Category: Retirement Planning

Think Poor Health Will Stop You From Getting Medicare Supplement Insurance? Think Again.

Posted on September 13, 2018 by - Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning

Think Poor Health Will Stop You From Getting Medicare Supplement Insurance? Think Again.

Insurance companies can’t refuse you coverage for having cancer or being on an expensive chemo-treatment. They can’t deny you a policy for having diabetes or (Burger King-induced) sky-scraping cholesterol or any other pre-existing condition for that matter. These companies are federally mandated to grant you coverage as long as you enroll within the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. This is good news for you!

 

The Open Enrollment Period

The Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period is a 6-month window beginning the day you both turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B of Medicare. During this time frame, you have all the privileges of someone who doesn’t have poor health, including:

  • Access to all 11 Supplement plans (A, B, C, D, F, HDF, G, K, L, M, and N)
  • No premium hikes due to health conditions
  • No medical underwriting

 

You’ve Got Another Shot.

And then there’s guaranteed issue. Although this is based on very specific circumstances (such as coming off of employer insurance or your current plan discontinuing service), it still offers many people with pre-existing conditions another shot at getting on a plan. It is important to note, though, that some plans may not be available under guaranteed issue. It isn’t an all-access pass like the Open Enrollment Period, but it does give you the assurance to know you will not be denied.

 

 

It’s Not the End of the World!

But don’t sweat if you are no longer within the Open Enrollment Period. This definitely does not mean you won’t be able to get Medicare Supplement Insurance. It just means you will have to answer questions about your health, where they might look at your whopper addiction with a more critical eye.  You may have to pay more, but (depending on your specific conditions) they won’t automatically deny you coverage.

 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t still circumstances where you will be unable to receive coverage. But—because of open enrollment and guaranteed issue—this doesn’t happen nearly as much. The government is making strides to ensure that health coverage is available to those who need it most: those who are unhealthy.

 

Need help picking out one of the 11 Medicare Supplement Plans? Want somewhere to start? Call Seniormark at 937-492-8800 or click here to set up a free consultation.

Aren’t All Medicare Supplements the Same?

Posted on November 17, 2017 by - Medicare Supplement, Medicare Workshop, Retirement Planning

Aren’t All Medicare Supplements the Same?

Yes.

Well…no.

Well— it’s at this point that I realize cut and dry answers don’t get along very well with Medicare. Or the federal government. Or really anything related to government for that matter.  And I am forced to give you the incredibly vague answer that sometimes isn’t an answer at all: yes and no. Allow me to expound.

 

Yes, they are all the same because…

 

Medicare Supplements Are Now Standardized.

Starting in 1992, the federal government came out with 11 plans labeled A through L, each with their own distinct coverage level and associated benefits. These 11 plans are identical no matter where you purchase them, which means that Plan F is still Plan F (offering the same coverage) whether you buy from AARP or Aetna or any other company.

 

However, just because the plans are standardized, that does NOT mean the prices are!

 

Which brings me to the inevitable…

No, they aren’t all the same because…

 

Prices Can Vary Dramatically—

As much as $100 a month.

And for the exact same benefits! Here’s an example. Let’s say you are a 65-year-old male from Sidney, Ohio who doesn’t use tobacco. If you purchased Plan F Supplement insurance from Banker’s Fidelity Life, it would cost $152.06 a month. However, if you purchased Plan F from Physicians Mutual Insurance, you would pay $294.33 a month. This is like having the option of identical minivans. Same make and model. Same gas mileage. Same features. Except one is almost twice as much. The choice is a no-brainer, right?  (Prices are current as of November, 2017).

 

 Now it’s time for something definite:

 

You should ALWAYS go to a trusted Independent Advisor (see my blog for reasons why here) for help.

 

They will get you into a plan that is right for you. Since they are independent, they are free to shop with a lot of companies to find the plan with the best benefits for the lowest cost.

 

Ahhh…the best value.

Now that is cut and dry.

 

Still have questions?  Sign up for our next workshop here:  workshop signup.

 

If you need help shopping for a Medicare Supplement plan, call us at 937-492-8800  for a free consultation!

