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Your Medicare Benefits

Your Medicare Benefits

Tracy McManamon

Helping you navigate, understand and properly enroll into the Best Medicare Insurance Plan. He knows how to make Medicare Supplement Plans and Medicare Advantage plans work for you. With more than thirty years of experience, Tracy McManamon answers all of your Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Insurance questions. Free Expert Consultations exclusively to Podcast listeners by calling 877-549-1212. OneSourceBenefits.com

31 - 3 Awesome Senior Savings Top Tips
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  • 31 - 3 Awesome Senior Savings Top Tips

    Here are 3 awesome senior savings top tips for seniors that I myself recently found out, thanks to my children.
    Haven’t we all thought we are pretty savvy when it came to the Internet and finding good quality discounts that I could use for not only my family but also for my clients. I even used these awesome senior savings programs myself and unfortunately found these out such a late stage in my life because like you I am officially a senior citizen and soon will be on Medicare myself.

    Boy, do I wish I had found these years ago as they would’ve saved me and my family and my clients any huge amount of money.

    Every time I talk to or meet with a client I share these savings programs, and I can tell you that they are very happy with the results as well.

    So especially in these times, the less time I or anyone of my family spends in a grocery store or pharmacy warehouse the better. Are used to run all over town to try to get our groceries and our medications. That is not the way that we shop anymore. We all use Amazon or something similar to that, so why not do the same thing for the staples of our life like groceries and medications.
    Awesome Senior Savings tip #1:
    The first awesome senior savings program I want to share with you is one that I have used now dozens of times and can tell you that I never had a problem with any of the items that I have attempted to purchase, the quality of the items or the service. As I am sharing this blog post and podcast with you today I am even out of town at my family’s residence and just used the service again yesterday.

    The weather is over 100° and the last thing I wanna do is to get into a car that has been baking in the sun and drive to the grocery store to pick up four items that we needed for dinner. I went online at exactly 2 PM the service told me that the groceries will be delivered within a two hour window from Costco and sure enough they were.

    The service that I use is called Instacart. There are many services and competitors to Instacart summer national some regional and some local. If possible of course we always want to use the local services to support our local businesses. I signed up for Instacart about three months ago and have probably used their service for groceries as well as medications at least a dozen or more times.

    Yes, they will not only shop and deliver your groceries but in some locations they will even go to theTo the pharmacy and pick up and deliver your medications as well.

    How great is that?

    With Instacart I know that you could either pay an annual fee of $100 or in my case we pay $9.99 per month to use the service. There’s no commitment. I can cancel at any time. So far, at this point I have no intention of canceling it as it as it has saved me hours away from the important things like family and friends but also a great deal of money because I am not walking out of the store with items that I went into the store to buy.

    Here is a link for you to view instant cart yourself and you can even sign up on this link.
    Awesome Senior Savings tip #2:
    The second great savings program that I have used and recommended a number of times since they began doing business is for all of us to shop for our prescription medications online. I think we all know that different pharmacies have different prices for the exact same medications. The program that I am referring to is called good RX.com. They are one of the pioneers and having the cost of medications at the different pharmacies based on ZIP Code searches. There are others do use however the one I like the best is goodrx.com. Here’s a link to their website.

    I was a little upset when I found out that after going to a national pharmacy chain for the last 15 years that when I called and asked for the cost of my medications at a warehouse store su...

    Mon, 24 Aug 2020 - 9min
  • 30 - Key Differences Between Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplement Plans

    Whether you're new to Medicare for the first time or currently looking at open enrollment or thinking about switching, here are some important points for you to understand. 



     
    Understanding the Key Differences Between Medicare Advantage Plans
    and Medicare Supplement Plans 
    There are several ways that you can receive your Medicare coverage, or add onto that coverage. Medicare Supplement Plans and Medicare Advantage insurance are options that may sound similar but are quite different. One main thing they do have in common: private insurance companies such as United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, AETNA and most others offer both.

    Medicare Supplement plans protects people who buy traditional Medicare from the additional costs they might pay. The supplemental plans charge an additional premium to what a person may already pay for Medicare Parts A (many people get this free), B, and D.

    Medicare Supplements Plans have various plans lettered A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Medicare standardizes what is offered by the plans. The cost for them can vary, however, so it's worth shopping around.

    On the other hand, a Medicare Advantage Health Plan (Medicare Part C) may provide more help at a lower cost. Rather than paying for Parts A, B, and D, a person would enroll through a private insurance company. In many cases, it covers everything provided by Parts A, B, and D. Plus, it may offer additional services. Generally, the beneficiary pays the Medicare Advantage premium along the Part B premium.

    You could compare Medicare Advantage Plans to private health insurance plans. Typically, most plans offer services such as office visits, lab work, and surgery. Some services may be covered after a small co-pay. Depending on your location, plans could offer HMO or PPO network plans with a yearly limit on total out-of-pocket expenses.  Generally what I have found is that people prefer to go onto a Medicare plan when they turn 65.  The benefits are unbeatable when comparing them to a traditional insurance plan.

    You are not allowed to have both a Medicare Advantage Plan and a Medicare Supplement Plan. Yes, I have actually seen where someone has both types of plans.  This is so confusing for so many seniors today.

