Annual Election Period begins October 15, ends December 7, 2018.

What you can and cannot do.

Switch among Medicare Advantage plans

Switch among Part D plans

Switch into Medigap from Medicare Advantage (BE CAREFUL)

A new, separate Open Enrollment Period will run from Jan 1 - Mar 31

Can switch among Medicare Advantage plans

Cannot switch among Part D plans

Can enroll in Parts A & B if you have made errors in the past

Be sure to rate and ask questions on Apple Podcasts.

Check out the YouTube Channel.

http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

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The video version of this podcast is on YouTube.  Here is the Link (click here).

This video is brought to you by the Great Humanity Healthcare Foundation (www.greathumanityhf.org).

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Part D is complicated:

The business of pharmaceutical distribution is opaque. Pricing of a single drug can vary wildly, even within the same plan, depending on where you buy that medication.

There are almost certainly more than 25 Part D plans, per state.

This Podcast: how to avoid making expensive errors.

This Tuesday Oct 9, Noon (EDT): LIVE YouTube Broadcast. Medicare ABCs. All components. Here's the link: https://youtu.be/ivgLBLwhYBA

Be sure to subscribe to this podcast, and rate/review on Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts (Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, etc etc).

Registration is required. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

On the podcast, my 2018 Ryder Cup analysis, and why the Webinar matters.

Recently, a behind-the-scenes disagreement became public. UnitedHealthcare and Envision Healthcare are having difficulty in coming to an agreement, and that can affect Medicare Advantage policyholders in 2019. This podcast doesn't make a habit of casting blame on one party or the other, and isn't going to start now. That said, policyholders could be affected, if a healthcare provider was "in-network" in the past, and then suddenly becomes "out-of-network." That's the point of this pod.

Irrespective of the ultimate outcome, the fact is that the notion of networks should be understood by Medicare Advantage policyholders, so that they understand the financial ripple effects of the Medicare configuration that they make.

If you need a visual guide, please check out the YouTube Channel. Information on a slide may be helpful (sometimes it is difficult to "get" when simply listening to a podcast).

Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts and give this podcast a 5-star rating (if you like it, that is).

Medicare Advantage in 2019 Is Certain to Bring:

Enhanced benefits unseen in the past

Increased confusion by consumers when comparing Medicare Plans

Brokers will be required, because not only is Medicare Advantage evolving, with higher levels of competition, but the Enhanced benefits mentioned here need to be ACTIVELY compared, and that means multiple carriers. A captive agent cannot do this, it is like a Ford-only salesperson attempting to recommend a Subaru.

Candidly:

I don't understand why Plan N and Plan G are not more carefully explained. I suspect the reason is that the other people that are explaining don't actually understand the process.

This is ultimately a consumer choice, and deciding whether keeping $10/month is "worth it."

Leave feedback and ask your questions!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast. From this point forward, we’ll be here frequently. Subscribe to the Newsletter here (you will not receive advertisements, your information is not distributed to others): http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

There's more than just the Part B deductible involved, and it isn't publicized much. I suspect the reason is that some people don't know what to do about it, or how to resolve it, producers frequently sell and run.

For some, it may be irrelevant. For others, however, Plan F may be worth the extra cost.

And some comments about 2020 at the end of the podcast, remember that Plan F will not be available to new applicants at that point.

The audio isn't as good as the pure-podcast: it is also on Video with slides (will come out after some cleanup).

Leave feedback and ask your questions!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast. From this point forward, we’ll be here frequently. Subscribe to the Newsletter here (you will not receive advertisements, your information is not distributed to others): http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

Social Security Disability and Medicare

After 24 months of receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, you become eligible for #Medicare. However, you need to be careful of the rights and options you have. Importantly, the Late Enrollment Penalty "timeclock" will start. Some pointers on those, what you can and cannot do.

There is a YouTube Video, and this is the audio-only portion of that broadcast.  Here's the link: https://youtu.be/BKrxtUEmhC4

Leave feedback and ask your questions!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast. From this point forward, we'll be here frequently. Subscribe to the Newsletter here (you will not receive advertisements, your information is not distributed to others): http://www.maximizeyourmedicare.com

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The First of a Series

People will continue to work beyond 65 years old. Since Full Retirement Age (FRA) under Social Security has increased, and since many have a limited amount of retirement savings, this will continue to be true.

Leave feedback and ask your questions!

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe to the Maximize Your Medicare podcast. From this point forward, we'll be here frequently.

YouTube Channel!!! There will be YouTube-unique content, and you can see it here! (Link)

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