Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic
Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic
  • Introduction to MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Apply for a Health Plan
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!
    • Introduction to MediCare
    • Medicare Advantage Plans
    • Medicare Supplements
    • Applying for MediCare
    • Apply for a Health Plan
    • Professional Background
    • Questions? Send a note!
  • Introduction to MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Apply for a Health Plan
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!
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Helping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the best

Helping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the bestHelping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the bestHelping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the best

Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement to fit their situation! 

Call today - to talk about MediCare & your interests!

(860) 739-0005

Helping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the best

Helping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the bestHelping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the bestHelping individuals in SE CT understand MediCare, to sign up & buy the best

Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare Supplement to fit their situation! 

Call today - to talk about MediCare & your interests!

(860) 739-0005

Sharing — factual information — about MediCare!

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You are not signed up for MediCare automatically — when you are 65! YOU decide when! ● Want to start it at 65 — the first step — contact the Local Social Security (SS) office *. ● Suggest two months before 65!

     * Surveys report some people received incorrect information calling SS's main 800 # !  


MediCare eligibility & sign up:  SS is reponsible to process all applications. Their regulations, I call them "rules", say: 

   ->  You become "eligible" to sign up and can decide to have coverage begin the month when 65.. 

   -> If you apply in month 3, 2, or 1 before eligible Part A & B begin the 1st day of the month when 65.  

   -> You are responsible to decide when to sign up.


There are two exceptions to the rules on being eligible at 65: 

    ->  A  person who signed up for SS benefits early will be automatically enrolled the month eligible.   [They can opt out of Part B if working.]

    ->  Someone who qualified for SS disability is signed up after 24 months! 

Steps to sign up for Medicare

● First tip — Call the Local SS office. It's 866-643-3401 for New London CT. Ask to speak with a Retirement person. If not available ask for a time when you can call. When you do talk ask about:

   -> completing your application for Part A & B.  


   -> your options to pay Part B's monthly cost. [Base is $144.60 in 2020 - goes to $148.80 for 2021]   

          Note: The base is 25% of MediCare's per person cost.

 

       BTW: Your share goes up if the AGI on your IRS 1040 [two years ago] is above 87 k for Single & 174 k for Joint. It will be 88k & 176k in 2021. There are five AGI based levels above this each with a higher monthly cost!


     ->  the charts SS has to help you decide a good age to start receiving SS benefits. Ask if they can create and mail one or can you get them online?. 


An online sign up option: There are many advantages to a back and forth conversation with a Retirement person. However, if it is better for you, SS has a way to sign up on line.  Scroll down on this SS site to the Section – How to apply just for MediCare. Select the Blue Button.    

    [I do not recommend this when leaving an employer after 65. Call if questions on any of this .] 


MediCare has important words! When signing up is complete -  MediCare calls you "entitled" [not enrolled ]. Entitled is the date your medical treatment coverage started for:

     ->  Part A — inpatient care in a hospital. 

     ->  Part B — medically necessary outpatient services.

 

Note: Entitled is on your MediCare ID card above Part A & B!  Pic of  the ID card on this page and the info explaining the new style.

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You receive many Medicare Health Plan brochures in the months before 65! <—> Is all this mail confusing? <—> Was it hard to find info online about the plans available in Southeastern CT?

Many say yes to both questions! 


The next Tip — call John C Parker's Google Voice (860) 451-9793. We can talk about your situation / interest and simplify for you: 

   ● how MediCare works & how to sign up, 


To find the best option for your situation we will also review the two kinds of Medicare Health Plans, how they work to protect your income & savings, and the options available in SE CT.


Medicare-sign-up-after-65-answers-assistance

OK — you worked past 65 — What do the SS rules say?

When you work after 65 you can sign up any time you want using a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).   

     Key — to be eligible for a SEP you have to be covered by your employers medical plan - or were within 63 days!

 

Another Tip: Call the Local SS office — ask to talk to — or for a time to call a Retirement person.  When you talk tell them when you plan to leave employer coverage and want to:

● Apply for Part B. . 

      -> FYI. Part A will be activated but backdated six months from your date for Part B.


● Discuss ways to pay your monthly cost for Part B [S144.60 in 2020 & $148.80 in 2021 ] :

     ->  it's deducted from SS if you are or will be receiving benefits.


● To qualify for the SEP you need to have the CMS-L564 form completed by your employer. Ask if they can:

     ->  eMail it to you. It shows dates you were covered. 


     Note: A back and forth conversation with a Retirement person is great but SS has an option to sign up on line if that is better for you. On this SS page – scroll down to a Section – How to apply just for MediCare. Select the Blue Button.

       [A point:  On line works fine when turning 65 but I recommend being careful trying to sign up after 65.] 