 

A Side-by-Side Comparison of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements

Posted on July 18, 2017 by - Health and wellbeing, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized

A Side-by-Side Comparison of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements

When it comes to Medicare, you only have two big options. That’s it.

The piles of mail you’ve been receiving from various agents as you approach 65 do not represent hundreds of choices. There are only 2 ways to get your Medicare coverage.

First, I hope you have already signed up for Medicare (If not, hop on over to our blog titled “What Is the Fastest Way to Sign Up For Medicare? to take care of that, then come back and read the rest of this!).

The first way is just to stick with original Medicare—Parts A and B. Then you need what is known as Medicare Supplement Insurance, named as such because it “supplements” Medicare, filling in the gaps of what Medicare doesn’t cover.

The other option, however, is to get a Medicare Advantage Plan. This is an alternative to Original Medicare provided through private insurance companies that have contracted with Medicare. Although you still have to sign up for Parts A and B to be eligible, this replaces Medicare as the primary payer of your claims.

Choosing one or the other comes down to what’s most important to you. You can’t have both! What I am going to do is hold both of these options up to the light, side-by-side, so you can see clearly the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Check it out:

Medicare Supplement

 

PROS  

  1. Minimal Out-of-Pocket Spending

You won’t have much coinsurance or copays with a Supplement. Most of it is covered.

 

  1. Predictability

They are also fairly consistent from year to year. They do creep up in premium (see our blog “Beat the Medicare Supplement Creep”, but they rarely leap! The benefits are guaranteed to stay the same.

 

  1. Out-of-State Coverage

Supplements cover you the same whether you are in your home state or out. Vacation homes? Extensive trips? No big deal. You’re covered.

 

  1. No Networks

You are free to use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare without sacrificing your coverage.

 

 

CONS

  1. Higher Premium

An in-the-ballpark average Supplement price is about $110 per month premium. This is higher than most Advantage Plans.

 

  1. No Drug Plan

Drug plans are not built in. You have to get a stand-alone drug plan, which cost an average of $34.10 per month in 2016.

 

Medicare Advantage

 

CONS

  1. High Out-of-Pocket Spending

Advantage plans have more of a pay-as-you-go approach. Higher copays, coinsurance, and unexpected costs are common.

 

  1. Unpredictability

Since Advantage plans are funded by government subsidy, benefits and premium costs tend to vary from year to year as a result.

 

 

 

 

  1. Out-of-State Coverage…Sometimes

Only in the case of emergency will you receive coverage out of your home state. Other than that, you’re on your own.

 

  1. Networks

They have them…networks of preferred hospitals and doctors. If you don’t use those preferred providers, you might have less coverage or—depending on the plan—no coverage at all.

 

PROS

  1. Low to No Premium

The average premium is somewhere around 60 dollars a month. Some are even free!

 

  1. Built-in Drug Plan

The vast majority of Advantage plans include a drug plan. No hassle or extra premium for you!

As you can see, the Medicare Supplement route is more costly, but there are a lot of benefits that give you more peace of mind and—all in all—less hassle.

On the other hand, the Medicare Advantage route is more economic, but it has fewer benefits, leading to unexpected costs and stress.

But both do their jobs. They both limit the potentially high out-of-pocket spending that is left by Medicare alone. Whatever you choose, don’t leave yourself vulnerable. Medicare alone is never a good idea!

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!

Workshops

10 Medicare Terms To Get You Started

Posted on July 12, 2017 by - Health and wellbeing, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized

10 Medicare Terms To Get You Started

If you’ve ever done research in your life, you know that knowledgeable people sometimes overdo it. They use words that only other life-long Medicare experts would know.

 

And when you ask them to explain, what do they do? Use even bigger and scarier words to describe the ones you didn’t understand in the first place. Our philosophy: Never use a big word, when a singularly un-loquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will do the trick.

 

Over our 19 years of helping retirees, it has served us well. Now we are here to pass our knowledge onto you in words you understand. To get started, here are 10 commonly used terms:

1. Medicare

At the top of the list, I like to kick-it-off with the basics. Medicare is a government-run health care program for those over 65. It is also for younger people with disabilities or kidney failure, but its primary concern is to serve the older generation.

