Detroit Retirees losing Health Insurance

Relief for Detroit Retirees losing Health Insurance

The City of Detroit is revoking the health insurance benefits for all Detroit Retirees effective March 1st, the Retirees are not being offered Cobra or any assistance with purchasing a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan. 

Medicare Provides Relief: Medicare is granting a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for these Detroit Retirees, allowing them to join a Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, or a Medicare Part D Plan effective March 1st. 

Call for Assistance in choosing the right Medicare Plan: Senior Healthcare Direct is owned my Robert Bache, aka "MedicareBob". If you are one of these retirees on Medicare and you are losing your health insurance benefits on March 1st, you are advised to call Senior Healthcare Direct immediately. 

Senior Healthcare Direct Contact Information: Call today, 1-855-368-4717, or go to www.SrHealthcareDirect.com 

How Does Medicare Part D work?

How Does Medicare Part D work?  

You will pay an Insurance Company a monthly premium and in return you will receive 3 levels of coverage.

Level 1: This is the type of prescription that you are used to, during the first level of coverage you will pay a set copay for each of your medications.

• ·        Typically you will pay $0-4 dollars for Tier 1 generic medications
• ·        Typically you will pay $12-20 dollars for Tier 2 generic medication
• ·        Typically you will pay $35-40 dollars for Tier 3 “Preferred Brands”
• ·        Typically you will pay $80-95 dollars for Tier 4 “non-Preferred Brands”

Level 2: Level 2 is often referred to as, “The Donut Hole”. You will reach level 2 coverage when your costs plus the costs that your insurance company has spent reaches $2,970.00 dollars. Once you reach level 2, you will not have a simple copay to pay, instead you will pay “co-insurance”, which means you will pay a percentage of what the insurance company is paying for each medication.

• ·        Typically you pay 79% of generic medications
• ·        Typically you pay 47.5% of brand name medications

Level 3: Once you and your insurance company have paid out about $4700 for your medications, you enter, “Catastrophic coverage”. Once you enter this level of coverage, your cost per medication is reduced substantially, and you are guaranteed to pay a small co-insurance for each medication.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THIS ON VIDEO

Donut Hole Relief: Currently, you are required to pay 79% for Generics and 47.50% for Brand name medications, however these percentages are being reduced every year, and in 2020 the highest percentage you will pay is only 25%.

My name is Robert Bache aka, MedicareBob. I am a licensed insurance agent and I specialize in Medicare. Please contact me with any of you Medicare Insurance questions. 

Phone Number: 1-800-525-0299

www.MedicareBob.com 

www.SrHealthcareDirect.com 

Robert@SrHealthcareDirect.com 

Aflac is Discontinuing offering Medicare Supplement Plans Effective September 27, 2013.

Aflac is Discontinuing offering Medicare Supplement Plans Effective September 27, 2013. 

Aflac has decided to discontinue offering Medicare Supplement Plans, the last day to submit an application is September 27, 2013. Aflac has not announced a reason for removing Medicare Supplement Plans from their portfolio of insurance products.

MedicareBob to Consumers that are considering choosing Aflac Medicare Supplement Plans: If you have been considering Aflac for your Medicare Supplement Plan, do not purchase it. Even though Aflac is accepting new Applications through September 27th, it is not a good idea because Aflac will not be accepting any new clients after the deadline, so as you get older I anticipate the rates to jump extremely high. If no one new can enter into the Plan, than only the people that are too sick to leave (or too lazy to shop) will be on the Plan, therefore the premium price will increase much faster than a Medicare Supplement Company that is still accepting new members.

MedicareBob to Consumers that currently have Aflac Medicare Supplement Plans: Jump ship, if you are still in your "Medicare Open Enrollment Period", or you are healthy enough to switch to a different Medicare Supplement Plan you should do so. As mentioned earlier, because Aflac is not accepting new members, your Aflac Medicare Supplement Premium will increase a lot more than and faster when compared to you joining with a Company that is still accepting new members. 

"CLICK HERE TO SEE MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT QUOTES"
Robert Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President / Producer
Senior Healthcare Direct
Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299
Company Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717
www.srhealthcaredirect.com
Learn more about Robert aka “MedicareBob”
http://srhealthcaredirect.com/medicarebob/
http://MedicareBob.com
Please “Like” Senior Healthcare Direct on Facebook:
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Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan 2014 HMO Preview:

Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan 2014 HMO Preview:

Aetna is offering two types of Medicare HMO Plans in 2014:
1. The Aetna Medicare Traditional HMO
2. The Aetna Medicare Open Access HMO

The Aetna MedicareTraditional HMO:
Referrals are not needed for certain services that are considered “direct access”:

•   ER and urgent care
•   Routine eye exams
•   Flu and pneumonia shots
•   Annual mammograms

The Aetna Medicare Traditional HMO requires a member select and use a primary care physician (PCP).

