Category: Employer

Why You Should Consider Working In Retirement

Why You Should Consider Working In Retirement

(Even If You Don’t Need the Money)

Work? Retirement? The two words don’t even sound like they belong in the same sentence. After all, retirement is for relaxation. Retirement is for grandkids. Retirement is for vacations and bucketlisting.

 

But wait just a minute.

 

Although all of those things are true, studies show that regular work is also on the agenda, nestled in-between the couch sitting as well as babysitting. According to a Merill Lynch Retirement Study, 72% of pre-retirees age 50 and up will work in some capacity during their retirement.

 

This raises the question: Why are so many soon-to-be retirees planning to spend time working, the same thing they’ve likely been doing for the last 40 years?

 

It’s Not All About the Dollar Signs

As it turns out, there are a lot of reasons, and not all of them are financially related. Participants of the Merrill Lynch Study reported working in order to

  • Stay mentally active
  • Stay socially connected
  • Maintain a sense of identity and self worth

…as well as many other valid reasons. Surprisingly, staying mentally active was the number one cited reason. Money was still a consideration, especially considering that many retirees have not saved enough for a 20-year-or-more retirement, but those other motives definitely pulled their weight in the statistics.

 

And, fortunately, these desires were not left unfulfilled. The study also indicated that retirees who are working in retirement get out what they put in. As it turns out, working retirees reported feeling 10% prouder, 17% more connected to others, and 17% more stimulated than their non-working counterparts! It seems the sense of accomplishment, social interactions, and work environment provided a sense of overall well-being.

 

The Bottom Line

The point is today’s retirees and pre-retirees refuse to see retirement as the end. They are, instead, viewing it as a new horizon, a new beginning, a springboard instead of a landing pad. According to the study, many do take a 2.5 year break from work after retiring, but they are using that rest to recharge rather than wind down.

 

From working with my clients, I’ve heard some of their ideas for work. One client of mine does woodworking projects for people. Others give private music lessons. I even know a couple that travels down the east coast, selling kettle corn at local festivals during the summer. I remember them telling me all about the fun of traveling from year to year and the relationships they’ve built with some of the locals. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

 

You see, work and retirement only sound like they don’t belong in the same sentence if you consider work to be stressful or boring. However, if you can make money doing what you like, working will turn into a passion rather than a drag. In fact, you just might find that work and retirement is a match made in heaven.

 

Do You Have Retirement Questions?

Deciding whether or not to work is just one of many decisions you will have to make as you transition to retirement. Luckily, our Life After Work series of workshops seeks to cover the three critical areas of a successful retirement transition: Medicare, Social Security, and 401(k) planning. You can sign up for just one or all three. No high-pressure sales pitches here, just in-depth discussion about what you need to know as you approach retirement.   Our Welcome to Medicare workshop is Thursday, June 25, beginning at 5:30 on Zoom.  Call our office at 937-492-8800 or head on over to our web page and sign up for a free workshop today!

Know Your Rights! (Your Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue Rights)

Know Your Rights! (Your Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue Rights)

Everyone knows that they have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, but few retirees know their rights to a Medicare Supplement policy. For this reason, many people believe that if they missed their Open Enrollment Period and have health problems, they will be unable to get insurance.

 

This is not so. Thanks to guarantee issue periods, retirees like you have rights. During guaranteed issue periods, insurance companies are obligated to offer you a policy at the normal rate and cover your pre-existing conditions. All of this with no pesky medical questioning whatsoever!

 

The following circumstances spur a guaranteed issue period. In other words, you have the right to a Medicare Supplement policy if:

  • Your Medicare Advantage Plan is going out of service or you are moving out of the service area.
  • Your employer health insurance is ending.
  • You’ve been enrolled in an Advantage Plan for less than one year and want to switch back to a Medicare Supplement plan.
  • You lose your coverage without fault (i.e. your insurance company goes bankrupt).
  • Your insurance company misled you or doesn’t follow the rules.

(For a more comprehensive chart of potential situations, click here to visit Medicare.gov).

