08/30/2024
It’s almost that time again
PSA for all our seniors and Medicare eligible people
Annual PSA
IT’S OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES-
Original Medicare is having Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B ( professional. ) Be careful not to get mixed up with other plans that say they are “Medicare” but really are an entirely different medical plan that you have assigned your original Medicare benefits over to. It’s extremely important to know the difference. It could mean getting stuck with thousands of dollars in bills if you are not sure exactly what you are signing up for.
All inclusive Medicare advantage HMO plans- These plans are very appealing because they generally save you money on monthly premiums. The major difference is that you do not have original Medicare therefore, you cannot go and see any provider, specialist, or go to any clinic that you want. The freedom to take your insurance to any provider is gone. You now have a set group of providers that you must stay with and treatment must be prior authorized. This is a big difference because if you were ever in a position that you need a specialist, whether it be a cardiologist, and oncologist, a urologist, or an endocrinologist For example, you would have to go through the HMO protocol and see the provider they send you to instead of picking up the phone and calling the best provider in that specialty and making an appointment. If you are OK with that and understand what you are signing up for, then an HMO may be for you. 
Supplemental Insurance-
If you have original Medicare, you may want to purchase a supplemental insurance. Supplemental insurance plans cover the 20% coinsurance that Medicare does not pay. Some even cover the $240 annual Medicare deductible. I think a supplemental insurance policy is a good idea even if you just have one that covers you in case you were ever hospitalized. 

Many insurance reps do not really understand how the insurance actually works in the real world. Medicare is stand alone. Medicare part A (hospital) and Part B (professional).
I have done Medical billing for over 25 years and I have seen what happens when things get mixed up.
Let me know if you have a questions. i’m happy to answer any questions I can about this. I’m rather passionate about making sure that everyone understands what they are enrolling in and how it will work with their medical providers. 
Happy Friday
