How Financial Advisers Can Help Clients With Medicare
- Expertise In-House. Brad Pistole, the president of Trinity Insurance & Financial Services, has a Medicare specialist on...
- Outsource. Pistole, however, might be the exception to the rule — at least at the moment. Most financial advisers seem...
- Educational Resources. According to Anthea Perkinson, a principal at...
Full Answer
Where can I get help with Medicare questions?
You can educate yourself using the Medicare Rights Center website, or get personalized counseling using the helpline available Monday-Friday at 1-800-333-4114. If your question or problem with Medicare involves a suspected error, fraud, or abuse of Medicare, the Senior Medicare Patrol is a great resource since it specializes in those areas.
Where can I get help with a Medicare appeal?
These organizations include the Medicare Rights Center, which offers counseling through a national telephone helpline at 800-333-4114 for people pursuing Medicare appeals, and the Center for Medicare Advocacy, which provides self-help toolkits for enrollees working on appeals.
What should I do if I'm turning 65 and want Medicare?
EVERYONE WHO IS TURNING 65 should complete these tasks: Get familiar with Medicare and its “parts” To learn about Medicare, see the “Introduction to Medicare” fact sheet. You can also visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227); TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Determine your Initial Enrollment Period
What is the best way to get Medicare coverage?
Medicare Information to Consider. Your choices for Medicare coverage are: Get Part A to cover only hospital costs, which for most people is available with no additional costs. Enroll in the Original Medicare plan (Parts A and B, covering hospital and doctor visits).
Who can help me choose the right Medicare plan?
Get personalized help with choosing a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Go to shiptacenter.org or call 800-633-4227 for local contacts.
Who makes Medicare decisions?
Medicare Administrative ContractorLCDs are decisions made by a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) whether to cover a particular item or service in a MAC's jurisdiction (region) in accordance with section 1862(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act. MACs are Medicare contractors that develop LCDs and process Medicare claims.
Who do you call with questions about Medicare?
1-800-633-4227Visit Medicare.gov/about-us/nondiscrimination/accessibility-nondiscrimination.html, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for more information. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Paid for by the Department of Health & Human Services.
Can AARP help with Medicare questions?
AARP's Medicare Question and Answer Tool offers practical and comprehensive information to help you navigate the program according to your own situation.
What is a Medicare administrative contractor?
A Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) is a private health care insurer that has been awarded a geographic jurisdiction to process Medicare Part A and Part B (A/B) medical claims or Durable Medical Equipment (DME) claims for Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries.
How is the Medicare approved amount determined?
The Medicare-approved amount is the amount of money that Medicare will pay a health care provider for a medical service or item. After you meet your Medicare Part B deductible ($233 per year in 2022), you will typically pay a percentage of the Medicare-approved amount for services and items covered by Medicare Part B.
How do I speak to a person at Medicare?
Call 1-800-MEDICARE For questions about your claims or other personal Medicare information, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
What is the best way to contact Medicare?
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.
Does Medicare have local offices?
Does Medicare Have Local Offices? Medicare does not have local offices.
Who does AARP recommend for Medicare?
UnitedHealthcareAARP endorses the AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, insured by UnitedHealthcare.
Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?
If they don't say under budget, they end up losing money. Meaning, you may not receive the full extent of care. Thus, many doctors will likely tell you they do not like Medicare Advantage plans because private insurance companies make it difficult for them to get paid for their services.
What questions should I ask Medicare?
Use this guide to consider your options when preparing to enroll in Medicare or after you have already enrolled.What are the basics? ... What are your coverage options? ... Should you enroll in Part D? ... Are you eligible for programs that help lower Medicare costs? ... What resources exist to help you navigate Medicare?
How to contact Medicare by phone?
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) You can call 1-800-MEDICARE and speak with a representative to ask questions about Medicare or get help resolving problems with Medicare. We made a test call to this number and were greeted by a polite Medicare representative after being on hold for about 90 seconds.
What is Medicare Rights Center?
The Medicare Rights Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Americans understand their Medicare rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system, and get quality health care. It does this using the extensive library of information available on its website as well as through a telephone helpline.
What is the difference between Medicare.gov and MyMedicare.gov?
The information available on the MyMedicare.gov website differs from Medicare.gov in that it’s specific to you. You’ll be able to see your Medicare Part A and Part B claims as well as get quality information about your doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
What is Medicare.gov?