 

From the day any one of these events happen to you, you have 63 days of guaranteed issue to get into a new Medicare Supplement Plan.

 

Do not take this newfound information lightly, and keep any proofs of the previously mentioned events at your disposal such as:

  • Claim denials
  • Letters from employers
  • Official notifications

 

Insurance companies will ask for these items to prove your right to a policy. Then they will have no choice but to insure you. This is why it is so important to educate yourself on your rights. It allows you to take advantage of what has been made available to you.

 

If you want to find out more about guaranteed issue rights or need help shopping a Medicare Supplement Plan for your needs, Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation from licensed experts.

Do I Need to Sign Up For Medicare If I Have Insurance with My Employer?

Do I Need to Sign Up For Medicare If I Have Insurance with My Employer?

This is an important question. If you sign up for Medicare, and you didn’t need to, you end up forking over cash in premiums for insurance you don’t even need. However, if you don’t sign up for Medicare and you needed to, the results are equally frustrating: penalties or high out-of-pocket expenses that suck the life out of your nest egg.

 

Here is an easy-to-follow guide to help you make a decision that’s the best for you. I’ll address each part of Medicare individually to help you come to a decision for each.

 

For a more in-depth explanation of the parts of Medicare, click here.

 

Part A (A.K.A Hospital Insurance or “Inpatient Care”)

This is an easy one. You can go ahead and sign up for Part A, regardless of whether you have insurance with your employer.

 

Why?

 

Because Part A is absolutely free! If there’s no premium, why not just take the coverage? As long you or your spouse has paid into Social Security for ten years or more, there is no associated cost.

 

There is only one reason why you would want to delay Part A: Health Saving Account contributions. You can still withdraw from a health savings account, but you cannot continue making contributions if you are on Part A.

 

But other than that, this is a simple decision. More often than not, you can just go ahead and sign up.

 

Part B (A.K.A Medicare Insurance or “Outpatient Care”)

Part B, on the other hand, is much more complicated. But in the end, your decision will boil down to your answers to three questions:

 

  1. Is my coverage through active, current employment?

The keywords there are “active” and “current.” In order to delay Part B without penalty, you or your spouse must have insurance coverage through active employment. You have to be on the floor or in the office (or at home in your PJs if you are lucky enough to have one of those jobs)! This means retiree benefits or COBRA or any other insurance that begins after you are done working do not count.

 

  1. Is your employer the primary payer (as opposed to Medicare)?

You can delay Part B without penalty as long as you can answer “yes” to question #1, but unless you can answer yes to this one, you may be stuck with some hefty bills on outpatient services. If Medicare is the primary payer and you don’t have Medicare, you will have to pay 80% of your outpatient healthcare expenses.

The way to find out if your employer is the primary payer is pretty simple. If your employer’s health insurance plan covers 20 or more people, the employer pays first. If it insures less than 20 people, then Medicare pays first. Ask your employer or human resource representative for the exact number to make sure!

 

  1. Is your employer plan less expensive?

None of these questions really matter if Medicare is the better value. Perhaps you can delay Part B without penalty (question 1) and without paying extra on outpatient services (question 2), but if Part B is the better value, why would you want to? That is why you must perform a cost to benefits analysis. If Medicare is the better value, then you should sign up for Part B. If it is not and you answered “yes” to the other two questions, it may be a good idea to delay.

 

Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)

All that matters when it comes to deciding if you need to sign up for part D is whether or not your current drug coverage is “creditable.” In order for your drug coverage to be considered “creditable,” it must be at least as good as part D. In other words, it is expected to pay (on average) at least as much as a Medicare part D plan. To find out, ask your human resources department. When you turn 65 your employer will send you a letter telling you whether or not your coverage is creditable, but it is a good idea to find out beforehand for planning purposes.

 

So Let’s Recap!

  • Sign up for Part A unless you want to continue HSA contributions.
  • It might be a good idea to delay Part B if have insurance through current employment, your employer pays first, and your employer plan is a better value than Medicare.
  • As long as your current drug plan is considered “creditable,” you can delay Medicare Part D.