2. Medicaid

This is often confused with Medicare, but they are completely different programs. Although they both serve the same purpose (to provide health insurance), Medicaid is for people with low income. There is a chance that you might be eligible for both programs at the same time.

3. Medicare Beneficiary

This is you. Or if you haven’t signed up yet, it will be you very soon. A Medicare beneficiary is a person enrolled in Medicare, receiving Medicare benefits.

4. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

The IEP is made up of 3 parts: the 3 months before you turn 65, your 65th birthday month, and the 3 months after. This 7-month window is the time that most people should sign up for Medicare. If you miss your IEP, it could lead to costly penalties. So pay attention. Like all time, those 7 months will fly by!

5. Part A

Medicare is divided up into 4 parts (A, B, C, and D). And Part A is your inpatient care. It includes nursing care, hospice, and some home health services. But—for the most part—it is coverage for when you are officially checked-in at a hospital.

6. Part B

Part B is exactly the opposite of Part A. It is your outpatient care, including lab tests, medically necessary supplies, and various screenings. To keep simple, Part B is care received while checked-out of the hospital.

7. Original (Traditional) Medicare

This one is simple. Whenever someone refers to original (or traditional) Medicare, they are referring to Parts A and B together.

8. Part C (Medicare Advantage)

Medicare Advantage is an alternative to original Medicare offered through private insurance companies that have contracted with Medicare. In other words, they replace Medicare as your health insurance provider. About 1 in 4 people choose Medicare Advantage, according to the Reader’s Digest. To find out the advantages and disadvantages of Part C, click here.

NOTE: You still have to sign up for Parts A and B to be eligible for Part C.

9. Part D

Part D is your drug plan. It covers your prescription medications. Also offered through private insurance companies, almost everyone signs up for Part D in addition to original Medicare (Parts A and B).

10. Medicare Supplement Insurance

A supplement is fondly nicknamed a “Medigap plan.” It is referred to this way because it “fills in the gaps” of what Medicare Parts A and B doesn’t cover on its own. Without it, you leave yourself quite vulnerable. There is no limit to what you could spend in uncovered health care costs!

That should be enough to get you started on this often-overwhelming journey of Medicare planning. As you continue to learn more and plan your retirement, we are committed to keeping you up-to date and informed…in words you can understand. How did we do? Leave us a comment below to pose any questions or concerns!

 

Turning 65 soon and confused about Medicare? 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! We put it into words you can understand.

 

Workshops

Underrated Plan G Supplement Could Save You Hundreds a Year

Posted on May 24, 2017 by - Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning

Underrated Plan G Supplement Could Save You Hundreds a Year

Plan F is Medicare Supplement’s Cadillac plan. It is the one with the most comprehensive benefits of all 11 plans, reducing potential out-of-pocket spending for health insurance to an all-time low. It covers all Medicare approved expenses including deductibles, coinsurance, skilled nursing, and much more. Talk about a smooth ride! So when my clients are looking for a Medicare Supplement of high quality, that is usually the one they hop into. It is secure. It is hassle-free. And it’s just dang pretty.

 

But it is not always the best value. In fact, it rarely is, and here’s why:

 

Introducing Plan G

F G
Basic Benefits, including 100% Part B coinsurance Basic Benefits, including 100% Part B coinsurance
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
Part A Deductible Part A Deductible
Part B Deductible $183
Part B Excess (100%) Part B Excess (100%)
Foreign Travel Emergency Foreign Travel Emergency

 *Red means you pay

Take a thoughtful look at the Plan F and G benefits side by side. You’ll notice that these two plans cover most of the same things. From basic benefits to the hefty $1316 Part A deductible, it’s identical. The only difference is that Plan G does not cover the annual $183 Part B deductible.

                       

Cutting Costs

Yet the premium difference between these two plans is often staggering: sometimes $30- 50 or more a month. And if you take into account the amount saved in premiums, Plan F starts to lose its luster.

 

How about an example? Let’s say a 65-year old female from Sidney, Ohio is shopping for a supplement. For AARP’s Plan F, she would pay $151.90 per month. And for an Aetna Plan G, she would pay $113.95 a month. That is a $455.40 a year difference! Although she would be giving up the benefit of having her $183 deductible paid for, she would still save $272.40 a year by choosing Plan G!