The PCP coordinates care and provides referrals to other health care providers in the Aetna Medicare Plan (HMO) network.

Getting a referral is easy. If the PCP cannot treat the condition, the doctor can issue a referral to an Aetna Medicare Plan (HMO) network specialist.

The Aetna Medicare Open Access HMO:

•  It allows members to go to any Aetna Medicare Plan (HMO) network provider they choose for covered services without a primary care provider (PCP) referral.
•   PCP selection is not required, but is recommended.
•   Members receive the same benefits as the Traditional HMO plan.

ALL 2014 Aetna Medicare HMO Plans include:

•   Routine physicals
•   Annual Wellness exams
•   Mammograms
•   Routine gynecology exams
•   Prostate cancer screenings
•   Flue and pneumonia vaccines
•   Colorectal screenings
•   Bone density exams (bone mass measurement)
•   All Plans have a maximum out of pocket amount
•   Aetna Health ConnectionsSM Disease Management
•   Healthy Outlook Program
•   National Medical Excellence Program
•   Case Management Services
•   Annual Preventative Reminders
•   Numbers to know
•   Informed Health Line
•   Doc Find

Here is a partial list of benefits covered in the plans:

•   Primary care
•   Specialty care
•   Inpatient hospitalization
•   Surgery
•   Home health care
•   Skilled nursing care
•   Outpatient services
•   Ambulance services
•   Urgently needed care
•   Hearing aid and/or eyewear reimbursements are covered in some plans.

All plan include a monthly health club membership that includes two options:
o Tier 1 clubs – no copay
o Tier 2 clubs – nominal annual copay

•   Members are covered for urgent and emergency medical care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, anywhere in the world.

•   Optional Supplemental Benefits that provide coverage for dental, hearing, and/or vision are available for an extra cost with some HMO Plans.

Some plans include a Transportation benefit (24 one-way trips) per year that can be used for travel for defined health care needs.

MedicareBob’s Favorite Benefit for Aetna’s 2014 Medicare Advantage HMO Plans:
I really like “Aetna’s Travel Advantage Program” that is included in Aetna 2014 Medicare HMO Advantage Plans.

The Travel Advantage Program Fact Sheet:
o It covers members who are temporarily traveling to another Medicare HMO service area for up to 12 consecutive months.
o It provides access to the same benefits that members receive in their home service area.
o Member must contact Member Services to elect the Travel Advantage Program.
o Members must contact Member Services when they return to their home service area.
o Members must use Aetna Medicare HMO network Providers.

TO LEARN MORE CALL ME, 1-800-525-0299.

Robert Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President / Producer
Senior Healthcare Direct
Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299
Company Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717
www.srhealthcaredirect.com

 Learn more about Robert aka “MedicareBob”

http://srhealthcaredirect.com/medicarebob/
http://MedicareBob.com

Please “Like” Senior Healthcare Direct on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob?ref=hl

Robert Bache aka "MedicareBob" endorses Medicare Shield:

Robert Bache aka "MedicareBob" endorses Medicare Shield:

 

"Medicare Fraud, Waste, and Abuse is a real problem for our Government / tax payers and Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare Fraud may not feel real until it effects you, but what people need to understand is the Medicare Fraud affects every single tax payer! Billions of tax payer dollars EVERY YEAR are lost due to Medicare Fraud. In addition to the lost money, the emotional heartache that a senior experiences when they fall victim may have a bigger impact. Medicare Shield is a free service that empowers Medicare beneficiaries with the ability to easily monitor all of the claims that are filed using their social security number / Medicare Claim Number, and if they see a fraudulent claim, Medicare Shield makes it easy to report it", Robert Bache, President Senior Healthcare Direct.
Medicare Fraud, what is it?

It is fraud when Medicare is billed for services or supplies you never received. Medicare loses billions of dollars to fraudulent claims every year.

Why is it important to stop Medicare fraud?

Medicare fraud results in higher health care costs for everyone. Eliminating fraud cuts costs for families, businesses, and the federal government. It also increases the quality of services for those who need care.

What can we do to stop Medicare fraud?

