Adler Insurance, your Medicare expert in Prescott, shares tips for those who are new to Medicare

Are you looking for Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Plan, or Medicare Supplement Insurance? Do you know when you can enroll or change between plans? For years, Prescott residents have trusted Adler Insurance to answer their questions. If you're ready for Medicare here's a brief overview to to help explain what to expect.

If you are ready to enroll in Medicare - whether it's because of age or disability - there are certain times of the year ,with exceptions, you can choose to enroll in the Medicare coverage you want.

There are two primary ways to get Medicare coverage. One is known as Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). The other is a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Depending on your needs or desired coverage, some people will want to get additional coverage like Medicare prescription drug coverage. One thing that many people may not understand is that a Medicare Advantage Plan is private insurance. It is not government insurance. Medicare (also known as Original Medicare) is a federal health insurance program. They are two very different types of insurance with different coverages, costs, deductibles and exclusions among other things. Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance. The following steps are a guideline to help you decide what coverage you want:.

When you first consider enrolling in Medicare here are some decisions you'll want to be prepared to make:

• Do you want Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) (like an HMO or PPO)?
• Do you want prescription drug coverage (Part D)?
• Do you want supplemental coverage (Medigap)?
• Do you know about other options?

Even if you have Original Medicare you may be able to get other types of Medicare health plans.

Depending on your income and resources you may be able to get help paying costs or have other choices available to you. You may also have additional co-coverage through an employer, a union, the military, or from veterans' benefits.

If you're eligible for Medicare and need help determining which plan is best for you or how Medicare works with other insurance, then don't wait to call Prescott's local Medicare insurance experts at Adler Insurance. Call us at 928-710-1455 or  visit us at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com for more information.

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Medicare Insurance in Prescott
Prescott Medicare Open Enrollment
Helpful Medicare Articles

Adler Insurance, your health insurance specialist in Prescott, talks about Medicare supplement insurance

Are you considering adding a Medicare supplement insurance plan to help cover some of the healthcare expenses that Medicare Parts A and B don't cover? Adler Insurance, your Prescott Medicare specialist, gives you an overview of Medicare supplements, also known as Medigap.

One thing that many people do not know is that Medicare supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is private insurance.

• Medigap plans may help defray or reduce some of the costs outside of the coverage provided by Medicare Parts A and B, like co-insurance, co-payments, and deductibles.

• To be eligible to purchase a Medigap plan, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B. You must be a resident of the state where the policy is offered. You must be at least 65 years of age. In some states you may be eligible if you are under 65 but have a disability or end-stage renal disease.

• Medicare supplement insurance plans are standardized into a variety of plans, all of which cover basic benefits. The plans vary because each one has additional benefits designed to meet specific needs. Along with varying plans come varying costs. Some plan benefits are provided at higher premiums with limited out-of-pocket costs, while others are are cost-sharing plans offering similar benefits at lower premiums, but with greater out-of-pocket costs.

Making a change to a Medicare supplement plan is limited to the first day of the month in which you turn at least 65 years old and are already enrolled in Medicare Part B. An insurance company cannot use your medical history for eligibility if you apply for a Medigap plan during the Open Enrollment period or if you qualify for a guaranteed issue.

If you have questions about Medicare supplement insurance plans, call your Prescott health insurance experts at Adler Insurance for an overview of all the options available to you. To speak to an agent today, call us at 928-710-1455 or visit us at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Medicare Insurance in Prescott
Prescott Health Insurance Specialist
Helpful Medicare Articles

Adler Insurance, your Medicare expert in Prescott, discusses Medicare Part F

If you’re 65 or older, you have probably learned about Medicare Parts A and B, but are you familiar with Medicare Part F? Adler Insurance, Prescott's independent Medicare broker, talks about why the extensive coverage provided by Medicare Part F makes this such a popular plan.

It's possible for beneficiaries to be left with no or only minimal hospital and medical debt because Part F covers most remaining hospital and doctor costs after Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) has paid its share.

Regardless of your location, you can expect the same exact basic benefits for a Part F supplement sold anywhere in your state. Even though the basic coverage is the same, premium costs may vary.

