You’re enjoying your morning cup of coffee or tea and watching the market open. Then the health sector falls 4%, the lowest reading since December 2018. Why is this happening? Earnings weren’t released, nor have there been any changes to the current system.
Medicare options
Every now and then, agents run into clients that have a desire to change the way they pay their monthly Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Drug Plan premium. The typical way to have someone take care of this is to call Humana’s customer service department. However, in this age of websites and do-it-yourself seniors, the mission can be accomplished quite easily online. Here’s a quick rundown of what your more computer and internet savvy clients can do:
[Read more…] about Help Your Humana Clients Change their Bill Payment Method
We often get questions relating to the enrollment of Medicare eligible veterans outside of the Annual Election Period. In short, veterans are treated just as any other Medicare eligible person. There are a few things to note, however, when working with a veteran who is Medicare eligible. Here’s a short list of things to consider when helping veterans make an informed decision about Medicare Advantage enrollment:
Recently I’ve been getting a lot of questions about when recertification for AHIP and Humana will be available, and the best cost/benefit timing for getting newly certified for Medicare Advantage plans. Normally these web based modules come online for the upcoming season in late July, but it appears they are going live sooner than ever. AHIP training for 2014 plans will actually launch next week! For Humana, you can re-certify and newly certify for 2014 beginning July 15th.
[Read more…] about Medicare Training and Certification Planning Dates and Tips
Thirty three years ago when I started selling Medicare Supplement plans, in the back of my mind I knew someday I would be on Medicare myself. What I did not know was the range of choices that would be available to me beyond traditional Medicare Supplement plans.
As I have indicated in the past my wife and I went onto Part A and enrolled in Part B of Medicare this year. I started on May 1st and my wife February 1st. Just some background, the past eight years I have had a high deductible plan with Life Wise of Washington state. We had a $6000 family deductible plan and was paying about $700 per month the last year we had the plan. I had also enrolled in an HSA eight years ago as well so today the balance of my HSA account is over $50,000. As most of you know this fund can be used for co-pays for doctors visits as well as prescription drugs.
My wife and I both chose the $0 premium MA only PFFS plan available in Washington state. (My wife does take some prescription drugs so I enrolled her in Humana’s WalMart standalone PDP, as I do not take any drugs, I chose not to enroll in a PDP.) This is a Medicare look alike plan meaning I am responsible for the Part A hospital deductible and 20% of the Part B outpatient expenses, however, there is no Part B deductible, I pay 20% from the first dollar of charges.
I have used this plan three times so far, twice at the ophthalmologists and once at the dermatologists. I could not be happier with how the plan works. First of all, I am not paying for my healthcare in advance in the form of a premium. Not for a high deductible plan like I did before going onto Medicare or for a traditional Medicare supplement. I am only paying for 20% of the Medicare approved charge and that is a lot less the than the $8400 in premium I paid for Pat and I last year. If I had chosen a traditional Plan F my premium would have been around $200 per month for me and $200 for Pat or about $4800 per year.
I have my annual physical scheduled for the fist week of August with the doctor I have had the past several years. In past her office accepted Life Wise. Before going onto Medicare I called my doctors office to explain I was planning on enrolling in Humana’s MA only PFFS plan. The office manager explained they did not officially accept Humana but as I was currently a patient, the office would accept Humana’s terms and conditions and bill them directly so I could continue to keep my current doctor.
So far I could not be happier with the choices I have made. I now go to the downtown YMCA using Silver Sneakers and no longer pay $55 per month to OZ fitness. The best part is on October 15th I can look at all the options available for 2014 and make a new choice if I find a better option with no pre-existing conditions or waiting periods. The new choices today really are a win win situation for Medicare beneficiaries like me.
As I have indicated in the past my wife and I went onto Part A and enrolled in Part B of Medicare this year. I started on May 1st and my wife February 1st. Just some background, the past eight years I have had a high deductible plan with Life Wise of Washington state. We had a $6000 family deductible plan and was paying about $700 per month the last year we had the plan. I had also enrolled in an HSA eight years ago as well so today the balance of my HSA account is over $50,000. As most of you know this fund can be used for co-pays for doctors visits as well as prescription drugs.
My wife and I both chose the $0 premium MA only PFFS plan available in Washington state. (My wife does take some prescription drugs so I enrolled her in Humana’s WalMart standalone PDP, as I do not take any drugs, I chose not to enroll in a PDP.) This is a Medicare look alike plan meaning I am responsible for the Part A hospital deductible and 20% of the Part B outpatient expenses, however, there is no Part B deductible, I pay 20% from the first dollar of charges.
I have used this plan three times so far, twice at the ophthalmologists and once at the dermatologists. I could not be happier with how the plan works. First of all, I am not paying for my healthcare in advance in the form of a premium. Not for a high deductible plan like I did before going onto Medicare or for a traditional Medicare supplement. I am only paying for 20% of the Medicare approved charge and that is a lot less the than the $8400 in premium I paid for Pat and I last year. If I had chosen a traditional Plan F my premium would have been around $200 per month for me and $200 for Pat or about $4800 per year.
I have my annual physical scheduled for the fist week of August with the doctor I have had the past several years. In past her office accepted Life Wise. Before going onto Medicare I called my doctors office to explain I was planning on enrolling in Humana’s MA only PFFS plan. The office manager explained they did not officially accept Humana but as I was currently a patient, the office would accept Humana’s terms and conditions and bill them directly so I could continue to keep my current doctor.
So far I could not be happier with the choices I have made. I now go to the downtown YMCA using Silver Sneakers and no longer pay $55 per month to OZ fitness. The best part is on October 15th I can look at all the options available for 2014 and make a new choice if I find a better option with no pre-existing conditions or waiting periods. The new choices today really are a win win situation for Medicare beneficiaries like me.
[Read more…] about Larry affirms his Medicare Health plan selection two months later