 

Are You Still Unsure About Your Decision?

If you still have questions about how your employer plan coordinates with Medicare (or about Medicare in general), you are not alone. Many people approaching 65 find themselves overwhelmed with all of the options and information. The good news is that Seniormark is here to help, and we offer our services at no cost to you. We will guide you through the entire process, ensuring that you avoid all the costly mistakes and pitfalls. Call Seniormark at (937) 492-8800 for a free consultation.

 

How to avoid the #1 Mistake on Medicare’s Request for Employment Verification Form

How to avoid the #1 Mistake on

Medicare’s Request for Employment Verification Form

How many of you dread filling out Medicare forms?  Please raise your hand if you’ve ever had to correct the Medicare “Request for Employment Information” form (CMS-L564) for your employee.  When you complete the form, you’re hit with a fear that you might not remember how to properly complete this form.  Sure, you might fill them out from time to time, but this form never seems clear.  It’s daunting enough to prepare your employees for retirement – never mind assisting them with the Medicare process which seems like a full-time job itself.

 

Well, there is good news!  There is really only 1 question on this form that seems to trip people up.  AND we’re here to help you understand what Medicare is asking on this question and hopefully help you and your employees avoid any future issues.

 

Take a look at Section B of the “Request for Employment Information” form below.  Section B is the employer’s (aka HR Department’s) section.  And Question #2 is normally the main problem.  Are you ready to conquer this question?  Let’s dive in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As most of you know, this “Request for Employment Information” form is required if your employee is over the age of 65 and outside of their initial enrollment period for Medicare.  They must submit this form with their Medicare Part B enrollment form to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for their Medicare upon retirement.

 

For your employee to qualify for a SEP, they must meet 2 criteria:

  1. They must have group health insurance from ACTIVE employment (from their job or their spouse’s job) or have had such insurance within the past 8 months. AND
  2. They must have been CONTINUOUSLY covered by a job-based insurance since becoming eligible for Medicare (including the month they turned 65.)

 

For the most part, this form is filled out properly with no concerns.  But question #2 is typically the exception.  AND if question #2 is incorrect, it could mean big headaches for your employee.

 

So, why is Question #2 such an issue?  Well, if question #2 doesn’t reflect that the employee had insurance back to the month they turned 65 they WILL NOT qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.  No SEP could = BIG PROBLEMS for your employee.  It could delay their Part B start date and your employee could be assessed a Part B late enrollment penalty that will follow them for the rest of their life.

 

Question #2 states “If yes (the applicant was covered under employer group health plan), give the date the applicant’s coverage began. (mm/yyyy)

 

It seems simple enough.  You might wonder why that is so hard to answer?  Well, time and again we see that this date doesn’t reflect how long the employee had coverage but when the last “new” insurance company started.  For example, John Doe is 70 and has worked for your company for the last 20 years.  He has had group health coverage since February 1999.  BUT your company switched to a new insurance company on January 1, 2018.  Many times, we see the January 1, 2018 date on this form.

 

If the January 1, 2018 date is used, John Doe doesn’t qualify for a SEP because it doesn’t show that he’s had group health insurance from age 65 on.  John Doe will have to wait to sign up for Medicare Part B during the general election period (Jan 1 through March 31 each year).  His Part B coverage wouldn’t start until July 1.  John Doe would also have to pay a Part B late enrollment penalty for the months that he didn’t have coverage since turning 65.  This late enrollment penalty would last for the rest of his life. 

 

But, if the correct date is used in Question #2: February 1, 1999, he should qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.  He could elect the Part B start date (1st of the month).  He should not be assessed a Part B late enrollment penalty.  All is good (at least with the Medicare insurance.)

 

Now that you know how to tackle the Medicare “Request for Employment Information” form, you’re ready to focus on the many other aspects of your employee’s retirement process.  Do you have more Medicare questions?  Give Seniormark LLC a call at 937-492-8800.  We’re here to help!