Stopping fraud requires cooperation from everybody—the federal government, state governments, health care providers, insurers, law enforcement, and citizens like you. Currently, five key programs are support the effort to crack down on Medicare fraud:

• Medicare Shield:

Medicare Shield makes it easier for you to protect your Medicare Claim Number from fraud, waste, and abuse. Medicare Shield will send you an e-mail every month showing you all of the Cliams that were filed under your Medicare Claim Number. You can also download the Medicare Shield App onto your IPhone and/or IPad giving you instant access to all of your Medicare Claims. You will be able to review your claims on a monthly basis, and easily report any Fraud, Waste or Abuse.
Learn more about Medicare Shield's FREE Service at:  (http://medicareshield.com)

• The Affordable Care Act

The Act, also known as the health care reform law, includes powerful steps toward fight health care fraud, waste, and abuse. Through its programs, the government has recovered more than $10 billion in the last three years.

• Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT)

This joint effort between the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice brings together senior officials to lead Medicare Strike Force teams that raise the fight against fraud to a new level.
(http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/aboutfraud/heattaskforce/index.html)

• Senior Medicare Patrols

The administration has added new funding for Senior Medicare Patrols. These groups of senior citizen volunteers educate their peers to identify, prevent, and report health care fraud.
(http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/preventfraud/smp/index.html)

• Public-Private Partnership to Prevent Health Care Fraud 

This ground-breaking partnership unites public and private organizations in the fight against health care fraud. The voluntary, collaborative partnership includes the federal government, state officials, several leading private health insurance organizations, and other anti-fraud groups.
(http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/aboutfraud/public-private/index.html)


Robert W. Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President, Senior Healthcare Direct
Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299
Learn more about Robert aka “MedicareBob”
http://MedicareBob.com

Robert Bache aka MedicareBob, "My Value Proposition".

My Value Proposition

By Robert Bache aka “MedicareBob”

Why should Medicare beneficiaries work with Robert Bache aka MedicareBob?

I want to make you smile :-)

It’s a straightforward and simple question, yet with so much noise and competition out there, it sometimes seems difficult to explain.

To answer this question, I want to share my value proposition.  My value proposition is not based on gimmicks or trendy value added services.

My value proposition is based on six concrete principles that every client can expect if they want to business with me and my team.

Robert Bache’s Value Proposition.

1)  I am privileged to own a reputable insurance agency that keeps each clients’ best interest in mind.  Our agency has thousands of satisfied policy holders and treats everyone with the utmost respect and courtesy.

I work with an amazing customer service team that ensure your basic questions, certificate requests, billing questions, and most importantly claims get taken care of promptly and efficiently.

2)  I am proud to be an independent agent.  As an independent agent, I have access to multiple, highly reputable Medicare insurance companies.  I use the strengths of each individual company’s product and services to align with my customers specific needs.

3)  My goal is to provide all of my prospects and clients with the heart of a trusted advisor, not a salesperson.  It is vital that my prospects and customers understand the product they are buying not simply because I tell them so, but because they understand how the Medicare insurance products benefit them.

I never stop learning as this business is constantly changing and evolving.  Staying up to date on the latest Medicare insurance products and services allows me to pass this new information on to my clients. I don’t believe in the status quo and never will.

My goal is to be a consultant, resource, and friend.  When I achieve this with my clients, I become a true trusted Medicare Insurance advisor. This is my expectation for every client.

4)  I will provide value to Medicare beneficiaries whether you’re a client or not.  Yes, I want and expect to earn your business, but I will provide information useful to you through blog posts, social media sites, published articles, email newsletters, speaking engagements, and free consultations to demonstrate how I can be the best resource for information to assist you in choosing the right Medicare insurance plan for you.

Trust and respect are earned.

5)  I will help you benefit more by saving your time and earning your trust.

Time–Medicare can be complicated, frustrating, and time-consuming. Working with team of committed professionals that truly care about your needs will save you much-needed time so you can focus on other important matters.

Trust–By partnering with a true business advocate, resource, and ally; you will have the peace of mind knowing that you can trust your Medicare insurance plan is in safe hands.

6)  Doing business with me and my agency is not transactional, it’s relational.

Solid relationships are the foundation of our business.  Once you become our client, we become partners.  This is where the sale begins, not ends. My team and I are committed to constantly improving and enhancing our products and services.

My goal is a long-term relationship with all of my clients.  Once we earn your business, we expect to keep it.  Not because it’s convenient, but because you couldn’t imagine doing business with anyone else.

