Thursday, October 24, 2013

Get all your Medicare questions answered.


To help bridge any Medicare information gaps, I will be presenting 90 minute informational sessions called,  "Getting Started with Medicare."  Please register for one of the following classes:
 
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Mentor Library – Garfield Room
 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
8215 Mentor Ave.
Mentor, OH 44060
440-255-5700
 
Friday, November 1, 2013
Andover Library
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
142 W. Main St.
Andover, OH 44003
440-293-6792
For a complete list of other class dates and times, visit www.mutskoinsurance.com/seminars or call Mutsko Insurance Services at 440-255-5700.
 
Sessions are educational only: no specific insurance products or prices will be discussed.  Some fee may be required by individual locations. Pre-registration is required.
 
Don't guess about your health insurance. Get the facts. Plan to attend one of my classes before you need to make important decisions about Medicare

Monday, October 21, 2013

How Can I Get Vision and Dental Coverage Under Medicare?

Dental and routine eye exams for eyeglasses or contact lenses are not covered by Original Medicare.

Some Medicare Advantage Plans Offer Vision and Dental Coverage.         
Medicare Advantage Plans (Medicare Part C) offer the same coverage as Original Medicare Parts A and B, plus a number of additional benefits that Original Medicare does not offer. Dental and vision care is often included in Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare Supplements May Have Vision and Dental Coverage Options.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans (Medigap) are insurance plans that can help pay for costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Some Medicare Supplement Insurance plans offer discounts or additional dental and vision benefits.

Considering Your Choices. It’s important to research the Medicare options that are available to you. Call me to set up an appointment today and I’ll help you find the plan that’s most suitable for you. Call 440-255-5700 or email me at lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com

 

Friday, October 18, 2013

Facts on Health Care Exchanges (Obamacare) and Medicare


The Health Insurance Marketplace, often referred to as Obamacare, does not affect people on Medicare. The New Health Care Exchanges are specifically for people who do not have affordable health insurance or cannot be covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

To my policyholders who have individual health care coverage with me . . . I will be contacting each of you in November or December during the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period to review your coverage. We will discuss your current insurance plan and the options you now have with the Health Care Exchanges (Obamacare.) I have received comprehensive training on all the new health insurance options open to you and will explain the impact of health care reform when we talk.

If you or members of your family would like more information, call me at 440-255-5700.


Thursday, October 17, 2013

What to do if your Advantage Plan is no longer available

Is your plan still available in your county?
Some popular Medicare Advantage Plans are being discontinued in Lake and other Ohio Counties. Please read your Annual Notice of Change carefully to make sure yours is not one of these.
If it is, there is no need to panic. Call me at 440-255-5700. I’ll help you find a comparable plan to suit your needs. You have until December 7 to shop around and switch to different Advantage plan.

While you’re checking, look to see if your current plan has made significant changes in other areas of coverage including:
-       Co-pays
-       Out of Pocket Costs
-       Prescription Costs & Formularies
-       Doctors in your network

If you find changes, call me and we'll figure out if there's a plan that's more suitable for you.
As an independent agent, I represent many of the most respected insurance companies in Ohio and I will shop around and help you find the best plan, premium and company based on your needs. You never pay a dime for my services.

Please review your Annual Notice of Change, today. If you have elderly family members or friends, please help them review their plans, too. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call me if you have questions and we’ll set up an appointment to do a Medicare review together.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Are you baffled by Medicare?

Got questions on Medicare?
Find health insurance baffling?


Please join me for

Getting Started with Medicare
Morley Library
Thursday, October 17, 2013
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
814 Phelps St., Painesville, OH 44077

We will spend an hour and a half delving into Medicare and what going on Medicare will mean for you.
This class is free, but we request you pre-register by calling 440-255-5700 to make sure we have enough materials for everyone who attends.

Click here for other class dates, times, and registration information http://www.mutskoinsurance.com/seminars

(These events are only for educational purposes and no plan specific benefits or details will be shared.)

Friday, October 11, 2013

Premiums. Co-Pays. Co-Insurance. Do you understand these Medicare Terms?

 Here's some information to help you understand the terms used to describe your Medicare costs.
 
(reposted from Medicare Made Clear)

Whether you get your Medicare benefits through Original Medicare or through a Medicare Advantage, you are likely to have some out-of-pocket costs. The key is to understand upfront what you will be charged for and how the amount you are charged is determined. With this information, you can start to estimate what you might pay out-of-pocket with different plans you might be considering during Medicare Open Enrollment.
 
Here is a brief explanation of the main ways that Medicare shares the cost of your care with you.
  • Premium – This is a fixed amount you may have to pay, usually monthly, to participate in a Medicare Advantage or other private Medicare health plan. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, you also pay a premium to Medicare. Part A is premium free for most people. Some Medicare Advantage plans do not have a premium.
  • Deductible – This is a fixed amount you must pay for your medical care before Medicare or other insurance pays. Deductibles apply during a calendar year, and the amount can vary among private Medicare plans of the same type. With Original Medicare, Part A and Part B each have a deductible. Some plans may not have a deductible.
  •  
  • Copayment – Also known as a copay, this is a fixed amount you pay for a service or product at the time you get it. With a standalone Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D), for example, you might pay a $10 or $20 copayment each time you fill or refill a prescription. 
  • Coinsurance – This is what you pay when the total cost of a service or product you receive is split with your plan. It is a percentage. For example, Medicare Part B might pay 80% of the cost for a visit to your doctor, and you would pay 20%.
Both Original Medicare private Medicare plans use these cost-sharing methods. But each plan has its own terms and conditions, so it’s important to read the plan material carefully.
 

Monday, October 7, 2013

Got Questions on Medicare or the new Heath Insurance Marketplace?

You're not alone! 

With the introduction of the new Health Insurance Marketplace coming almost at the same time with Medicare Open Enrollment, it's no wonder so many people have questions. The good news is that we have time to get all your questions answered before open enrollment closes on December 7 for Medicare. Call me at 440-255-5700 or email me at lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com and we'll talk.

If you're turning 65 or going on Medicare for the first time, please attend Getting Started with Medicare.. This class is designed to make Medicare easy to understand for those new to Medicare or
those who want a refresher on it.

In all, I will presenting Getting Started with Medicare at more than a dozen locations in the coming weeks. Here's a link to all my upcoming classes:

http://www.mutskoinsurance.com/seminars

You'll find classes conveniently located in Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Summit and Lorain Counties.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Health Insurance Facts - Some Key Dates

There are some key dates you'll want to mark on your calendar:
  • October 1, 2013: Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment period begins
  • January 1, 2014: New Health coverage can start
  • March 31, 2014: Open enrollment ends
Medicare recipients have a different set of Open Enrollment dates. These are
  • October 1, 2013: Medicare Open Enrollment period begins
  • December 7, 2013:  Medicare Open Enrollment Period ends
  • January 1, 2014:  Medicare changes go into effect for 2014