 

4 People You Need to See Before Retiring

4 People You Need to See Before Retiring

Retirement is an exciting transition, of course, but it is also a nerve-racking one. Information is flooding your inbox and mail, and weighty decisions are heaping on your fatigued shoulders.

 

But think back to previous life transitions: from elementary to high school and from high school (or college) to the workplace. These transitions were stressful as well.  But what made them manageable were the people.

 

The transition to retirement is no different. You need people to assist and advise you throughout this complex process. The following people may not be as involved as a personal mentor or teacher, but they can and will serve as guideposts throughout your journey.

 

A Social Security Office Representative

So…not exactly your BFF. I realize that. But this person has one vital piece of information to give you: your social security statement. This document details how much monthly benefit you qualify for from the federal government. It contains information you need to consider when planning for retirement. If you already have this filed away, then great! You can move on to guidepost #2.

 

Employer and/or Human Resource Department Employee

Depending on the size of your employer, you may not be very chummy with these people either, but hear me out because some employers provide retiree benefits such as health care or a pension. You need to find out more about these benefits (if they exist) in order to effectively plan for retirement. One important question to ask is how the benefits will interact with Medicare. For example, in the case of health insurance, who pays first—the employer or Medicare?

 

Your Doctor

I hope we’re getting a little bit closer to the heart! No? Well here’s the value: you may already have an idea of your overall health and prescription drugs, but if you don’t, your doctor will explain it thoroughly. This information comes in handy throughout the Medicare planning process, especially when shopping for a Part D prescription drug plan.

 

A Retirement Advisor

If this guy or gal is not your friend beforehand, there is a good chance he will be after all of this is over. A retirement advisor is a person who puts all of the pieces together.  He takes the information you gathered from the other 3 people and uses it to develop a retirement plan tailored to your unique needs. This covers planning for expenses (medical and otherwise), social security benefits, and Medicare planning.

 

As a bonus, the last people I would tell you to visit are your friends and family. Although I wouldn’t necessarily trust them with shopping your drug plan or determining your social security benefits, they are wonderful moral support as you approach this overwhelming milestone. So visit your kids, your grandkids, your siblings, and your lifelong friends. Nothing relieves stress more than knowing you don’t have to handle it all alone.

 

Looking for a retirement advisor ready to help you transition from work to play? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for personal help at no cost to you!

 

I’m Retiring Soon—What Do I Do with My 401(k)?

I’m Retiring Soon—What Do I Do with My 401(k)?

As you may have realized, when you reach retirement age, you can pack up all your pictures and favorite fountain pens and desk knick-knacks, but you can’t just toss your 401(k) in a cardboard box, kick open the door, and journey off to new, work-free horizons.

 

You have to decide what to do with the hard-earned money you’ve saved at your employer, a decision that should be thought out carefully, so you can avoid mistakes that may hack away at your retirement livelihood.

 

To get you thinking in the right direction, I’d like to outline all of your options for what to do with your 401(k). Some are much better than others for most people, so I think it will be beneficial to run you through the four common choices retirees make and the potential strengths and weaknesses of each.

 

  1. Do Nothing

That’s right, you could take the path of least resistance and just leave it with your employer. And, surprisingly, there are viable reasons for doing so. For a small one, a 401(k) usually has good protection from creditors. But here’s the big one: keeping your money in a 401(k) will allow you to withdraw without penalty at age 55. Other options are not so friendly to early takers, socking you with penalties if you withdraw before 59 and a half. So, if you are retiring before 59 and a half, this is an important point to consider.

 

However, aside from that, there aren’t too many reasons you’d want to keep your 401(k) with your employer. It limits your investment options. Oftentimes, you can’t get good, individualized management help. And, if you’ve had a string of employers and left a pot of money with each, you’ve probably got a trail of 401(k) accounts following behind you, making your money difficult to manage. Scattered money leads to a scattered brain.

 

In other words, sticking with your employer is not your worst option, but it may be not your best.

 

  1. Take a Lump Sum Distribution—Cash It Out!

To fling us all the way over to the dark side, this is the worst option. In fact, this choice can cause you to loose a third of your 401(k) value in one foul swoop. How? I’ll give you a hint. It has something to do one of life’s two certainties.