That’s my value proposition to you.

If you would like to learn more about Medicare, please contact me at (800) 525-0299 or via email: Bob@MedicareBob.com.

If you are new to Medicare, or you have questions about Medicare I would like the opportunity of assisting you with your Medicare Insurance needs. You can also go to www.SrHealthcareDirect.com and look at the Medicare Insurance options that are available in your County.

Robert W. Bache aka MedicareBob

Medicare Supplement Plan J, why did you leave me?

Medicare Supplement Plan J, why did you leave me?

As of June 1st, 2010 Medicare Supplement Plan J is no longer being offered to Medicare beneficiaries. If you currently have Medicare Supplement Plan J, you will still be "grandfathered in", meaning that you can keep the Plan J.

WHY DID PLAN J GET DISCONTINUED?  

 Original Medicare made two upgrades: 

• Medicare now covers "Preventive Healthcare"
• Medicare now covers "At Home Recovery" 

Since Medicare now covers these two benefits, Medicare Supplement Plan J is not any better than Medicare Supplement Plan F. Therefore, Medicare Supplement Plan F is now the most comprehensive Plan, replacing Medicare Supplement Plan J. 

CAN I KEEP MY PLAN J?

Yes, anyone that has a Medicare Supplement Plan J is "grandfathered in", therefore you can keep your Plan J. 

  

WHAT WILL THIS DO TO MY MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN J'S MONTHLY PREMIUM?

 There are two reasons that it is likely that the Plan J premium is going to continue to  increase:

1. Because there are not any people entering into the Plan J.
2. Most of the people that are going to keep the Plan J are the people that are not healthy enough to switch plans, therefore driving up the monthly premium.

  

SHOULD I KEEP MY MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN J?

If you have health issues, than yes. However, if you have had stable health for the past two years you should change from a Medicare Supplement Plan J to a Medicare Supplement Plan F or G.

WHICH MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLAN SHOULD I SWITCH TOO?

Medicare Supplement Plan F now offers the same coverage as the Medicare Supplement Plan J offered. 

OR

Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the same coverage as the Plan J, except you have a small annual deductible of $147.00.  

(MedicareBob recommends the Medicare Supplement Plan G)

Medicare insurance question? Want quotes from 20+ Medicare Supplement Companies? Want a chart of the available Medicare Advantage Plans in you County? Call me, Robert W. Bache aka MedicareBob: 1-800-525-0299.

Robert W. Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President / Producer
Senior Healthcare Direct
Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299
Company Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717
http://www.SrHealthcareDirect.com
Learn more about Robert aka “MedicareBob”

http://srhealthcaredirect.com/medicarebob/

Please “Like” Senior Healthcare Direct on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob?ref=h

More Doctors are now Accepting Medicare now:

More Doctors are now Accepting Medicare:

Baby Boomers and current Medicare Beneficiaries, here is some great news, "1.25 million doctors are accept Medicare!". The number of physicians accepting new Medicare patients rose by one-third between 2007 and 2011 and is now higher than the number of physicians accepting new private insurance patients, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report obtained by USA TODAY.

In 2007, about 925,000 doctors billed Medicare for their services. In 2011, that number had risen to 1.25 million, according to the report by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

"I think the report comes at a time when people are asking questions about Medicare," said Jonathan Blum, principal deputy administrator for the Center for Medicare Services. "It provides a more complete picture of how physicians choose to participate in the Medicare system."
I anticipate the number of physicians that accept Medicare to grow, for me it is purely economics. There are currently over 43 million people on Medicare, and 10,000 people aging into Medicare eligibility per day now through 2030. Not only is this going to be the largest demographic in US history, but it is also a huge opportunity for physicians to make money. Any physician that decides not to accept Medicare will be shunning the majority of people that require their services.
Medicare is negotiating on our behalf. Medicare is not the bad guy, in fact, Medicare regulating / Assigning an approved dollar amount is actually to all of our benefit.  Doctors are great, but if they were allowed to simply charge whatever amount they chose for their services, none of us would have affordable healthcare.
If you are new to Medicare, or you are shopping for a new Plan, the best thing for you to do is call your Doctor's office and ask these 3 questions:

1) Do you accept Medicare?
2) Do you accept Medicare Assignment?
3) Do you accept any Medicare Advantage Plans, if so are they an HMO or PPO?

In summary, the amount of doctors accepting Medicare is trending in our favor, and Medicare regulating what they are allowed to charge is actually a good thing.

