Understanding Medicare Options, Enrollment, and Prescription Plans

We welcome Josh Kinzel, Benefit Advisor at Seniority Benefit Group. He is an expert when it comes to Medicare.

In this episode, we start to demystify Medicare, as we discuss its issues and confusions.

It is Open Enrollment (10/15-12/7) for Medicare recipients and needless to say, there are always questions!

Even if we are not old enough for Medicare, we may be assisting our older relatives to navigate the complexity of this program.

And actually, that is what Seniority Benefit Group, and other “connectors” provide – to start to demystify the process.

Let’s make sure we have the overall understanding of Medicare – and know the acronyms that come with it.

There are 3 basic areas that we need to remember – the basic “Medicare Plan” and what it covers, the “Supplement Plan” and what it covers, as well as the “Part D – Pharmacy Plan” and what it covers.

Depending on the individual’s needs and preferences, this could be 3 different parts of their health care or all one rolled into an Advantage plan.

Here's an example we consider. "I am turning 65 and know I need to be on Medicare. What should I do in preparation for my 65th Birthday?"

As someone turning 65, you need to understand your own medical history and needs in order to choose the best plan. How does an individual describe their health issues and physical abilities? And are there specific areas in each plan that an individual should pay very close attention to?

Part D which covers prescriptions has been a hot item for years. Any points that a new Medicare patient should beware of?

Assuming that even if an individual gets through their first year of Medicare with no problems, there may be issues that they wish they knew about before making decisions on health plans.

Josh shares what mistakes or problems he sees that individuals often undergo their first year, but could have avoided. He also offers us a list of things to watch for to avoid making obvious mistakes.

For those who are already on Medicare, are there changes to the law for next year that may make changes to Medicare plans that we should all be watching for?

Memorable Moments

00:00 Local resource in Dublin guiding through Medicare options.

05:56 Medicare terms can be overwhelming for people.

08:30 Effective conversation leads to personalized healthcare solutions.

12:53 Delay Medicare choices if covered by employer.

14:26 Medicare generally covers employer plan services as well.

18:47 Seek expert help navigating Medicare for simplicity.

20:23 Medicare drug plans have varying costs and structure.

25:04 Medicare users may face unexpected prescription costs.

27:26 Navigating Medicare choices, be mindful of restrictions.

30:16 Affordable Care Act reduces prescription drug costs.

34:42 Positive review: Great experience on this podcast.