 

No, not death…but taxes.

 

When you cash it all out at once, that money becomes part of your income for the year. This will often make you soar into higher tax brackets, and—next thing you know—Uncle Sam can snag tens of thousands of dollars from your hard earned money.

 

 

To take an example, let’s say your yearly income (as a couple filing jointly) is in the 15% bracket ($18,651 to 75,900 in 2017). If you take out a 401(k) with, let’s say, $200,000 in it, this will catapult you up 3 tax brackets to 33%! That’s $66,000 gone, in just one transaction.

 

To put it bluntly, this 401(k) strategy should only be used in emergencies. Even if you want to buy a big-ticket item like a car or a boat or a house, only cash out what you need and, if possible, cash it out in chunks to rein in the tax hikes.

 

  1. Transfer It to a Roth IRA

A Roth IRA is a phenomenal option for 20-somethings wanting to save money for their retirement. However, for the soon-to-be retiree, it usually isn’t. Why? Well, you run into the same tax problem that you do with the second option. Remember the 33% hit?

 

You see, unlike with a traditional IRA, with a Roth IRA, you pay taxes on your money up front. Then, you can withdraw the money tax-free later on. Therefore, the only time it makes sense to convert to a Roth IRA is if you know you will be in a higher tax bracket in the future, when you take it out. For retirees, this is rarely the case.

 

Perhaps a Roth IRA would be a good option if you knew you didn’t need the money, planned to let it grow tax-free until you die and pass it on to your kids. But I’m speaking in extreme rarities now. Most retirees are counting on their 401(k) to live.

 

  1. Transfer It to a Traditional IRA.

The last option is the most popular, and for good reason, too. As far as taxes go, you can transfer it electronically, avoiding all taxes up front. Then you can pay the taxes as you withdraw it, in a reasonable bracket for your income.

 

And, it also wins on many other fronts, fronts that the decision to leave it at your employer doesn’t.

 

For one, you are free to choose from the world of investment options. Like a talent scout seeks out the best players for his team, you can seek out the best performing investments to develop a killer portfolio that is both diversified and matched to your unique risk tolerance.

 

For another, you can consolidate any and all retirement accounts in one, so it is easier to manage.

 

And finally, you can get personalized help. The kind of help that isn’t from a representative to a crowd of employees or from a recording on your phone telling you to “press one to hear more options.” When you rollover your 401(k) to a traditional IRA, you have the option to sit down face-to-face with a professional, certified financial planner and develop that aforementioned killer portfolio together.

Now, it’s important to note that there is a fee involved with working with a financial planner, which is usually 1-2% of the assets he or she manages. Whether or not the fees are higher than the fees you currently pay at your employer is a toss up, so that is something to consider.

 

 

The point is, the decision of what to do with your 401(k) is an important and complicated one. Making the wrong choice can lead to major losses or lost opportunities. That is why we offer a 401(k) planning workshop to help you sort through it all and come to decision you can be confident about. Click here to discover more about our 401(k) workshop as well as our other workshop offerings.

The Diversification Misconception: Why All Your Eggs May Still Be in One Basket

The Diversification Misconception: Why All Your Eggs May Still Be in One Basket

The adage is almost older than investing itself: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In other words, diversify your portfolio so that—if a particular investment tanks—you haven’t lost all your money.

 

So you set off to work, scattering your wealth in various locations over time. $10,000 in a Vangard mutual fund, $25,000 in U.S. Bank, 15,000 in randomly selected stocks. Here a little; there a little.

 

Sounds simple, right? The only problem is that this isn’t diversification. Sure, it is better than betting your entire life savings on a Kraft Mac and Cheese stock.  And it may protect you against any one company going under. But—in almost every other respect—this investment strategy doesn’t leave you any better off than a one-basketeer. Why?

 

Because asset classes are the ticket!

Diversification is not about the variety of companies, but rather the variety of asset classes you invest in. Maybe you’ve heard some of them thrown around at dinner parties as wealthy investors brag about their business ventures: fixed income, large cap growth, international, global, etc.

