Why You Shouldn't Count on Your Boss for Medicare Advice

When people get ready to retire, many need to switch from their employer sponsored health insurance plan to Medicare. They naturally turn to their human resources department for answers to their questions. But, looking to your boss or human resources department for Medicare answers may not be your best bet.

Consumer experts are warning that employers don’t always have the most current or correct Medicare enrollment information. The transition to Medicare often presents complex situations and any mistakes you make can result in costly premium penalties and coverage gaps for YOU.

Your employer or human resource staff may be experts on their own benefits packages but, Medicare is not one of their benefits. Misinformation from employers is one of the most frequent sources of problems that prompt people to call Medicare helplines.

Companies may have a retiree transitioning to Medicare once a month or less. Unlike insurance professionals and Medicare experts, employers and human resource professionals are not working with Medicare related issues on a daily basis.

One way to get the most up-to-date Medicare information is to attend Getting Started with Medicare, a class where I cover all the basics on Medicare. After class, I am available to answer your questions. Getting Started with Medicare is presented at local colleges, libraries and community centers and is for informational purposes only. No plan specific information or product sales are discussed during the classes. You can find a complete list of class dates and times on my website at http://www.mutskoinsurance.com/seminars.

If you prefer, I will be happy to review your Medicare options with you. Call me at 440-255-5700 or toll free at 1-888-951-6201. You are also welcome to email me at lmutsko@mutskoinsurance.com to set up an appointment.

A visit to your human resources department isn’t a bad place to start. But, be sure to allow yourself enough time to double check all the information you receive. It will save you time and frustration to do so.