By Greg Durette, Florida Health Connector
Nobody can “prepare” for the Medicare Enrollment season which, in normal terms (I’ll explain later) means you get inundated with snail mail, email and worst of all, telephone bombardment courtesy of your newest best friends that want nothing more than to guide you through the transition process…of course so long as you choose them!
This is an overwhelming time which, especially for the unseasoned, can be mind boggling.
There is a better way, and it will make sense, so long as you align with the right people to give you the best guidance they have, to help you in your particular situation.
Everyone is different. Maybe you are about to retire and may have a question about your employer coverage continuing. How does that cost and coverage compare to a Medicare Supplement/Advantage option? Maybe you have access to the VA or Tricare. Are there additional coverages you could be eligible for in addition to those?
Maybe you and your spouse are aging in (65 years old…congrats if you made it!) at different times and need to figure out a best-case scenario to make both of you happy with the coverage and costs you are facing.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has a unique story. Do not approach your story with suppositions or because of the wise sages of the water cooler that can tell you stories of their own or perhaps those of their out of State relatives. Almost assuredly, their circumstances have little to nothing to do with your decision.
Get the facts. Get them from an expert. Get them and then test them against other experts. Once you are satisfied with your vetting, now you are ready to trust the one you selected, not based on any bias but rather, your own research. Then ask more questions!
It all starts with the basics. Medicare is locally based. Therefore, your facts should be gathered in the local area with someone who understands the details of such.
Unless you are very lonely and want to make dozens of new “friends,” I would encourage you to not respond to national ads from TV or otherwise. There are many local options to guide you and give the best local service.
This is a critical time and there are innumerable considerations. Aging in is only one potential option. Maybe you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period of which, there are many. You may be missing out on an opportunity if you are not privy to these.
Narrowing them down to what matters to you is simply the most important thing you can do for you. You can always make changes in the future but, some changes may expire before you even know about them. Deadlines are deadlines.
Gather your data. Write down all of your questions. Then, make the call. If you deal locally, you can be certain (especially if you ask the questions relevant to you) your data/info will not be shared or sold to anyone not involved in the placement of your coverage. Privacy is paramount.
No telemarketers welcome here!
Greg Durette is a qualified, licensed agent with Florida Health Connector providing Medicare throughout the State of Florida and is based in Niceville. He has been in the insurance industry for over 42 years and can be reached at his office at 850-842-2400 or his mobile at 978-509- 2941. The Medicare recorded line is (850) 462-7807.