For those who don’t mind paying for out-of-pocket costs up front, there is also a different high deductible Part F choice. This variant of the regular Part F requires beneficiaries to pay every out-of-pocket expense till the deductible is reached (which for 2018 is $2,240). After meeting the deductible, the high-deductible Part F starts to pay for Medicare-covered costs.

What does not change between the standard Part F and the high-deductible Part F option are the basic benefits:   

• Part A hospital and coinsurance costs up to an additional 356 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted
• Part A hospice care copayment or coinsurance
• Part B coinsurance
• Part B excess charges
• Part A deductible   
• Part B deductible   
• First three pints of blood used in an approved medical procedure (annually)   
• Foreign travel emergency coverage (80%, up to plan limits)
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance

   
If you see a doctor frequently, or you require a lot of health-care services, or are facing mounting out-of-pocket expenses, the comprehensive coverage of Part F generally offers the most help with your Original Medicare costs.

Still wondering what is the right Medicare plan for you? Call the experts at Adler Insurance today at 928-710-1455 to learn more about Medicare Part F or any Medigap plan coverage available to Prescott residents. Learn more at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Medicare Insurance in Prescott
Prescott Medicare Broker
Helpful Medicare Articles

Adler Insurance, your local Prescott insurance professional, answers: Can seniors get life insurance?

Adler Insurance knows that finding the right insurance coverage for Prescott seniors can get confusing. And many seniors wonder if they are eligible for life insurance. At Adler Insurance, we promise to find the right insurance to fit your particular needs.

We specialize in:

• Medicare Advantage Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Medicare Supplement Insurance
• Medicare Part D Prescription Drugs
• Long-Term Care Insurance

For example, term life insurance may be an excellent choice. Depending on the term length, the policy pays a death benefit to your beneficiaries if you pass during the term.

It’s a fact that age plays a significant role in purchasing insurance for seniors. And while there are some age restrictions (varies from company to company), the age limit for life insurance is probably higher than you once thought.

Common age cutoffs are:

• Age 80 for a 10-year term   
• Age 75 for a 15-year term
• Age 70 for a 20-year term
• Age 55 for a 25-year term
• Age 55 for a 30-year term

Permanent life insurance, generally a more expensive form of insurance, that covers you for the rest of your life is typically limited to 75 or 80 years old. “Final expense”' insurance is sometimes offered to consumers up to 85 years old.

Of course, life insurance gets more expensive as you get older.  But even if you're just past 50 you will probably find the application process a little more complicated than you expected.

The bottom line is that procrastinating on the purchase of insurance can be costly depending on the type of insurance you are buying. If you are age 40 and wait just a decade to buy, your rates could double.  If you want until after 60, you can expect rates to triple!

Are you a senior with questions about purchasing life insurance? Regardless of the type of insurance Prescott seniors may need or want, they can rely on Adler Insurance for a comprehensive and professional review of their situation. To schedule an appointment, contact us at 928-710-1455 or visit us at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

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Prescott Life Insurance
Medicare Insurance in Prescott
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Adler Insurance explains Medicare Annual Open Enrollment in Prescott

Turning 65 is one way you become eligible for Medicare. You can also be under 65 and be eligible for Medicare because you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. Open enrollment is the only time people with Medicare can change their health and prescription drug coverage for the following year. Adler Insurance, your Medicare expert in Prescott, is here to help you make sense of Medicare’s 2019 Annual Election Period (also known as Open Enrollment).

Open Enrollment Changes:

• During Open Enrollment you are allowed to change your Part D or Medicare Advantage (MA) plan.
• MA or drug plans can change drug coverage lists each year.
• Your Medicare Advantage plan can also change their network of facilities and physicians
• MA and drug plans can change how they cover medical services.
• MA and drug plans can drop additional benefits like dental, vision, and hearing.

When is Medicare’s 2019 Open Enrollment?

• Medicare’s Open Enrollment is October 15 to December 7, 2018. The effective date of the plan will always be January 1st.
• Because of the potential changes as listed above, this may be a good time to look at your options!

Does Medigap have an Open Enrollment for 2019?

