Friday, October 15, 2021

Why You Should Never Call...


 I know you've been tempted. 

Who wouldn't be? 


You see those commercials so many times-- and you're about to start seeing them even more. They're everywhere and it's Joe Namath and Joe Theismann for cryin' out loud. You want to call! You want to make sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to and if something's changed in your area, you want to know about it.


Slow down.


I'm about to make you the smartest person in your group of friends. 


Medicare Plans change ONCE a year. No matter what insurance company you use, the plan changes that will take effect on January 1st are all announced on October 1st. If you're currently on a Medicare Advantage Plan, sometime in September you will get what we call an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. That document will tell you what specific changes are being made to your plan starting in January...from changes in the premium you pay to the doctors that are in-network.


When those commercials tell you anytime between January and September that there may be changes that could affect you, they're trying to get you on the phone so they can sell you something else. 


But here's one of the biggest reasons I don't want you to call those numbers:

When you do, you're calling a call center with hundreds of people answering the phones. From all over the country. You won't be talking to someone who knows the area you live in! They'll ask for your zip code and when they punch it in, all the plans available in that zip code will pop up on their screen. 


What happens next? They'll pick a plan for you. Will it be the best one for you? Probably not. Will all your doctors be in-network? Will all your prescriptions be covered? How much out of pocket will you be spending? Do they know you'd rather go to Capital Health as opposed to Penn Med? Or RWJ over St. Barnabas?  Do they know that even though they see dozens of doctors in-network that are within 10 miles of you that those doctors are in Yardley and in a different STATE? 


No, they don't. 


Oh, and when I said you're calling a call center and hundreds of agents are taking calls? You know what that means, right?


If you ever needed to get a hold of that agent because you had a question or a complaint, that's nearly impossible. Trying to get that agent again would be like trying to find the same ant you saw crawl across the sidewalk yesterday.


So, what should you do if you have any questions about Medicare or Medicare Plans or your eligibility for those plans? You should find a licensed agent in your area who will take the time to get to know you, get to know what your needs are, what your preferences are, and what fits your financial budget. Oh, and you should find an agent who will be accountable to YOU and that you'll be able to get in touch with whenever you need them. 


Please don't be fooled by the celebrity endorsements. Joe doesn't even have the type of plan he's endorsing....but that's a topic for another day.


Robin Tefft is a licensed health and life insurance agent who specializes in Medicare...Your New Jersey Medicare Specialist. To get in touch, you can download my digital business card HERE. Or visit my website where you can get quotes on the plans available in your area - no cost or obligation. MyMedicareNJ.com 

Better yet, give me a call, and let's talk! 609-379-2887.

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