 

It seems the best benefits don’t always mean the best value. The overall cost is what counts, 100% of the time. So when shopping luxury, keep this in mind: Always check to see what you are paying for. You just might find a better deal elsewhere.

 

Curious about how much a plan G would cost you? Use our Medicare Supplement quoting tool to find out! Click here to find out your best rates!  https://seniormark.com/resources/

Image:  http://www.seniorsavingsnetwork.org/category/medicare

 

Do I Really Need a Medicare Supplement?

Posted on May 10, 2017 by - Employer, Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized

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!

 

 

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

Posted on April 11, 2017 by - Employer, Medicare, Retirement Planning

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!

 

Turning 65 and Work For a Small Employer? Sign Up For Medicare Part B!

Posted on March 8, 2017 by - Employer, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning

Turning 65 and Work For a Small Employer? Sign Up For Medicare Part B!

The general rule of thumb is if you have employer insurance through active employment, you can delay Part B of Medicare without penalty.

 

But that certainly doesn’t mean you should! There are cases, of course, when your employer plan is the better value, and it works out for you to opt out of part B. However, in other situations, it may be very costly.

 

For example, consider the woman who came into our office earlier this year with an $8000 bill for her outpatient surgery. She opted out of Part B, but she had insurance through active employment. Shouldn’t her employer plan cover it?

 

Well, not always. You see, her insurance was provided through a company that employed less than 20 people. This made Medicare the primary payer of her insurance. And when she didn’t have Medicare? Well…it wasn’t good.

 

The costly mistake had to do with how coordination of benefits works between employer insurance and Medicare. Let’s take an employer health insurance plan that covers 80/20 as an example (insurance pays 80%, you pay 20%)

 

When an employer plan covers 20 or more employees, the employer plan is the primary payer of your claims. Therefore, your employer insurance pays 80% of the bill and Medicare (if you have it) pays the remaining 20%. In this case, it is not necessary to have Part B; you can opt out. You’ll have to pay the remaining 20%, but it saves you the $134.00 a month Part B premium.

 

But if your employer plan covers less than 20 employees, Medicare pays first. The whole thing is flipped. So what if you get the previously mentioned expensive surgery and don’t have Medicare? It will not just carry over to your employer plan. They won’t pay the 80% that was supposed to be covered by Medicare. Instead, you will be lucky to get them to pay the 20%, leaving you on the hook…80% or more on the hook, which might just be $8000 in uncovered surgery procedures.

 

This is why it is so important to ensure that you are signing up for Medicare at the right time. Just because your neighbor can opt out of part B doesn’t mean you can. They might work for a Honda or a Copeland, a company with thousands of employees. You might work for a small business of 15 people.

 

So check with your boss or human resources department. Ask and make sure. It could save you from an unexpected, expensive, and potentially crippling bill.

 

Confused about Medicare and not sure what to do next? Download our free E-book here, and let us walk you through it!  Still have questions?  Call our office at 937-492-8800 to schedule a free, no obligation appointment!

 

Will I Be Able to Afford Medicare?

Posted on February 16, 2017 by - Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement, Retirement Planning, Social Security

Will I Be Able to Afford Medicare?

The shortest and most honest answer is “I don’t know”. But I know this doesn’t help you answer the most pressing questions weighing on your mind as you approach retirement age. Am I ready? Or Should I delay my retirement? And most of all—how am I going to afford health care without my employer insurance?

 

So here’s what I am going to do. Using my 20 years of experience working with retirees, I am going to lay out a framework for what to expect when it comes to Medicare expenses. These will just be “in-the-ballpark” figures, but I believe they will help you come to a decision. You just might find that Medicare falls squarely into your budget.

 

So let’s get started with some good news.

 

Medicare Part A (Inpatient Care) Is Free

As long as you’ve paid into Social Security for at least 10 years, social security will return the favor with no associated Part A premium.

 

The Associated Part B (Outpatient Care) Monthly Premium is $134.00

This figure is adjusted for high income, but most people don’t fall into the high-income category. $134.00 will be your monthly premium unless you make $85,000 per year or more as an individual or $170,000 filing jointly.