    Three things to consider before choosing:

    Cost - Medicare Supplement plans may have a higher premium but could have less out-of-pocket expenses than some Medicare Advantage plan.
    Choice- Medicare Advantage Plans may limit the doctors and facilities you visit. Medicare Supplement Plans do not.
    Lifestyle- Medicare Advantage Plans may not be offered in your area. Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement plan may best if you like to travel throughout the year.

    Final Thoughts
    Understanding, the difference between the two, is essential folks. A true professional will listen to your needs and then make a recommendation to you. Helping you find what plan is best for you. And then if they're really good, they'll help you enroll. And that's what I do, and I've been doing it for 31 years. Most of my business is referral business. You won't find a quoting tool on my web site that you can run your own quotes. Quite frankly if you're looking to run quotes there are other opportunities for you to do that.

    I like to be here before during and after you purchase your Medicare. So, if you have questions, comments you don't understand you're confused. You've got a medical bill you didn't think you're going to get. You can call me, and we'll talk about it, and I'm more likely to help you with it. Simply pick up the phone and call me at 1- 8 7 7- 5 4 9 -1 2 1 2.

    Mon, 27 Apr 2020
  • 29 - Medicare Doctors can make House Calls via Telemedicine

    Yes your Medicare Doctor can make house calls again, thanks to Telemedicine or also know as Telehealth.
    Remember the good old days with the doctor made house calls?  Those days are coming back again. Thanks unfortunately to the covid virus.

    What is the most popular and often asked questions as a relates to healthcare today for not only the senior population but also the under a 65 population is “ is Telemedicine available “ in my plan?

    Well, I'm happy to report that not only have insurance companies seen the huge benefit and lower costs of a Telemedicine visit but almost all insurance companies, especially those that work in the Medicare field, are implementing telemedicine in there plans right now. By the way Telemedicine is also know as Telehealth.

    Some companies have implemented it already and most Medicare Insurance plans will have the benefit available to you when you have the opportunity to compare your Medicare Insurance plan for the forth coming year.

    A brief disclaimer however, this is important, because not all Medicare Insurance Plans will implement this important and significant benefit for you.

    Of course, if you're on a Medicare  Advantage program you know that you have the open enrollment period from October 15th December 7th. That is your time to compare plans for the forthcoming year.

    I strongly recommend that you compare plans and benefits as well as out of pocket cost access the doctors and hospitals and especially your drug benefits

    The changes that are happening in the Medicare world almost make my head spin. Changes are being implemented all the time and frankly unless you devote a good bit of your reading time you may miss some important benefits.
    A Telehealth true story
    Here's a true story. I recently needed to see a doctor however due to the pandemic that we all suffer through, I was unable to see a doctor in a reasonable period time.

    I decided to take to take advantage of my Telemedicine benefit and although I was completely skeptical of the outcome of the video visit, I must admit I was totally amazed so well.

    Within minutes of making my request for a video visit a retired emergency room physician in the Boston area that had over 40 years experience in the ER was live on my iPhone. Within minutes my call was over, within seconds I had a summary of my visit in my email. In six minutes I received a text message from my pharmacy telling me that my prescription would be ready soon.

    All of this took place within a 15 minute time frame without ever having to leave my home, drive to the doctors office, park, put on a mask, and wait to see the doctor.

    Telemedicine he's here to stay.  Medicare is also rapidly adopting this for many of their plans as well.

    I have seen doctors recently, due to an upcoming surgery, I have even been asked by the physicians if they would like my next visit to be a Telemedicine visit.

    This is not only the future of the office visit, this is reality today. Even if your doctor is the only position in the practice, I have found but they all have access to do virtual visits with you in the comfort of your home.

    I think we all can agree, that a Telemedicine visit with your doctor is a tremendous to us all.

    As I mentioned earlier in this article, people can change their Medicare Advantage program during the open enrollment that we all know happens between October and December.

    What if you have a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan? Well, great news, you could look to change plans any day or month of the year. In other words, you're open enrollment period is year round.

    I strongly encourage you to have three things working for you at this stage of your life.

    Tue, 08 Sep 2020 - 9min
  • 27 - Shopping for a Medicare Insurance Plan? Two popular areas to avoid

    Not a day goes by that some one doesn't call me and say " I can't believe how bad some of the Medicare advice has been when I called _ _ _ _" ( intentionally blank ).

    Just had another call today from Ingrid in Texas.  She had been listening to my Podcasts to educate herself and than the problem began. She went to the Internet and started doing her research ( which I recommend...) but made a call and got into a call center and before she knew it, she enrolled into a plan because the sales agent was " pushing " her into a particular type of plan.  The actual plan she bought is not important but the fact was she did not know what she was buying.  As she was going to bed  that night, she couldn't sleep and was troubled.  She realized the rate was really just too good to be true.   Indeed it was.

    Fri, 01 Jun 2018 - 9min
  • 26 - Want to switch to a Medicare Insurance Plan from a Medicare Advantage?

    For decades I have had to tell people they could not move from a Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement.  We also told people no if they just wanted tho switch Medicare Supplement plans.
    Well, great news..... that has all changed now!
     
    I will unpack some of the concerns you should be aware of...  better yet, feel free to just call me for your Free Medicare Consultation or Checkup.
    Thanks,
    Tracy McManamon
    877-549-1212

    Fri, 18 May 2018 - 8min
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