in your region. We will discuss your medical and financial needs and then assist you in locating a plan that is tailored to meet those requirements. To start, enter your zip code into the box below. Or give one of our licensed agents a call at 877-670-3602 and we’ll get the ball rolling for you.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. When you enroll in Medicare, it is important to understand how it works and whether or not you will need a Medicare Supplement plan to go with it. Once you pay your deductible, Medicare covers only 80% of your Part B expenses, leaving you to pay the rest. Medicare Supplement is an insurance plan that is sold by private companies. Medicare Supplements plans help pay for the 20% of the Medicare Part B costs which is left for you to pay. Original Medicare, and Medicare Supplement plans cover different healthcare. It is important to go over each program, and what they offer in order to determine if a Medicare Supplement plan will benefit you.
How Medicare Works:
Every year, you must pay a set amount, a deductible, for your health care before Medicare pays its share. You can sign up for Part A and/or Part B insurance, but most people have both. You pay a monthly premium for Part B. Medicare only covers 80 percent of Part B services, leaving you with the other 20 percent to be paid out of pocket. Depending on your medical needs in a given year, that 20 percent gap can become a large financial burden.
For 2017, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,316 a year, while Medicare Part B’s yearly deductible is $183. Once you have paid your deductible in health bills such as physician visits, outpatient hospital services, and covered medical equipment, then Medicare will pay cover the rest up to 80% for Part B, and 100% for Part A.
What Medicare covers
Medicare benefits are divided into two parts, Part A and Part B.
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) — covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, short-term nursing home care, hospice care, and some home health care. (100% of your costs for up to 60 days in a hospital or up to 20 days in a skilled nursing facility.)
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) — covers annual wellness visits every month, ambulance services, orthotics and prosthetics, medical equipment, and mental health care. (80% of costs covered by Medicare.)
What Medicare does not cover
Annual physical exams except other than one annual wellness visit
Health care you get while traveling outside of the United States (Very limited exceptions)
Hearing aids, and most hearing exams
Long-term nursing home care for more than 100 days
Acupuncture, naturopathy, etc.
Most eyeglasses
Most dental care
Prescription drugs are not covered under Parts A and B, but it will cover some drugs in certain cases like immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients, and oral anti-cancer drugs. For prescription drug coverage, you should consider signing up for stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.
How Medicare Supplement Works:
There is a monthly premium for your Medicare supplement plan, and in return, the plan pays most of your expenses not covered by Medicare parts A & B. For example, if you have a $4,000 ambulance bill and have already met the yearly Medicare Part B deductible, Medicare Part B will pay 80% of the bill. This leaves you to pay the 20% that us left, $800, out of pocket. But if you have a Medicare Supplement plan that covers Part B copayments and coinsurance costs, then it will pay the $800 remaining.
The Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment period is the six-month period that starts on first day of the month that you are 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During the open enrollment period, you can enroll in any Medicare Supplement plan offered in your service area with guaranteed issue. This means that insurance companies are not allowed to deny you or charge you more due to pre-existing conditions. There are many different types of Medicare Supplement plans to choose from, and they vary in levels of coverage and cost.
What Medicare Supplement covers
In general, all Medicare Supplement plans cover at least part of:
Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles
Skilled nursing facility costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days
Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used)
Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment
Part B excess charges
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment
Blood (first 3 pints)
Some will cover:
Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)
Part B deductible
Two Medicare Supplement plans (Plan K and L) include an out-of-pocket limit. Once you have reached a certain amount spent on Medicare-covered services, the Medicare Supplement plan will cover 100% of the costs for the rest of the year.
What Medicare Supplement does not cover
Medicare Supplement policies generally do not cover:
Long-term care (care in a nursing home)
Routine vision or dental care,
Hearing aids
Eyeglasses
Private-duty nursing.
Prescription drugs
Looking for more details or help?
There are roughly 10 different types of medicare supplement plans on the market, and they all vary in coverage and cost. Figuring out which plans are best for you can be hard, but we are here to help. If you would like to gather more information on Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans, one or our highly trained agents are ready to help. You can start by simply entering your zip code in the bar above to get a quote, or you can contact us by email at [email protected] or call 855-220-1144. There is no hassle and no obligation. We will help you answer any questions, go over all of your plan options, find the Medicare Supplement plan most suited for your needs and budget, and even help you sign up if you’re ready. No hassle necessary! We work on your time and do not hound you with calls like the other guys.
What Medicare covers
What Medicare Supplement does not cover