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From Harris Insurance Agency

It is with a heavy and saddened heart that I share with you Jeff’s passing at the end of April. It was very sudden and very unexpected.

I wanted to share with you that Harris Insurance Agency is continuing as your Medicare and Health Insurance specialist. We are still here to help and guide you with your Medicare and Health Insurance needs.

We will be here to help answer any questions you may have and to help you choose the best plan for your needs.

For those of you who found out about Jeff’s passing and offered your condolences, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kind words are helping me through this tough time.

So please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions regarding your Medicare or if you have any referrals to pass along.

Thank you for allowing Harris Insurance Agency to help you with your Medicare and Health Insurance needs.

Sincerely,

Cindy Harris

Medicare Made Easy Educational Event

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Having health insurance is vital, whether you’re dealing with the common cold or have more substantial concerns. Navigating which plan works best for your circumstances is a daunting task, especially if you’re a young adult enrolling for the first time. However, discussing why you need insurance and how it works can make the process a lot easier. Here are a few questions to bring up while weighing this decision.

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞?

Health insurance gives you greater control over your personal health and well-being while leaving you with a significantly less financial burden. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventative services like checkups, hospital room and board, and emergency room visits are covered under a standard policy. Routine testing also detects common conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and digestive issues early on, which saves you from paying more money out of pocket in the future.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭-𝐨𝐟-𝐏𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞?

Aside from paying monthly payments to your insurance provider, there are three costs you have to cover yourself: deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance. A deductible is the amount of money you pay for medical care before your insurer starts providing coverage. Insurance companies can also do this through coinsurance, which permits you to pay a percentage of medical costs. Co-pays, meanwhile, are flat fees you pay to your healthcare provider or specialist during visits.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨 𝐈 𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥?

There are a few ways you could get health insurance. You could contact Harris Insurance Agency and receive assistance with the federal government marketplace at no additional charge, through your state’s private healthcare exchange, or your employer. However, you can only sign up for a public plan during allocated open enrollment periods throughout the year. Once you obtain insurance, you’ll then pay a monthly premium if you purchase an individual insurance plan or it’ll be taken out of your paycheck if you enroll in employer-sponsored insurance.

If you’re still having a hard time navigating health insurance plans, leave it to the professionals to help out. The skilled agents at Harris Insurance Agency in Centerville, OH, can guide you through providers and carriers that meet your specific needs. To get a free quote from the family-owned agency, call them at (𝟵𝟯𝟳) 𝟯𝟴𝟳-𝟲𝟲𝟳𝟮.

An Introduction to Medicare Supplement Plans

A standard Medicare plan only covers about 80 percent of your Part A and Part B medical expenses. While this is certainly helpful, it still leaves Medicare recipients responsible for the remaining 20 percent of medical costs. Given the price-tag of healthcare today, this leftover amount can be considerable, but a Medicare supplement plan, also called a Medigap plan, can help. Below, learn more about supplement plans, their typical coverage options, and their benefits.

About Supplement Plans

To qualify for a supplement plan, you need to have standard Medicare with Part A and Part B coverage. Medicare is available to American adults age 65 or older and to younger individuals with qualifying disabilities. Open enrollment for Medicare begins on the first of the month for eligible recipients. Once you’ve been approved for Medicare, you can start exploring supplement plans.

Supplement plans are not administered by Medicare but by private insurance companies, so costs and coverage options can vary. You pay your monthly Medigap premium directly to the insurer, not to Medicare.

What Is & Isn’t Covered

Medicare supplement plans are designed to help cover certain costs not taken care of by your Part A or B policies. Most plans pay for or reduce the costs of copays and deductibles, as well as any co-insurance you may carry.

A supplement plan essentially expands original Medicare coverage, so most policies do not offer additional benefits beyond the scope of original Medicare. For instance, many supplemental plans do not cover dental or vision costs, hearing aids, or long-term or private nursing care. Also, you cannot get prescription drug coverage through a supplement plan since it’s only offered through Medicare Part D.

Benefits

Supplement plans can drastically reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Since there are plenty of supplemental plans to choose from, you can be sure to find one that fits your needs and budget. They come with no network rules, and you can see any doctor that accepts original Medicare.

Also, most plans are set up to cover you even if you experience significant health problems. A coverage plan typically cannot be canceled as long as the policyholder pays their premium on time. Ultimately, a supplemental plan lowers costs and provides crucial peace of mind.

To start searching for a Medicare supplement plan, contact the health insurance professionals at the Harris Insurance Agency. Located in Centerville, OH, they offer a variety of policies and coverage options to give you the protection you need. They are an independent agency that maintains relationships with multiple providers to make certain that you find the best policies for your goals. Call (937) 387-6672 to schedule an appointment.

4 Medicare Tips for Seniors

Individuals who are approaching the age of 65 could be eligible for Medicare, which is a federal health insurance program that covers a variety of medical services for seniors. If you or a senior loved one is getting close to the eligibility time frame and needs supplemental assistance to pay for health expenses, it’s important to be aware of how Medicare works and when you can start accessing your coverage. Here’s a guide to help you learn more about your benefits.

What Seniors Should Know About Medicare

1. Coverage and Costs Vary

The program is divided into three parts. Medicare’s Part A covers the costs for hospital stays. Participants who paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years while employed are eligible for free coverage. Part B pays for doctor appointments, preventive care, medical supplies, and outpatient care, which is all available for a monthly charge. Finally, Part D will cover prescription medications and also comes with an additional monthly charge.

2. Enrollment May Be Automatic

Seniors who have already started collecting their Social Security benefits will typically be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Individuals can, however, choose to enroll only in Part A to avoid fees. If you are 65 but have not started Social Security benefits, you will need to sign up for Medicare in the program’s open enrollment period. This time frame starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after that month.

Working individuals who have health insurance through their employer can delay signing up for Medicare. If you leave your job and no longer have employer-provided coverage, though, there is an eight-month window to enroll. The open enrollment period for Part D is October 15 to December 7 each year. To avoid penalties, it’s important to enroll during the designated enrollment periods.

3. Medicare Advantage Bundles All

Medicare Advantage is an additional program that provides services covered under Parts A, B, and D, as well as vision, hearing, dental, fitness programs, and other health care services. Commonly known as Part C, Medicare Advantage is offered by private companies that have been approved by the Medicare program. The out-of-pocket costs vary and will typically depend on whether doctors, specialists, and services are in the designated network.

4. Limits on Long-Term Care

Medicare won’t pay the costs for long-term stays in hospitals if the health condition is considered acute care. This definition will vary based on information provided by your doctors and specialists. However, Medicare will cover services such as home health care and nursing facilities. In these cases, you will need to have documentation from a doctor indicating that these services are medically necessary.

For help navigating Medicare, contact Harris Insurance Agency in Centerville, OH. They are the area’s premier authority on Medicare, and their team of licensed and experienced agents will carefully explain details on what services are covered, eligibility requirements, and enrollment time frames. You can also count on their expertise to select the right program to fit your budget and lifestyle. To learn more and arrange a complimentary consultation, call (937) 387-6672. Check out their Facebook page for additional information.