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Medicare Supplement – Just Bought – Now What?

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Let’s say you turned 65, enrolled in Medicare and just bought a Medicare supplement plan. Did you make the right decision? What are some of the traps and mistakes?

Please take 3 minutes to read this then decide if you need to reconsider your decision. It might just save you a lot of time, money and grief.

You are turning 65 and about to go on Medicare. Here are some things you need to know about your journey.

When can I change my Medicare Plan?

About That Medicare Supplement Plan You Just Bought

You are not alone.

Roughly 80% of retirees about to turn 65 have never bought health insurance before.

My 40 years in the health insurance business was not enough to prepare me for understanding the Medicare system. It took me about a month of research and talking to Medicare specialists before the light bulb turned on.

If it was that difficult for me I can imagine how confusing it is for you and everyone else.

Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage?

Your Friends May Offer the Worst Advice

Your friends that are on Medicare are probably still confused about what they have and how it works. I know this because I talk to people every day that were told something about Medicare that is 100% wrong and will prove very costly down the road.

They are probably very good at many things, but Medicare experts they are not.

Ask your friends who THEY talked to in making their decision. If they were pleased, ask for a recommendation. Then you talk with that person and decide if they are giving solid advice or simply pushing a product.

Sadly, most agents talk too much and never listen to your needs.

If they bought a $0 premium Advantage plan (along with a bunch of junk to fill the gaps), or Medigap plan F they will learn to regret that choice later down the road.

Things You Probably Don’t Know

When you turn 65 you have ONLY ONE Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). During that time you can purchase ANY PLAN from ANY CARRIER without answering health questions. Your initial enrollment for Medigap begins the month when you turn 65 AND go on Medicare Part B. It ends 6 months later.

During your IEP you can freely change Medigap plans within the same carrier or move from one carrier to another without penalty. Most people we talk to will end up paying a lot more for their coverage than was necessary. It is not too late to change. Don’t let pride stop you from making a better financial decision. (More on this later)

When Can I Enroll or Change Plans?

You have 60 days from the time you turned 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B to pick a Part D drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan. If you wait, your next opportunity will be during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) and you will pay a LIFETIME late enrollment penalty.

If you bought an Advantage plan and then learned that was the wrong decision you can still purchase a suitable Medigap during your IEP. This happens with some frequency so no need to feel embarrassed.

Many of the newer Advantage plans are “front end loaded” so you pay most of the costs of your care without the benefit of a copay. The networks are also more restrictive than you may have been accustomed to with traditional health insurance.

Get instant GA Medigap quotes, then request our FREE Medicare Supplement rate report that shows ALL the Medicare supplement rates.

Discovering What You Bought

Medigap “gotcha’s”

Medigap is simple, but not as simple as some might think. Sure, the plans are standardized. All plans with the same letter (plan F for example) are identical in every way except the price you pay.

But the simplicity stops there.

Financial ratings don’t matter. “A” rated carriers like AFLAC and Omaha have sucker punched retirees in the past. Offer a low going in rate then substantial increases in later years. Sometimes they stop writing new business with that carrier name.

Then what happens?

Picking the Right Medigap Carrier

Look for LONG TERM STABILITY in the Medicare supplement market. If a carrier doesn’t have at least 5 years in the Medigap market operating under the SAME NAME, you probably want to cross them off your list.

The carrier names are interchangeable and every 3 – 4 years an old carrier will be swapped for a newer one that has rates 20 – 30% below the “old” carrier. The new, lower rates are only for NEW APPLICANTS.

Some carriers have “hot” rates in Georgia right now. But none of them have more than 2 years in the Medigap business an at least one has already had a 9% rate increase.

Which Carrier Did I Pick for My Own Coverage?

My choice

You don’t have to do what I do but consider this. I have more experience in the health insurance business than anyone you have talked to so far. There are some paths I won’t take because I know the pitfalls. Maybe you should do the same.

I enrolled in Medicare in September 2015. How many agents have you talked to so far that are also on Medicare?

My guess is none.

I didn’t buy a plan from any carrier with less than 5 years in the Medigap business.

I didn’t buy Medicare supplement plan F.

I didn’t buy a Medicare Advantage plan. Even if I did, I certainly would NOT buy a hospital indemnity plan, a cancer plan, a heart attack plan, etc to fill the gaps. An agent that pushes those policies is all about making as much money as possible off you.

It’s Your Plan and Your Money

Choose wisely.

Ultimately, whatever choice you make should fit your needs and budget. I don’t expect everyone to make the same decisions I make, nor would I pressure anyone to buy something just because I am doing it. But I do believe my clients deserve to know the choices I will make and why I am making them.

There are more than 250 different Medigap plans and rates in Georgia. You probably looked at half a dozen or less. What did you miss by not seeing ALL the rates?

