Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! It’s important to review your Medicare medical and drug coverage every year since plans and drug formularies can change. I offer annual reviews with clients to ensure there are no surprises in the new plan year. If you qualify medically, we can also explore Medicare Supplement plans that may provide better coverage at a lower lifetime cost.

As a licensed and certified Medicare agent, I cannot charge for my time. I respect your time and ask the same in return. I’m paid by the insurance carrier for policies where I’m the agent of record (meaning I enrolled you or submitted your application, and you were accepted). This doesn’t affect your premium. The insurance company pays me a commission based on a schedule and how long you keep the policy.

I hold and maintain all necessary licenses, carrier product-required certifications, and Medicare-required certifications. I also am certified for Fraud, Waste & Abuse Prevention and Anti-Money Laundering avoidance.

It really comes down to qualifications, fit, and trust. In our first converstation you can assess if you think we are a good fit. Here are two relevant qualifications: 1. The thoroughness of my process to understand what you want and need. 2. I hold a certification titled, “In Best Interest of the Client” for specific products and policies for which I can help you apply. Also, please read my Google reviews to see what my clients say.

This is actually a critical time because you need to know all your options. If you will be staying on employer coverage there are things to consider now that will be helpful when you turn 65. For example, there is a Medicare tax called “IRMAA”. It stands for Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an additional charge based on your income from two years ago. It is recalculated each year.

More than you might imagine! The better educated you are, the easier it is to assist you. That’s my focus – your education. I’ve distilled the 130-page government publication “Medicare and You” into a seven minute and two chart presentation that gives you the essential information. I can then, based on your situation, provide specific documents and web links for further research to save you time in making decisions.

This is best explained in person with the charts and materials I created. Medigap (Medicare supplements) cover deductibles and copayments from Medicare Parts A and B. Conversely, Advantage Plans (Part C) are private insurance, often structured as HMOs or PPOs. While 50% of Medicare plans are Advantage plans, I prefer Medigap plans because they can give you nationwide access to Centers of Excellence like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic.

Basically, we need you to complete our intake form, which we can send to you via email. We use a HIPAA Compliant and encrypted Medicare Intake form to ensure your privacy.

It all starts with a conversation so I can understand what matters most to you. Many talks begin with Medicare coverage decisions, but there are often key factors people overlook. As an independent agent I work for you, comparing dozens of options from top insurance companies to find the best fit. Depending on your status, I can enroll you in a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, if you qualify, or an Advantage plan.

Yes! It’s important for adult children and family to understand how Medicare decisions affect everyone. I encourage family involvement. If you’re directly involved in decision-making, you’ll need to verify your relationship and your right to assist or make decisions for your parent(s). We also volunteer with “Parenting Aging Parents,” a multidisciplinary group where we provide Medicare support for its members.

Please visit and complete the Contact form. I will send you an email that will contain a link to my calendar. I can also send you the Medicare Intake Form as well. It will allow me to get pre-work done prior to our call or meeting.

It depends on what you want to accomplish. On the simplest level, if we are going to see what has changed year to year, compare plans or changes in drug coverage, then all I need is your zip code, county, birthdate, Medicare Part A and Part B effective dates, and your current plan information. However, I always recommend a more thorough analysis because there are factors that should be considered other than the basic costs.

Nine out of ten of our meetings are in-person in your home after phone calls and the necessary required exchange of information. If time, distance, or health are an issue, we can meet on a Zoom video call. The key is ensuring we have all the information to do what is in your best interest.

Absolutely. These decisions can affect current spouse coverage, as well as future options and costs, when both of you are eligible for Medicare.

I highly encourage it. Healthcare and insurance are important decisions that affect multiple generations. In general, we as a culture need to include our adult children in the decisions.

This is one of the most important health and cost risks we all face. We will discuss this in detail based on your specific situation, health history, and goals. To get a feel for the issues surrounding this topic, read the article by the National Institute of Cancer titled “Financial Burden of Cancer Care“. It is sobering.