 

But what is an asset class? In short, it is just a categorization of investments, but this definition doesn’t tell the whole story. An asset class, rather, is a category of investments with comparable characteristics that tend to behave similarly in the marketplace. If one goes up in value, it is likely that the others have gone up as well (at least to some degree). And when one plummets, check the others; they probably aren’t doing so hot either.

 

This means that if you have all of your money invested in one asset class, your portfolio is not diversified. If that one asset class does poorly (since all investments within the category behave similarly), your entire portfolio will suffer.

 

But you can’t stop there!

Haphazardly choosing various asset classes will put you far above those who are randomly selecting investments, but you must go further to truly diversify your portfolio.

 

It’s not just about a variety of asset classes; it is about the right variety of asset classes. Some asset classes behave very similarly to other asset classes. These pairs are considered positively correlated. The general rule is this: you don’t want pairs of investments that are positively correlated. In fact, negatively correlated asset classes are the best. Following this rule puts you in a strong position as an investor. Your investments won’t all go up and down at the same time.

 

 

Allow me to give you an example to illustrate this concept.

Imagine a friend of yours just caught a big break at work. His salary just doubled. Since he doesn’t know what to do with this expendable income, he decides to invest. The first thing he purchases is 100 shares of umbrella stock (the umbrella industry is rockin’). Then—to diversify his portfolio—he also buys 75 shares of stock in a poncho company. He’s in the clear, he thinks, but just to be sure, he goes online and buys 90 shares of stock in a company that sells rain boots.

 

How do you think he’s doing?

Yeah. It’s a disaster. In fact, his miniature portfolio is so imbalanced and hopelessly one-basket-ed that you internally cringe by his second purchase. You don’t need to know much about investing to know that his stocks are positively correlated. They will behave the same way! When it’s dry weather, they will all crash and burn. When it’s wet, they will likely do well.

 

What your friend should have done is invest in a sunscreen company to offset his investments in the umbrella company. In a basic sense, this is diversification.

 

Now, this is definitely an oversimplified example. Anyone can see it from a mile away. But people are doing this in the real world, with real money. Not because they are dumb, but because—in reality—correlations aren’t nearly as obvious.

 

In my practice, I’ve seen it all too many times. People come in for a financial consultation, thinking they have a diversified portfolio, and I find that 70% of their investments are in a single asset class. And this isn’t even taking into account the correlations!

 

Needless to say, it’s a scary situation. No one knows how well a particular investment is going to do from year to year. And no one knows how a particular asset class will do either. The only thing we can do is develop a well-balanced, well-rounded, well-diversified portfolio to smooth out the ups and downs, and then watch the money grow over time. It’s the time-tested, statistically- verified choice.

 

But as long as investors believe the misconceptions, thinking that their portfolio is diversified, they will never change the reality that their eggs are still—in fact—all in one basket.

 

Concerned that your portfolio isn’t diversified? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 for a free consultation with a Certified Financial Planner!

 

Do I Really Need a Medicare Supplement?

Do I Really Need a Medicare Supplement?

 

David Belk, a doctor and anti-supplement activist says, “…If you have Medicare and buy a supplemental policy with your own money, you are effectively giving an insurance company your money so that they can keep it.”

 

Wow. This statement is moving. For those who have had a Medicare Supplement Policy for years, it slaps you in the face with regret.

 

And for those who may not be on Medicare and have yet to purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance, it frees you. It justifies a decision that will save you money on premium month to month.

 

However, it is not entirely true. He has a point, but—ultimately—it represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what insurance is.

 

If you take this statement at face value, it would imply that virtually all insurance is worthless.

 

Here’s why: in the vast majority of cases, people pay into insurance and then rarely use it. This is what keeps insurance companies in the black.

 

How many people spend thousands over years on homeowner’s insurance and never have their house burn down? How many people purchase car insurance and only experience a couple of fender benders over their lifetime? Are they essentially “giving their money away to an insurance company”? Yes, you could say that, and it wouldn’t be inaccurate, just a bit misleading.

