Medicare Advantage Dis-enrollment Period

The Medicare Advantage Dis-enrollment Period (or MADP) begins on January 1, 2014 and continues through February 14th.  During the MADP, you can drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare, plus you will be able to join a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Why Cash is King...Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Indemnity insurance plans were one of the first health plans to ever be sold in this country. A very simple concept, if you have an illness or accident and accrue medical bills we, the insurer, will pay you a set dollar, indemnity, amount based upon the policy provisions for coverage. 

Many policies in the health insurance field today are so complicated in their benefit structure that even I, with 30+ years’ experience, have a have a hard time understanding what is covered and how much am I going to get paid. The Hospital Indemnity Policies being offered today are a classic example of knowing what you’re buying and understanding the benefits. These policies provide cash to the policyholder that can be used for any number of items after they have been confined to a hospital:

• Paying health insurance deductibles, whether underage, Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement.
• Paying for charges not covered by other insurance.
• Paying for relative travel and lodging to help out.
• Paying for relative travel and lodging to help out.
• Paying bills at home. 
• Paying for housekeeping while you recover.
• Etc...

Many of these policies also offer riders to pay for doctors, surgery, cancer and prescription drugs.  In most cases the cash indemnity is paid to the policyholder direct and they can then use the money as they see fit. The underwriting is minimal and premiums are affordable, starting at just a few dollars a month. Even those on a fixed budget may able to afford this coverage.

The largest medical bills that a person receives are when they end up hospitalized for illness or accident. So, why not insure that risk and make sure you have the money when you need it the most, after being confined to a hospital for illness or accident. After all, CASH IS KING!!!

(This article was written by Philip Warren of Senior Marketing Specialists.)

Using the Medicare and You 2014 Handbook

NOTE: If you do not have a copy of the 2014 Medicare and You book, CLICK HERE to view how to order and / or download your copy from Medicare.gov.

The Medicare and You publication is a great tool for agents to use in the field.  This is a Medicare approved piece, and many prospects and relate to it since they are used to getting them annually.

We recommend that you not only get a copy, but you also use it to help answer your clients questions.  

Below are some key pages in the 2014 book.  Of course, you may find other pages useful depending your clientele, but these are some great starting points when using the book:

Page 14 - Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace

Page 16 – Medicare Choices (Medigap / MA Flowchart)

Page 24 – Other insurance and Medicare

Page 58 – Medicare.gov plan finder

Page 59 – Medicare Choices plan chart

Page 67 – 71 – Medigap plans

Page 73 – MA plan types

Page 78 – How MA plans work

Page 80 – MA enrollment

Page 93 Part D Layout

Page 100 – Other programs and Part D

Page 110 - Medicaid

You cannot mark on CMS approved pieces and leave them behind.  If you have a copy where you take notes (as you should) write OFFICE COPY on the front with black marker so clients do not ask to keep yours.

(This article was written by Mike Gattorna of Senior Marketing Specialists.)