Medicare insurance question? Want quotes from 20+ Medicare Supplement Companies? Want a chart of the available Medicare Advantage Plans in your County?

Call me, Robert W. Bache aka MedicareBob: 1-800-525-0299.


Robert W. Bache aka “MedicareBob”
President / Producer
Senior Healthcare Direct
Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299
Company Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717
Robert@SrHealthcareDirect.com

www.SrHealthcareDirect.com

Learn more about Robert aka “MedicareBob”

http://srhealthcaredirect.com/medicarebob/

Please “Like” Senior Healthcare Direct on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob?ref=hl

Medicare Supplement OR Medicare Advantage Plan, the good, the bad, the "not so ugly" either way

Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage Plan, which offers better coverage?

A Medicare Supplement Plan works with Medicare to pay the out of pocket costs that Medicare does not pay for. When you have a Medicare Supplement Plan, you will continue to use your Medicare red, white, and blue card, as well as your Medicare Supplement Card.

A Medicare Advantage Plan works in replace of Medicare. Medicare pays a private insurance company to insure you, with the requirement that the benefits are at least as good as what Medicare offers.  If you choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can put away your Medicare red, white, and blue card because you will only be required to present your Medicare Advantage Plan card to use the insurance.

So which is better?

Good news, there is no wrong answer, they both are good, and both probably offer better coverage than you are used too. Below are the good and the bad for each type of insurance, I hope this helps:

Medicare Supplement

                                The Good                                                                                            The Bad

Flexibility- choice of Doctor and/or Hospital	An additional Monthly Premium ($75-$180)
Predictability- very little out of pocket expense	No dental or vision coverage
Pays all hospital bills	Monthly premium increases every year
You and your Doctor decide your care	No prescription drug coverage, you will need Part D
Easy to shop and compare the different prices
No referrals are required, no HMO or PPO
Travels with you, same coverage all over the US
Electronic Billing

 

In summary, a Medicare Supplement Plan is going to cost an additional monthly premium, but it provides coverage that allows you to choose your own Healthcare Providers, and it is easy to budget because as long as you pay the monthly premium, you will rarely get a bill.

Medicare Advantage Plan

                                The Good                                                                                            The Bad

Very low monthly premium, sometimes $0.00	Out of pocket costs up to $3,500 to $7,500
Insurance Company helps manage your care	Doctor / Hospital Network: HMO or PPO.
Some dental and/or vision	Requires referrals
Includes prescription drug coverage	Annual Contracts, can only change 10/15-12/07
	Coverage is limited to your County
	Insurance Company decides your care

 

In summary, a Medicare Advantage Plan operates like group health insurance that most of us have had our whole life, and has a low monthly premium. However, if you are retiring and your income is being reduced, it may be more difficult to have health insurance that is impossible to budget for because you do not know how much you will use the Plan each year.

 

Candid MedicareBob: I assist roughly 100 people per month with choosing which Medicare Coverage is the best for them, and 70% of the time, the choice is a Medicare Supplement Plan. This does not mean that I do not like Medicare Advantage Plans, to me it really comes down to the pricing that is available for the Medicare Supplement Plans in your area. If a Medicare Supplement Plan F, G, or Plan N is $100 or less per month, than a Medicare Supplement makes a lot of sense for most people. This being said, I do have clients that cannot afford a Medicare Supplement, this is when I assist them in choosing the right Medicare Advantage Plan for them. As I mentioned previously, both Medicare Supplement Insurance and Medicare Advantage Plans typically offer better insurance than you have had while you were working.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: The only time that you are guaranteed approval for any Medicare Supplement Plan is when you first turn 65 years old, or within 6 months of when you start Medicare Part B.

How do I, a licensed insurance agent/broker that sells Medicare Supplements and/or Medicare Advantage Plans make money?

This is a fair question, and I am happy to share this information with you. My services; Medicare education, telephonic enrollment, and customer service, has no additional cost to you. I get paid by the insurance company, not by you. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SHORT VIDEO: Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement, which is better? 

Medicare insurance question? Want quotes from 20+ Medicare Supplement Companies? Want a chart of the available Medicare Advantage Plans in you County?

Call me, Robert W. Bache aka MedicareBob: 1-800-525-0299. 

Robert W. Bache aka “MedicareBob”

President / Producer

Senior Healthcare Direct

Direct Toll Free: 1-800-525-0299

Company Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717

www.srhealthcaredirect.com

Learn more about Robert aka “MedicareBob”