There are only TWO or THREE Medicare supplement carriers with competitive rates that have 5 or more years in the Medigap business. If you didn’t buy from them you probably are, or will eventually be, paying too much.

When you pay more you don’t get more. You simply paid too much.

Let me know how I can help. Call (404) 252-5859 to speak with Bob Vineyard. 

#GeorgiaMedicareSupplementRates #GAMedicareExpert #GAMedicareAgent

Going on Medicare Age 65

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Going on Medicare at age 65. Can I sign up online? What if I am still working? When is the best time to enroll? How much does Medicare cost? Where can I get help?

Going on Medicare Age 65
Age 65 – Enroll in Medicare

If you are turning 65 you have a lot of going on Medicare questions. You will have a lot of people sending you information by mail, each piece claiming their plan is better. And your phone will ring off the hook. With people calling to SELL you something you don’t want, you don’t need and can’t afford.

Where do you turn?

Consider talking to a Georgia Medicare Expert.

Ready for Medicare?

When you are ready to sign up for Medicare the process is fairly easy. You can go online to sign up. Or maybe you would rather do it by phone. Another way is to visit your local Social Security office.

You can enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B online at www.SocialSecurity.gov. By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM. Or In person at your local Social Security office.

How easy is that?

Where Can I Learn About Medicare?

You can waste a lot of time searching for Medicare information online. But it seems so easy. You just Google “How to go on Medicare”. Or “Where do I sign up for Medicare”. If you know how to enroll then you ask “Who has the BEST Medicare rates“.

Turning 65 – Enroll in Medicare

Those steps will give you a lot of results. Some information is readily available.

But if you just want to know how much Medicare costs. You only want to see Medicare supplement rates WITHOUT talking to a pushy agent. That is a bit more challenging.

About to enroll in Medicare? Every time you fill in your name, email address and phone this is what happens. Almost immediately your phone rings. Someone calling to SELL you something when all you want is INFORMATION.

And your email box will be flooded with offers. Just click this link and all your questions will be answered.

By now you know this is NOT how you want to learn about going on Medicare.

You are like Charlie Brown asking “Why won’t someone just help me?“!

Going on Medicare Age 65 1
Why Won’t Someone Help Me?

Medicare Help? Try This

Why search the web when all your going on Medicare questions can be answered here? Medigap rates. Advantage plan information. GA Medicare Expert Bob Vineyard can help.

When you are ready to sign up for Medicare, who would you rather talk to? A stranger on the phone whose last job was asking if you want fries with your meal? Or would you rather invest 10 minutes talking with someone who has over 45 years working in health insurance and is also on Medicare themselves?

You choose.

Here is my offer.

Give me a call. Invest 10 minutes by phone. Ask any question you want about Medicare. ANY question. Then you decide if my information is valuable or not.

If you like what you are getting, we move forward at your pace. If you don’t like what you hear, move on and we part as friends. It’s not personal, it’s just business.

I call this my offer you can’t refuse.

#GAMedicareExpert #GoingOnMedicare #Turning65

New to Medicare – What Do I Need to Know?

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When you are new to Medicare you will have questions. But you probably don’t know who can help. Even if you did, what questions will you ask?

You don’t know what you don’t know.

new to medicare
New to Medicare – What Questions to Ask?

About the time you think you have it all figured out they change the rules.

Turning 65?

If you are turning 65 and new to Medicare you are about to enter the state of confusion.

Medicare may SEEM simple, but it is not. It is easy until you have a claim. Then it becomes complicated. Where will you turn then? Will you go to the friend that told you to buy the plan they have? Maybe you will call the agent that SOLD you the plan? Good luck with that. They may not even be in the business by now.

You could call the carrier where you went direct to avoid talking to agents. You call an 800 number, press 1 for English then get routed to voice mail. Someone will call you back in a few days while you are in the shower.

How well does that work for you?

Maybe your best choice is to find a GA Medicare expert.

New to Medicare?

Enrolling in Medicare

If you are approaching age 65 and new to Medicare you know the drill. For the last year your phone has been ringing. Pushy insurance agents calling to SELL you a plan you don’t want, you don’t need and can’t afford.

Your mailman hates you because of all the junk mail that arrives at your door every day.

What do you keep? What do you throw away? Where do you turn for answers to your Medicare questions? Check out Medicare plans in Georgia.

Who Can Help Me?

There is nothing wrong with buying a Medicare plan online as long as you are prepared for a LOT of phone calls from agents wanting to SELL you something you don’t need, don’t want and can’t afford.

When you are new to Medicare how do you find the RIGHT plan?

All I ask is for you to give me 10 minutes by phone. Time to answer YOUR questions. You will NEVER be pressured to buy anything. This is your opportunity to ask ANY Medicare related question, then decide if you want to work with me or not.

It’s that simple.

It’s an offer you can’t refuse.