California Health Insurance Quotes and Blog » Part D

Parrot-like people prefer the freedom of 2010 Medicare Advantage PPOs

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:10:50 +0000

California Health Insurance agent Matt Lockard never had the advantage to meet a parrot-like person face-to-beak. But he discovered that they have the freedom to confront 2010 Medicare Advantage PPO Plan issues similar to most Californians.

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Our National Anthem

Maisie M. Mynah was a sweet blue haired sixty-eight-year-old from Eureka who other than being able to whistle the national anthem tended to repeat herself and mimic behaviors so that it annoyed those around her. She’d been married eleven times and was still searching for that special guy special guy special guy. After hearing so much lately about health care reform, she decided to call a California Health Insurance agent for advice about her 2010 Medicare Advantage plan. After bussing south from Eureka to the Los Angeles area in order to pay a surprise visit to Max, her 7^th estranged husband, the only one who could still stand her, she looked up an agent named Matt Lockard, whose office was conveniently located in Ventura near where Max kept his bungalow.

“Hello. I’m Maisie Mynah, we’ve never met, but I’d like to discuss switching to a Medicare Advantage PPO. Can I make an appointment?”

“Sure,” Matt said, “When are you coming down?”

Maisie told him her circumstances, repeating herself a little too often, Matt mused. As he listened intently, he waited for her monotonous and repetitive voice to trail off, only it never did, instead it seemed like she hummed what sounded ominously like “saved by zero” the cryptic refrain from a Toyota commercial, over and over, in the manner of an anthem.

When Maisie showed up face-to-beak, as it were, it got worse. She strolled into Matt’s office. The bluish-blonde-haired eleven-time divorcee’s gait seemed mincing. Her voice grated on the California Health Insurance agent’s ears. Even simple phrases like “I’d prefer a PPO” repeated like another anthem reminded Matt of toenails scraping across a blackboard. “I have Medicare Advantage,” Maisie finally managed, “but a PPO will give me more freedom freedom freedom,” she blurted in a parroted paroxysm of repetitiveness.

Matt felt like he wanted to scream. Although he had the freedom to do so he was always so polite to his customers. It was like a curse in these situations. “I’ll set you up with a PPO Medicare Advantage Plan,” he said.

“You mean in my Medicare Advantage?” Maisie squawked. She then proceeded to repeat herself several more times, once again in the manner of an anthem.

Matt kept that cursed smile on his own face – right up until Maisie finally left. For weeks afterwards, that Toyota jingle “saved by zero” played inside his head like a trapped cricket.

Part D of Medicare – How The Medicare Drug Plan Works

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:54:49 +0000

This isn’t the easiest plan to understand, but with the help of a knowledgeable health care insurance agent, you can get the best coverage for your own personal needs.
Medicare, although a good concept when it was first brought into being, has some “gaps” that just don’t cover life in the 21st century. One of those gaps is drug coverage. That’s where part D comes in. Part D is an insurance plan that helps cover the cost of prescription drugs for people with Medicare. To purchase “Part D” of Medicare you have to go to an insurance company who is allowed to sell Part D plans. Sounds good so far and there are even provisions for people with limited incomes to get extra help: Medicare will help pay for almost all of the prescription drug costs.
There are several Part “D” plans to choose from. Each insurance carrier has about 3 different plan designs. Unlike the standardized Medicare plans “A” through ”L” plans, part “D” has many different plan designs. The differences come into play with each carrier’s unique formulary list, pharmacy networks, co-pays, etc… The costs of the plans also vary depending on how rich the benefits are.
Part “D” kind of like any other prescription drug benefit that is attached to a regular health insurance plan. Your Part “D” plan may have a deductible that you have to pay before you can get your prescriptions on the co-pay. Part “D” plans with a deductible are usually the most inexpensive plans. Other plans will allow you to start buying prescription drugs with a co-pay right away. This is the most popular plan. The most expensive plans will cover your generic drugs throughout the doughnut. The doughnut is a dollar amount where the part “D” participant is responsible for paying for their own prescribed drugs out of their own pocket. Plans that give a benefit throughout the doughnut hole are usually a bit more expensive.
Buy a plan that fits your needs. If you have a lot of prescriptions you may want to buy the richest plan. Of course this will also be the most expensive but it’s worth it. If you don’t take any prescribed medication you can probably get away with the most inexpensive plan. But you do need to get a Part “D” plan when you become eligible because if you don’t, you will be penalized for signing up late. Not only that, as we age we tend to need prescription drugs to keep us healthy and everything running smoothly.
If you need help figuring out what plan would work the best for you, contact a local health insurance agent who is fully trained and qualified to sell Part “D” plans. Local agents have a good feel for the market they serve, plus the advice they give is free.

Choose the Right Medicare Supplement/Medigap Coverage.

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:55:34 +0000

Although it might seem confusing, the various options for Medigap coverage can be made easier to understand by contacting a licensed health insurance broker who is familiar with the industry.

A Medicare Supplement Policy/Medigap policy helps cover the cost for medical services that original Medicare does not cover. It’s an extra add on kind of policy to address holes or gaps in the original Medicare plan. Medicare Supplement Policies when combined original Medicare work together to pay most health care costs.

There’s a prevailing myth that Medicare and Medigap are so complex and so varied across the nation that no one could possibly understand them, let alone afford them. Therein lays the myth. Medicare Supplement plans can be very affordable and are standardized in the sense that all insurance carriers have the same plan designs for Medicare supplement polices. The only difference from carrier to carrier is price.

What differs at the state level is that private health insurance companies have the option to choose which of the 10 Supplement plans they will sell to the consumer. So it makes good sense to compare the plans and the premiums prior to making a purchase. Plans A through J offer a variety of different benefits and extras making them ideal for consumers who like a cafeteria approach to health care coverage.

Health insurance agents can make a huge difference in the type of coverage consumers opt for simply by the nature of the advice they are able to provide. Local health insurance brokers are the ones with a better grasp on the marketplace than big name insurance brokers who provide call centers that don’t take into account a person’s state of residence.

In order to get Medigap policy, customers must first have both parts and B of Medicare. The choice of the additional Medigap coverage will include a premium for the coverage in addition to the premium paid for Medicare part B. In rare cases some Medicare Beneficiaries will pay for their Part A. Spouses must each have their own Medigap policy. The husband’s Medigap coverage will not apply to the wife and vice versa.

The general consensus on the Medicare Supplement/Medigap industry is that these separate insurance policies fill quite a few “gaps” of the original Medicare. While it may not always be perfect coverage, one of the Medigap plans usually satisfies the customers’ needs.

For more information please visit www.mattsinsurance4ca.com or contact Matt Lockard by email at matt@mattsinsurance4ca.com