 

● The CMS-L564 form to qualify for a SEP is on this link – scroll down to the Section -  Already enrolled in Medicare. You will see a link to CMS-L564 and one in the second paragraph to CMS-40B which is the application form or Part B, 

     Note: Your employer fills in CMS-L564 with dates you had medical coverage and signs.


 Returning CMS-L564 to SS:

     ->  approves the SEP to sign up for Part B the date you want. 

     ->  shows you had coverage thus avoiding B's late enrollment penalty.

 

BTW — You can't just sign up for Part B when you want! <—> Federal regulations limit sign up times when past 65 to these periods.   

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OK! You are "entitled" to ● Part A — for hospitalization ● Part B — for all outpatient services. Parts A & B are called original MediCare! What would MediCare pay if just the two basic parts are used to receive treatment?

MediCare does not pay MDs or other providers 100% of the approved amount for the outpatient services they provide!  


Lets look at this! — MediCare's system:

     ● Reviews all medical treatments and services and "assigns" ** an approved amount for each. 

     ● Asks MDs and others, who agreed to participate, to accept just 80% of the approved amount when they submit treatment invoices. Thus, providers are asked to accept "assignment".

       **  Discounted, often deeply, from retail! 


Let's look at what you pay going for  —  any:

  ●  Outpatient treatments or services: Using Part B means you pay 20% of MediCare's approved amount!   Then too, at the beginning of each year you also pay Part B' deductible —  $198 in 2020. 

     Bottom line — so many treatment and services are now done outpatient so this could quickly be a Big Risk to your income & savings! 


  ● In hospital treatment: When admitted Part A's coverage is very extensive and MediCare pays all medically necessary treatments / services —  but you are responsible to pay Part A's 2020 $1,408 deductible each time admitted. 

Call (860) 451-9793 - - Whatever time you need for all this will be available!
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OK! What can YOU DO about the Big Risk to your finances of — paying 20% for all outpatient treatments? Here is a Tip!

Buy a special kind of insurance I like to call — Medicare Health Plans to protect your finances!  When you buy —  it"s like you put up an umbrella over your income & savings! 

    Note: If you don't buy — bills will come like a rain storm!


The name in red  is a link to information on how each of these "risk protection" plans work when you have medical expenses following treatment / services:

● Medicare Advantage Plan in New London CT or a  

● Medicare Supplement in CT 


Each has options to meet your situation / interest / budget.


A key point about buying a Medicare Health Plan  — Beware of TV ads! 

One says -  Call Today - get better coverage!  Why?

●  You can't sign up  for a Medicare Advantage plan when you want. Times are limited to certain federal enrollment periods! 

●  Many "new benefits" mentioned are only available if a person's income is low and they are also eligible for MedicAid.


Another says -  Buy a Medicare Supplement [ a Medigap ] But: 

●  The plan being advertised is not approved in CT! 

Medicare-Health-Plans-control-treatment-expenses-give-peace-mind

YOU and many others hope a health change won't happen and wonder — is a "Medicare Health Plan" really needed? However, in every life we know:

     ● No one can say an accident won't happen!

 

   ● Then too, the possibility an illness with complex treatment may happen is high, which means  =  significant costs!   


Bottom line because of what can happen in any ones life  —  buying  either of these : 

        ->  Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans approved for New London County 

        ->  Medicare Supplement approved in Connecticut 

will protect your income & savings from big expenses + +  puts you in control + + provides peace of mind : 

     Note: When you sign up for  a Medicare Health Plan it's not permanent! MA plans can be changed once a year and a Med. Supp.  can be changed at any time! 


Whether you'll soon be 65  — or planning to leave an employer plan after working past 65 call/text John C Parker's Google Voice today  (860) 451-9793).   


Whatever time you need will be available  — perhaps multiple calls - to:

    ● Review what's best for your situation / interest / budget, 

   ● Increase understanding not just to review plan details. 


BTW —  taking time to talk = a more informed decision and it's also OK to say  — now is not the right time! 

          > I am told this is a big Help!


You can also send questions on signing up for a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement: 

    ● Using the form below or

    ● To   —  Learn@JohnCParker.agency


John-Parker-professional-Medicare-Health-Plan-Advisor

John C Parker, a professional MediCare insurance advisor in Niantic, is licensed in CT ( #644135 ) and does not solicit or sell in other states.

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Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic

38 Hope St, Unit 1312, Niantic, CT 06357-2454, US

(860) 739-0005

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Content on Medicare-Health-Plans-Southeastern-CT is © 2018 to 2021 by John C Parker, RHU, LTCP - All Rights Reserved.

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  • Introduction to MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Apply for a Health Plan
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!