 

Because you don’t buy insurance for things you expect! Rather, you buy it for things with a high dollar amount of risk and a low probability of happening!

 

You can’t insure what is high risk and high probability. Take Alex Honnold, for example. He spends his waking hours climbing steep ravines with no safety harness. For hours a day, he is one missed footing away from plummeting to his doom. Do you think he is going to be able to get life insurance? It’s almost laughable. This is a high risk, high probability scenario. Of course no insurance company will take a chance on him!

 

You can insure against a low risk, low probability scenario, but why would you want to? Do you want pet insurance for your grandson’s gerbil? Obviously not. Even a low-premium insurance plan wouldn’t be worth it. What did you pay for it? 30 bucks? Maybe fifty if it’s some hypoallergenic, exotic breed? Either way, it’s not a high enough risk.

 

So this begs the question…what does a supplement cover? Is it something that is low probability and high risk?

 

Well…there are varying coverage levels, but even the lowest premium plans cover Medicare’s scariest coverage gap: the unlimited out-of-pocket spending limit.

 

Sure, a lot of them cover “nickel and dime” copays and coinsurance costs that virtually eliminate hassle and reduce costs, but this is just icing on the cake. The real substance of a Supplement Plan is that it puts a cap on your potential out-of-pocket spending.

With Medicare alone, there is absolutely no limit to what you can spend.

 

One of our clients had triple bypass surgery and ended up with a $7,000 bill. My father-in-law with lung cancer had approximately $30-40,000 in charges for outpatient chemotherapy and radiation. I ran into a man who—after a few years of extended illness—racked up over $140,000 in bills that Medicare alone didn’t cover.

 

Can you imagine the devastation if any of these retirees forfeited Medicare Supplement Insurance? If these individuals had chosen Medicare alone, those outrageous bills would’ve been heaped upon their shoulders.

 

Now, what are the chances of this happening to you?

Not very high.

But that is the point! What are the chances that your house is going to burn down? What are the chances that your car will get totaled? You can cite statistics like Dr. Belk and say, “Look…not very many people need this insurance.” However, this doesn’t make those isolated cases any less scary. And it doesn’t change the fact that, from 2006-2015, Medicare Supplement Insurance companies consistently paid out over 75% in claims what they gathered in premiums. Insurance is not about whether or not you are going to get out what you pay in; it is about peace of mind.

 

So yes…I do recommend buying Medicare Supplement Insurance. You don’t necessarily need an expensive, luxury plan, but having something in place is essential. Even if you can’t afford a Supplement, you can (at the very least), purchase a low or no cost Medicare Advantage Plan that will cap your annual out-of-pocket spending at $4-6,000.

 

This won’t guarantee that you won’t be “giving an insurance company your money” but it will guarantee that you can live your retirement life freely and fearlessly, knowing that—in all those unlikely but possible scenarios—

 

you’re still covered.

 

Wondering how much a Medicare Supplement will cost you? Click here to use our Medicare Supplement quoting tool to find out!

 

 

Know The Drug Plan Lingo! 5 Terms to Get You Started

Know The Drug Plan Lingo! 5 Terms to Get You Started

Every field or discipline has its own language. And to the undiscerning ear, it can all run together into nonsensical jargon. Mumbo jumbo. Gibberish. Flim flam. Drivel. You get the idea. But if you want to walk the walk and get ahead, you must first talk the talk. To get you started, you’ve probably come across these 6 terms in your Part D Drug Plan research.

 

Formulary

I’ll start with an easy one. The formulary is simply the list of drugs a particular plan covers. There are 24 drug plans at your disposal. Not all of them will cover the same medications. This is why it is important to check a plan’s formulary to find out if it’s right for you.

 

Prior Authorization

If a drug plan requires prior authorization, it means that they will not cover certain drugs unless your doctor or prescriber proves that the medication is medically necessary.

