Effortless Enrolling in Medicare
Enrolling In Medicare: 5 allies who can help
(BPT) – Enrolling in Medicare for the first time or starting coverage under a new plan? It might bring you back to that first day starting a new job. You knew some of the basics, but you also knew there was a lot more to learn. More than likely, you got help from colleagues who have been around for a while and helped show you the ropes.
Don’t worry. With Medicare, you have the same kind of knowledgeable support. You’ve got a team on your side that can help make navigating the health care system easier. Goodbye hassles, hello helpers.
Here are five allies in your corner:
1. Your Primary Care Physician. This physician is the “go-to” doctor who provides guidance on your health care needs, taking the time to really get to know you, your medical history and your health goals. Think of your Primary Care Physician as the “quarterback” of your medical team – someone who can take charge of knowing the ins and outs of your health status and help drive decisions to get you on the right track and keep you there.
2. A caregiver. Perhaps the “unsung hero” of your health care team, caregivers are the ones you know you can count on – the ones you know are there to offer support and care for you, whenever you need it. Whether a family member, neighbor, friend or professional assistant, these are the people in your life who help you along the way. Their assistance can span everything from bringing you to appointments or getting prescriptions filled to making meals or offering emotional support.
3. Your pharmacist. This team member keeps an eye on the medications you take – prescription and over-the-counter – to make sure they work safely together. Your pharmacist is a great person to talk with about how medications are making you feel and answer any questions you have on topics including what side effects to expect, what to do if you miss a dose, or how to store your meds. There are many options and decisions to make when enrolling in Medicare.
4. An insurance agent. Original Medicare. Medicare Supplement. Part D. Medicare Advantage. There are many options and decisions to make when it comes to your Medicare coverage, and a licensed insurance agent can help you find the right plan, or plans, for you. Once you’ve selected a plan, you can also always call your agent to ask questions if your health or coverage needs change or if your plan changes from year to year.
5. Your insurance company. Within your insurance company, there are more people than you likely realize who are working hard on your behalf to ensure you get the medical care and support you need. Insurers can offer tools, resources and support that can help you live a healthier life.
There are many sources of good information available when you are ready to enroll in Medicare. Check them out and if there are any questions that you may have, we recommend that you get professional help if necessary. Some things may require immediate attention.
For more information to help you about enrolling in Medicare, visit MedicareMadeClear.com.
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16 responses to “Effortless Enrolling in Medicare”
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Gust Lenglet – Platinum Author
The five allies mentioned here will work for many, I guess, but the primary care physician often times is too busy. If they are a member of a group of doctors or work with HMO patients, they must see 18 to 20 patients a day to generate the income they are expected to bring in. That doesn’t leave them much time for each patient, especially if a couple of them require more time.
Thanks for your comment Lisa. Yes, many primary care physicians have to see a certain number of patients each day, and simply can’t spend the time they want with each one.
Just came across your site and this informative post. The one who was the most help to me was a caregiver who happened to be a friend at our church. My wife passed several years ago and during a bout with a bad disc in my spine, this fine lady came to my home and made sure I had a good home meal. She also drove me to several appointments with doctors, and I am so thankful for her kindness and her caring about others who needed help.
Hi Anthony. You were very fortunate to have that lady in church to help out. Caregivers like her are badly needed and can mean the difference between getting proper care or not. Remember her at Christmas, I’m certain she would be thrilled.
I got a lot of help from my insurance broker when I was first signing up for Medicare. The whole thing was so complicated I didn’t know where to turn, so I called my insurance broker and am glad I did. He also gave me a link to the official Medicare website that answered a lot of questions that I had. I’ll put the link here if you are allowed to publish it. Thanks .
https://www.medicare.gov
Thanks Roger. An insurance broker experienced in the nuances of Medicare can be a big help in selecting the plan that is right for you.
Not to be critical of your post, but I often find insurance companies tend to steer you to a product that they are trying to sell. They often have their own interest as a profit motive and not the person that needs the help. Just my two cents.
Thanks for your input Stephanie. I’m sure there are some insurance companies and agents that won’t always have the client’s best interest, but you can probably find many of the official government site listed. Also, be careful on the Internet where you see some charging a fee for sorting it out.
I’ve been going to my primary care doctor for about 10 years, and I know he was extremely busy. He sent me a letter a couple of months ago saying that he too was very concerned about not being able to spend enough time with each patient. He went on to say that he joined some type of program where his patient load would be reduced substantially where he could spend one hour with a patient and focus on preventative type care. The only bad part of this was that each patient had to pay 1,700.00 up front each year. I almost choked on that realizing that I now had to find another primary care doctor.
Thanks for your comment Kate. I found a few doctors in my area that are probably in that program. The primary focus is on preventative care and would probably be good for a younger person. It can be pricey for many.
I’ll be 65 next year and plan to retire. I’ve been employed by the state of Texas and will continue to have that insurance coverage. Is there a need for me to buy the Medicare Part B coverage?
Thanks for your question, Wayne. We’re not permitted to give advice on health care matters, but there is a website in Texas that will have the information that you are looking for. The site has a lot of information and a telephone number. Start with that one and if you’re unable to get an answer, the Medicare site should be able to help you. The ERS site in Texas is https://ers.texas.gov/Retirees/Health-Benefits-for-retirees and the Medicare site is https://www.medicare.gov/. Hope this helps.
To say that signing up for Medicare and getting the coverage you need is complicated, is an understatement. I looked all over the Internet for guidance and thought that I found what I needed. After talking with a lady for a few minutes, she mentioned that their fee for advising me would be around 400.00. I hung up on her and found what I needed on the official government site.
I hear you Gary. There are quite a few sites on the Internet that advertise their services and some make their websites look like the official government site. You did the right thing by going to the official site as they can get you started in the proper direction.
Applying for Medicare is a complex procedure and if you’re not careful, it can also be an expensive one if you do something wrong. I wasn’t able to use any of the suggestions in your post, but a good friend recommended a Medicare Broker that he used. I called them, and was sure glad that I did. The lady that I spoke with knew exactly what to do and had me enrolled quickly. There was no charge for their services either.
Thanks for stopping by Harry. Yes, if you don’t select the plan that’s best for you at enrollment time, it can be an expensive mistake. Also glad to hear that you received the information and assistance that you needed. The name of the site that you gave me previously is a good one and they don’t charge for their services.