• No. You can switch from one Medigap plan to another during this time, but you will have to answer medical questions. 
• If you want to switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, you will also be required to answer medical questions. There may be a exception if you qualify for special enrollment.

Medicare Open Enrollment is the time to shop around to make sure you have the best plan for your needs. Adler Insurance, your Medicare expert in Prescott, is here to help. If you have questions about Medicare coverages, give the experts at Adler Insurance a call at 928-710-1455. Learn more about Medicare and the other services we offer at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

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Prescott Health Care Insurance Agents
Comprehensive Health Care in Prescott
Helpful Insurance Articles 

Adler Insurance shares information on choosing a Medicare drug plan in Prescott

If you would help in choosing the best Medicare drug plan for you in the Prescott area, please give Adler Insurance a call. Here are the basics of signing up for a Medicare drug plan:

• If you do not have a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D drug coverage, you must sign up for it separately.
• You should be signing up for Medicare Part D at the very same time that you enroll in Part B. Do not procrastinate, even if you do not take any prescription drugs regularly right now. Waiting to sign up will cause an extra charge on your premium for every month that you waited. (The only way to avoid this penalty without signing up for Part D is having equivalent drug coverage, called "creditable" coverage. This coverage must come from another source, such as a retiree plan. Your plan administrator can tell you if your plan is equivalent.)
• Choosing a plan that is right for you can save you thousands of dollars each year in premiums and out-of-pocket drug expenses. It is important to review your Part D coverage every year at open enrollment. This especially important if you have started taking new prescription drugs.
• Every plan has a star rating. A five-stars is the best. Star ratings are based on factors like how well and promptly the plan handles coverage appeals, customer service, and how many people have complained about the plan.

Choosing the right Medicare drug plan is a decision that can be difficult to make without the help of a professional who understands the various plans offered. If you need to choose a Medicare drug plan in Prescott and don’t know quite where to begin, give the experts at Adler Insurance a call at 928-710-1455. To learn more about life insurance or Medicare options, please visit our website at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

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Comprehensive Health Care in Prescott
Prescott Health Care Insurance Agents
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Adler Insurance discusses comprehensive health insurance coverage in Prescott

Comprehensive medical insurance describes health insurance that provides coverage for most types of medical expenses. If you are not eligible for Medicare, you may be fortunate enough to be offered health care insurance through your employer. If not, you have a few choices to make and in order to make a better decision, Adler Insurance, your health insurance specialists in Prescott, would like to explain some of your options.

Costs: With comprehensive health care insurance, you’ll be required to pay premiums, deductibles and co-pays. You pay monthly premiums and, in addition, many policies have deductibles which must be met before the policy provides benefits. Finally, whenever you receive health care services, you may need  be required to pay varying amounts, called "co-pays," for services you receive.

Classifications: There are two general classes of comprehensive medical coverage: "Group" and "Individual." You may have a group plan sponsored by your employer, union or professional organization. Group plans typically provide the most benefits at the lowest price. Insurance companies also sell individual plans directly to the public. Individually purchased health insurance usually is more expensive and provides fewer benefits.

Types: The type of coverage you choose is extremely important:

• FFS - Fee-for-service plans provide the most options, allowing you to use any provider you choose. However, purchasing these plans on the open market can be expensive.
• HMO - Health maintenance organizations both insure and deliver health care. HMOs are the least expensive but most restrictive plans. You must live in an HMO's service area to join. In addition, all of your healthcare must approved through a single primary care physician. All referrals to specialists must be through the primary care physician as well.
• PPO - Preferred provider organizations are more expensive than HMOs but less restrictive, meaning referrals are generally not required.
• POS - Point-of-service plans combine an HMO with a PPO and let their members decide which benefits to use. Cost and restrictions tend to average out between the HMO and the PPO models.

Choosing the right comprehensive health insurance coverage is a decision that can be difficult to make without the help of a professional who understands the various coverages offered. If you need to purchase comprehensive health insurance in Prescott and don’t know where to start, give the experts at Adler Insurance a call at 928-710-1455. To learn more about life insurance or Medicare options, please visit our website at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prescott Health Care Insurance Agents
Comprehensive Health Care in Prescott
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