In this article, you will learn:
- What is the role of a licensed insurance agent when signing up for Medicare
- The benefits of using a licensed insurance agent to help you sign up for Medicare
- How your agent can help you evaluate plans and coverage to best match your situation
Let’s begin today’s article by answering the most basic question about licensed insurance agents . . .
What Is a Licensed Insurance Agent?
A licensed insurance agent is an insurance professional who can provide you with the guidance you need to select and enroll in Medicare services and plans that are best for you. The choices you need to make fall into two categories . . .
- Should you select only government-provided Medicare options (Medicare Part A and Part B) or should you consider coverage provided by commercial insurance carriers which fill the gaps in the government plans?
- When evaluating the commercial Medicare plan options which are going to be best for your situation? Should you consider a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C) or a Medigap/Medicare Supplement plan? Then which carrier will offer the most comprehensive coverage with a premium that fits your needs?
Please note that licensed insurance agents do not charge a fee for their services. They receive a commission from the insurance company after you enroll in a Medicare plan.
The Benefits of Working with a Licensed Insurance Agent to Sign Up for Medicare
You could choose to do your own research and make your own choice of plans and even enroll directly with an insurance carrier. However, the benefits of working with a licensed insurance agent are considerable, and can include:
- Expert knowledge and advice about both government Medicare programs and commercial plans like Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Plans
- Personalized guidance about selecting plan options that meet your individual needs
- Hands-on help with Medicare enrollment
- The ability to compare the coverage that different plans offer and explain how the coverage works
- The knowledge to compare different plans, including how much they cost, what they cover, and how your prescription medications will be covered
A Deeper Exploration of the Guidance that a Licensed Insurance Agent Can Offer You When it Comes to Medicare
A licensed insurance agent can answer critical Medicare questions that cannot be answered by a general insurance agent like the one who sold you insurance for your car.
Some of those questions may include your concerns about:
- Care providers – Can you continue to use the physicians and other care providers you are seeing now?
- Chronic conditions – Will your current health conditions and/or illnesses be covered?
- Predictable future care needs – If you have a specific operation or procedure coming up, will the plan pay for it?
- Prescriptions – Will the plan you pick pay for the expensive prescriptions you want and need?
- Bariatric surgery and specialized weight-reduction care. Thankfully, only about 1 percent of Americans, or about 250,000 people, have bariatric surgery every year. But again if you think you might be a candidate – or if you believe that having weight-reduction surgery could improve your health or quality of life, learn whether it will be covered by your plan.
- Cosmetic surgery. If you’ve been planning a procedure, don’t assume it will not be covered by a Medicare plan. Ask and find out the particulars.
- Diabetic care. If you have pre-diabetes or diabetes now, ask about future care needs. Will your plan cover nutritional counseling, for example? And what about the care of an endocrinologist or other specialist who can help you both prevent and manage diabetes if you develop it? Ask about these services before you need them.
- Future dental needs. If there is a chance you will need some expensive dental care like implants or dentures or an extraction, ask now whether they will be covered by the plans you are considering.
- Gym memberships. Some plans help cover the cost.
- Home meal delivery. Coverage can be difficult to find, but some plans do assist in this area.
- Home medical equipment you might need. It’s not always pleasant to think about these needs before they arise. But if there is a chance you will need to have an entry ramp, a chairlift, or other home equipment in the future, the time to ask about them is now.
- In-home care for yourself or a family member. Not all plans cover it, but some do. So be sure to ask if you think it could be a future need. Be sure to ask about possible hospice care too, if you think it could be a future need.
- Psychological counseling. Whether you are currently getting psychotherapy or whether you would simply like to, it could be covered if you ask about it ahead of time and select the right plan. Also, if you might need counseling for substance abuse or alcoholism, don’t hide from those problems. Ask now.
- Transportation. If you or a member of your family need transportation to physical therapy, to an infusion center, or any other kind of care, some plans will help. So be sure to ask.
- Upcoming orthopedic care. It could be a probable joint replacement, foot surgery, or an operation to repair a torn rotator cuff. It is not unusual to know ahead of time that you might require an orthopedic procedure and again, the time to ask is now.
Conclusion
To make the most informed decision about your Medicare choices, we encourage you to speak with a CoverRight licensed insurance agent. There is no fee for your consultation and you will gain some additional knowledge about Medicare that can help you now and in the future.
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CoverRight is on a mission to make the Medicare plan selection process easy to understand. We are here to help you compare Medicare plans and find the one best suited to your specific situation. Try the platform for yourself.
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