Why I Care About Medicare, For You
   — By Ronald L. Moore, Sr.

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Back in August of 2010, I woke up early one morning in Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, ready to head to the office. At the time, I was a New York Life Insurance agent, and one thing they drilled into us was this: if you’re 15 minutes early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late; and if you’re late, you’re selfish.

So, as usual, I arrived 15 minutes early.

After our weekly meeting and a few client calls, I decided to stop by and visit my Aunt Josephine Talley. Aunt Jo was 93 years old at the time and lived about 15 minutes away. I figured I’d spend a little time with her and then head home.

Aunt Jo had been widowed since 2006, and after her son Robert passed away in 2009, she was living alone. I checked on her whenever I could. What I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t the only one stopping by.

As it turns out, there were plenty of ambitious salespeople checking on her, too.

One day I learned that a young, polite, well-dressed, articulate insurance agent had visited her home. Much like the old vampire stories, he couldn’t come in unless invited—and Aunt Jo, being the gracious person she was, welcomed him right in.

Before long, she had purchased a Medicare Supplement Plan F, also known as a Medigap Plan.

“Mrs. Talley,” he likely explained, “this is Plan F—the Cadillac of Medicare supplements. It covers just about everything Medicare doesn’t. You won’t have to worry about hospital bills or that 20% Medicare leaves behind.”

Well, that certainly sounded good.

To make matters even more convincing, he had visited several other seniors in the neighborhood—people Aunt Jo knew and trusted. If they thought it was a good idea, why wouldn’t she?

What he didn’t emphasize was the cost.

This peace of mind came with a premium of nearly $300 per month—on top of her Medicare Part B premium.

At the time, I didn’t think much about it because, honestly, I didn’t know much about Medicare myself. Like many people, I found the whole system confusing.

I eventually found the agent’s business card and gave him a call. I wanted to understand exactly what Aunt Jo had purchased. To his credit, he invited me out to breakfast and spent time explaining the plan.

The breakfast was excellent.

My understanding of Medicare? Not so much.

I left with more information, but not nearly enough knowledge to know whether Plan F was the best choice for Aunt Jo.

So for the next three years, she faithfully paid that premium—about $300 every month.
That’s roughly $10,800 over three years.

Then something happened that changed everything.

One of my New York Life associates mentioned a Medicare call center nearby that was hiring. By then, I had moved in with Aunt Jo after she was diagnosed with dementia. I had originally planned to stay only a few months, but life had other plans.

I applied, was hired, and began my journey into the world of Medicare.

My first assignment was with the eHealth program, where I became licensed in all fifty states and represented multiple Medicare carriers. It was like getting a front-row seat to understanding how Medicare really works.

And what I discovered surprised me.

I learned that while Medicare Supplement plans like Plan F can be excellent choices for some people, they aren’t the only option.

I also learned about Medicare Advantage plans.

Many Medicare Advantage plans are available with a $0 monthly premium and include all the benefits of Medicare Part A and Part B. Many also include prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, hearing benefits, fitness programs, transportation assistance, and other extras that traditional Medicare supplements typically don’t provide.

The more I learned, the more I wondered if Aunt Jo was in the right plan.

So I sat down with one of my managers, reviewed her situation, and eventually helped her enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that better fit her needs.

Her monthly premium dropped from $300 to $0.

That saved her approximately $3,600 every year. And she gained additional benefits she didn’t have before.

Here’s the amazing part.

Aunt Jo never used that expensive Plan F coverage.

Not once.

Today she is 105 years old, has never been hospitalized, and has never taken prescription medications on a regular basis.

So why did I start Medicaring For You?

Because I know firsthand how confusing Medicare can be.

I watched someone I love spend thousands of dollars on a plan she didn’t fully understand. Was it a bad plan? No. It simply wasn’t the best fit for her situation.

My goal isn’t to tell people which plan to choose.

My goal is to educate them so they can make informed decisions.

For some people, a Medicare Advantage plan may be a great choice. For others—especially those with chronic health conditions, frequent medical needs, or a desire for predictable out-of-pocket costs—a Medicare Supplement plan may make more sense.

Every person is different.

That’s why Medicare isn’t one-size-fits-all.

At Medicaring For You, we take the time to listen, educate, and help you understand your options so you can choose the coverage that fits your health needs, lifestyle, and budget.

That’s why I’m Medicaring For You.

Because I care about Medicare—FOR you.

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www.MedicaringForYou.com