 

Step Therapy

Drug companies do not want you on an expensive drug when a less expensive one will be just as effective. For this reason, they will often make their beneficiaries start on a generic or cheaper drug as a trial to see if it works just as well. If it doesn’t, then the beneficiary can “step” up to the more expensive (often name brand) medication. This is called step therapy.

 

Quantity Limit

Quantity limit is exactly what it sounds like: a limit on the quantity of a specific drug that a plan will cover. Drug companies limit quantity to reduce waste, curb drug costs, and prevent unsafe use. For example, if someone is on a pain medication with a standard dosage of 2 per day, the quantity limit for a month will likely be 60 pills. They don’t want people getting addicted or wasting them through misuse or carelessness.

 

Tiers

Drug plan companies often organize the medications they cover into levels or “tiers”. Drugs on a lower tier (often generic brands) have lower associated costs such as copayments or coinsurance. Drugs on a higher tier (such as name brand or specialty drugs) often have higher costs.

 

The Donut Hole

The donut hole is a gap is prescription drug coverage. After you reach $3,310 in total drug costs, you enter the donut hole (resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs). After you reach 4,850 in out-pocket costs, you leave the donut hole and enter into what is known as “catastrophic” coverage where the plan will cover 95% of your drug costs.

 

All done! If you finished reading this, your Medicare literacy just increased. But if you have run into any more difficult terms, leave a comment. We are more than willing to answer your questions. Or visit Medicare Interactive’s glossary for additional Medicare vocabulary.

 

Have other Medicare questions? Turning 65 soon and not sure what to do? Click here to sign up for our free Medicare workshop. No high-pressure sales pitches here, just in-depth discussion about the ins and outs of Medicare!

3 Questions You MUST Ask Yourself Before Enrolling in Medicare Part B

3 Questions You MUST Ask Yourself Before Enrolling in Medicare Part B

When approaching 65, most people sign up for Part B, but not everyone. And for good reason, too—not just because they didn’t plan well and missed the deadline. If you are wondering if you are one of these few, stay tuned! The answer is dependent on these three questions:

 

Question 1: Will I (Or My Spouse) Continue Working?

You might be more than ready and able to clock out of that stuffy office or factory for the last time. If this is you, go ahead and enroll. Lack of active employment forfeits your right to delay Part B (even if you have retiree benefits from either your or your spouse’s employer).

However, you or your spouse might continue active employment past age 65 and have insurance coverage through your employer plan. In this case, move on to question #2.

 

Question #2: Who Pays First?

Medicare or the employer? This is an important question to ask because if Medicare pays first and you don’t get on part B, you could be stuck footing some pretty hefty bills on outpatient services. Your employer won’t pay for it because they expected you to get on Medicare. However, if the employer pays first, the decision to delay Part B and stick with your employer health insurance might save you cash on premiums.

The way it works is actually quite simple: Do you work for a company of 20 employees or more? Then the employer pays first. How about fewer than 20? Then Medicare pays first.

But don’t just assume. To be certain, ask your human resources department or employer. They might surprise you with their answer.

Refer to question 3 if you or your spouse is covered under a health plan that insures 20 or more employees.

For more information on the answer to this question, refer to this Kiplinger article entitled “Should You Enroll in Medicare If You Are Still Working?” The “Who Pays First” chart mid-page is especially helpful.

 

Question #3: Is Medicare Cheaper?

Some people have excellent employer plans that make sense to stay on. But for others, it is a toss up. And for a few, Medicare is clearly the cheaper option. The only way to find out is to perform a cost to benefits analysis to determine which is more cost effective. If the employer plan is more expensive, then sign up for Part B.

If this helped you come to a conclusion on enrolling in Part B coverage, I wish you sincere congratulations. You are one step closer to a smooth retirement transition. But—of course—you are not done yet. There are many more things to consider.

Turning 65 soon and not sure what to do? Click here to sign up for our free Medicare workshop. No high-pressure sales pitches here, just in-depth discussion about the ins and outs of Medicare!

If you would like our assistance to perform a cost/benefit analysis, or need more immediate answers to your questions, give our office a call at 937-492-8800 and we will see how we can help!