Medicare.gov is the official government website about Medicare. There are lots of private sites devoted to Medicare information and sales—some are very reputable, although some are not. But only the government website has the dot-gov domain name. 5.
What is a helpline counselor?
Helpline counselors offer assistance with Medicare questions like how to decrease your premium costs and with Medicare problems such as appealing payment denials. They can also provide extensive information regarding eligibility and enrollment, even for somewhat complicated situations.
What types of Medicare decisions can I appeal?
You have the right to dispute decisions from Medicare, a Medicare health plan, or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that involve:
How do I start the appeals process?
Where you begin in the appeals process depends on the nature of your Medicare problem and the urgency of the needed solution.
How do I appeal if I have original Medicare?
Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance).
How do I appeal if I have Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans — also known as Part C — which bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and, usually, D together, are alternative ways to get Medicare benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurers that Medicare approves.
How do I appeal if I have a Medicare drug plan?
Prescription drug coverage is available as an add-on to original Medicare called Medicare Part D, or as a prescription drug benefit included with a Medicare Advantage plan or other Medicare plan.
How do I maximize my chances of winning an appeal?
There are several ways to increase your chances of winning an appeal, including:
Where can I find help for my Medicare appeal?
In addition to consulting your provider, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers many online Medicare resources for appeals. CMS also provides a Medicare telephone helpline at 1-800-MEDICARE ( 1-800-633-4227 ).
Key takeaways
An agent or broker will need information about you and your providers to help you choose a Medicare plan.
What information does an agent or broker need to help me enroll in Medicare?
An agent or broker can help you with the process of selecting a plan and completing the enrollment. In order to best assist you, they will need to know the names and dosages of any medications you take, as well as your preferred pharmacies, so that they can narrow down the options based on how your medications will be covered.
Can a friend or family member help me sign up for Medicare?
You always have the right to have a trusted friend or family member present while you’re discussing your health coverage needs with Medicare, your state’s Medicare SHIP, or with an agent or broker.
How can I authorize Medicare to discuss my coverage with someone else?
If you want Medicare to be able to directly share your personal health information with someone else, there’s an authorization form that you’ll need to complete. Once you have it on file with Medicare, you can add names to it or update it through your MyMedicare.gov account.
Can someone help me sign up for Medicare if I'm incapacitated?
If you’re incapacitated and unable to participate in your own plan selection process, someone else can act on your behalf as long as you’ve created a power of attorney (POA) and named that person as your legal representative.
Can a friend or family talk about my coverage with a private Medicare insurance company?
If you’re enrolled in a private Medicare plan (a Part D plan, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Medigap plan ), the insurance company will have their own disclosure authorization form that you’ll need to complete so that they can discuss your coverage with a loved one.
What happens if you don't sign up for Medicare?
If you don’t sign up within seven months of turning 65 (three months before your 65 th birthday, your birthday month, and three months after), you will pay a 10% penalty for every year you delay. Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, which is a privately-run health plan approved by the government to provide Medicare benefits.
Does Part D cover prescriptions?
It will help cover the cost of your prescription medications. Similar to Part B, there is a financial penalty if you do not sign up for a Part D plan when you are first eligible, unless you have other prescription drug coverage.
Friends and Family
Professionals
- This category includes your accountant, attorney, primary care provider, and other professionals. However, just because these experts have a professional certification in their field doesn’t mean they can advise you about Medicare. Medicare is specialized health insurance unlike group health insurance or marketplace plans. What makes it complex is that there are public and private opti…
Medicare.gov
- Medicare.gov offers a variety of resources that explain the basics of Medicare. However, 73% of people find Medicare.gov hard to use. In addition, what Medicare.gov does not offer is expert, individualized advice that matches plans to your needs, health concerns, financial situation, and other factors you need to consider to make the Medicare choices that are best for you.
Traditional Brokers
- Traditional brokers from different plan providers can be good sources of information. While they will sell you their companies’ products, that does not mean they will not take the time to discuss your needs and priorities and try to match you with a plan that will work well for you. However, traditional brokers are not required to search a minimum number of plans, disclose the number t…
Coverright – A Simple, Seamless Solution
- Ultimately, you are responsible for finding the right Medicare plan for you. And remember that if you commit to a plan that you do not like, you might not be able to change it until the following October, when the annual Open Enrollment period begins. At CoverRight, we’ve built the first digital Medicare concierge to help you navigate the process a...