 

From this point, the cost of Medicare is heavily affected by which path you take. You can boil down all the madness into two basic choices: Medicare Advantage or Original (traditional) Medicare.

 

The Traditional Medicare Route

If you choose the Traditional Medicare route, you will want Medicare Supplement Insurance to fill in the gaps of what Medicare doesn’t cover. Otherwise, there will be no limit to your out-of-pocket spending. The premiums for a Medicare Supplement range from $45-146 per month. However, we often recommend a plan G, which typically costs $110 per month. This is a fairly standard premium. It puts into perspective what you can expect a Medicare Supplement Plan to cost.

 

To cover your medications, you will also need a Part D prescription drug plan, which will cost in additional premium anywhere between $15 to $128 monthly. The average cost for a drug plan is $35.63 in 2017. The out-of-pocket costs associated with Part D vary greatly depending on your medications. It is impossible to estimate without knowing your specific situation.

 

The Medicare Advantage Route

Offered as an alternative to Traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage is often the cheaper option when it comes to premiums. They are offered for prices within the range of $0-163 monthly with the average premium being approximately $60 per month. The Part D prescription drug plan is almost always rolled into the plan.

 

Caution: Check For Possible Out-of-pocket Costs

At first glance, it looks like the Medicare Advantage route is the obvious choice. But this fails to take into account the risk of out-of-pocket costs. With a Medicare Supplement (only available with Original Medicare), the maximum out-of-pocket is only $166-366 annually for Plan G. However, in an advantage plan, it is more of a pay-as-you-go approach. There are less monthly premiums; but copays, coinsurance, and deductibles are much higher. The potential out-of-pocket for an advantage plan can be as a high as $3500-6000 per year or more!

 

The Costs At a Glance


So there you have it! This should give you a good idea of what Medicare costs for the average 65-year old. But—as I said before—the cost of Medicare is different for every person. If you are still concerned about being able to afford Medicare, contact us for a free consultation. We will assess your financial and health situation to find an overall plan that meets your needs, concerns, and pocketbook. Ensuring you a successful and secure transition into retirement is our number one priority.

 

There are a lot circumstances that may prevent you from retiring. But I believe that the affordability of health insurance shouldn’t be one.

 

Disclaimer: Numbers are based on Ohio 45365.

 

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!

photo credit:  http://www.espace.cool/prudence-how-much-can-we-afford/

Medicare Answers at a Glance: Should I Delay Part B?

Posted on September 22, 2016 by - Medicare, Retirement Planning, Uncategorized

Medicare Answers at a Glance: Should I Delay Part B?

 

Medicare Part A is free, so there isn’t much hesitation to enroll outside of HSA contribution issues. But with Part B, there is a $121.80 associated premium, so those approaching 65 are a little bit leery. Do I really need it?

 

Let’s make this clear: most people do. So before you make the decision to opt out, make absolute sure that you are one of the few who don’t!

 

You should NOT delay Part B if…

 

1.  You are retiring from work.

Retiree insurance or COBRA doesn’t count. If you don’t have employer insurance through active employment, the answer is simple: don’t delay Part B. You will be left without outpatient coverage for as long as don’t enroll, and you will incur penalties if you sign up late!

2.  Your employer’s health insurance plan covers 20 or less employees.

Just because you have employer insurance and are still working does not give you an all-access pass to opt out of Part B. If the plan doesn’t cover at least 20 people, you should definitely enroll in Part B. But take careful note. The number of employees is not always the same as the number of insured employees. Some temporary or part-time workers may not be covered on the employer insurance plan. Check with your employer before making any hard and fast decisions.

3.  Your employer insurance is more expensive

This may seem obvious, but I felt compelled to include it. Just because you can delay Part B doesn’t mean you want to. Analyze the costs and benefits of both Medicare and your employer insurance to determine which is the better value.

 

If these three criteria don’t apply to you, you may very well qualify to delay Part B. But I always recommend running your situation past a Medicare expert to make sure. Retirement decisions are as complex as they are important. Get help when you need it!

 

Need Medicare questions answered? Download our free guide, “Introduction to Medicare”.  No high-pressure sales pitches here, just in-depth discussion about the ins and outs of Medicare!