sounds good!

I agree!

I thought the same thing. So what should be done to prevent this from happening that won’t break the bank? Ie.,should we just go ahead and get a (complete) proper wellness screening?

Proof that Medicare wants all 65 on up dead in the water as soon as possible. No true tests or blood work allowed. All pure BS.

A few routine blood tests are covered, though not necessarily every year. Cholesterol once every five years, for example. But don't expect your doctor to remember or offer them. PSA for men is offered every year.

Not necessarily true. My doctor ordered an EKG without me complaining about anything. He looked at it and said that though he's not a cardiologist, he doesn't like what he saw. He referred me to a cardiologist and shortly thereafter, I had an open heart surgery. That was in 2012. Medicare is doctor driven. No matter how insignificant a pain or ache you may have, note it and tell your doctor. Every illness has a symptom. Listen to your body.

Thank you Scott, it's such a pleasure working with you!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for taking the time to give us a call, and leave this comment! Connecticut is one of the only states we don't work in unfortunately but I hope this channel has given you a great starting point when it comes to transitioning to Medicare. Thank you for watching and Happy New Year!

I absolutely agree. Most people don't realize that the Annual Wellness Visit is mainly a "chat" with your doctor. Anything beyond that you may get billed for.

@@AbtInsuranceAgency Luckily I had a pre-existing condition (HBP) which led CMS to approve the $400 blood test. So my visit only cost me about $60 for the deductible. I learned a whole lot after that first visit.

@@redoscar540 Thanks for this, am currently on SSDI with several conditions until I become 65, then will have guarantee issue for Medigap. I'll go with the best available today (a "G" plan). There was one slightly better which waived the Medicare annual deductible that's no longer open to new enrollees. Although existing members can keep these. While Medicare Advantage (MA) has covered many of my medical needs, to include labs & medicine, am sometimes left with bills that takes a year or longer to pay. The good thing about MA this year was I was able to get a (normally) $500-600 pair of glasses for $100 under the UnitedHealthcare network. Yet given all the more expenses I have to come out of pocket on, will most certainly look for a guaranteed & no physical needed Medigap plan. It's simply important to follow the guidelines regarding signup times (3 months before & 3 months after) one's 65th birthday month. This is a total of 7 months, just like with MA plans. Due to Medicare not providing prescription coverage, will simply have to accept a low cost drug plan (some of which are $0). This can be freely changed during the open signup times every year, or as allowed by plan (best to discuss this with your agent yearly & have complete list when calling). However, it's important to compare one's prescription coverage of plan, to include co-pays. That $20-25 plan may look expensive until making co-pays, where most of these are less & more drugs available on list. Meaning depending on how many prescriptions are needed, one can save the entire year's cost of policy in the first or 2nd month of the year.

Very true, communicating with your doctor about it is key!

My doctor took the checklist I was once given & tossed in the trash. Took it as a joke to his intelligence.🤣

And a history worth its weight in gold! I told my dr of 25+ years that he cannot retire! 😊

I had a complete physical exam every year of my adult life but after 65 I am no longer eligible.😡 Annual wellness visit is an insult not an exam. Just proves how much our government values seniors.😡

​@@charlestilley2576Smart doctor.

Medigap plans only cover services covered by Parts A and or B of Medicare. You should talk to your doctor about having them request “diagnostic testing “ separately from your annual wellcheck so that there is a better chance Medicare will cover this testing.

@@AbtInsuranceAgency Thank you.

Definitely something to consider!

Thank you so very much!! ☺️

Yes Medicare does not want you to get annual blood work which may discover and prevent a medical issue. I think their goal is for the Medicare recipient to have the heart attack, get the cancer etc to reduce your life span which means less payout of Medicare and social security benefits in the long run.

Routine preventative bloodwork that is a part of an annual physical exam that is not related to an illness or diagnosis is not covered. Ie. A routine physical exam where you have blood tests done to check thyroid, etc … is not covered by traditional Medicare. Bloodwork that is diagnostic and related to an illness or specific condition is covered.

@@AbtInsuranceAgency so If I don't have heart disease or diabetes but just want my cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked every year, they would NOT be covered under the annual wellness check.

Rustay Rnova that’s right. Medicare Supplement insurance covers what Parts A and B cover.

This seems to be a subtle but important point. What I understand from this is that medigap does not provide any additional coverage of medical issues over A and B but instead helps to only mitigate the expenses for medical issues that A and B cover but pass some expense onto the patient for that coverage. Is this correct?

@@tommason8104 hey Tom!! It appears Stephanie may have overlooked your post!! You have a very important question that I am on as well: I would answer if I knew for sure!! Best wishes!!

The “Medicare Wellness Exam” is covered , but a full routine physical examination is not covered by Medicare or Plan G. I hope this helps!

@@AbtInsuranceAgency Got it. Thanks Stephanie for your advice. The agent also told me that I can enroll part G now 6 months before I turn 65 in Oct. even I haven't enroll Medicare yet (I'm eligible to roll Medicare next month). Is it true? Thanks,

Medicare actually doesn't need to be notified you are delaying, as long as you are not collecting social security benefits yet. You will let them know that you had creditable employer coverage when you do go to apply later on. You can keep your employer plan by renewing regularly! However, if you employer has less than 20 employees, then you should apply for Medicare when first eligible.

Yep, she didn't mention the differences in how it works between a Medicare Advantage plan vs. Original Medicare A&B with a Medigap/supplement plan.

There is no penalty for not getting a wellness exam.

Kent, please email us any time at stephanie@abtinsuranceagency.com !

I have no idea what the billing code is, but my doctor got more of a payout on my Wellness Exam than my usual monthly visit under Medicare Advantage & did far less.

It would depend on how the doctor is coding this.

So get a good doctor

In the last four years, I have received four annual exams each with comprehensive blood work, two cataract surgeries, and a colonoscopy. The first cataract surgery was 6 months after the exam, so I had to get a more recent blood test along with an EKG. The second cataract surgery and the colonoscopy both required EKG's but were performed soon after the medical exams so the lab work results were current and considered acceptable. With that said, I have never paid for anything except for the yearly Part B deductible. Original Medicare and my Plan G carrier paid for the rest.

Good job Mark!! was the difference in price of Parts N to Part G a big difference? has it made any difference. I am leaning to G but value your advice! TY

So, what did you ask for (an annual physical or a annual wellness visit when you called in to make an appointment?

@@enufots4621 My appts (labs and physical) are already made a year ahead (after each physical), so I don't have to ask for anything. (However, I would just ask for an annual physical). Doctor's insurance/billing departments know how to work "with the system" when submitting paperwork. So, if you have a supplement and need a physical, just call your doctor's office and ask ... and see what they say.

You are extremely fortunate to have this doctor.

Wish I could find a doctor like that.

Complete blood panel should define a physical exam. Nutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, heavy metal testing and this would shorten the time for diagnosing many health problems.

Agreed!

Certainly makes ZERO sense, as only lab results can determine or rule out many conditions in it's early stages. This also is more cost effective to the patient & the insurer (Medicare in this instance). Welcome to what? Without a Medigap (or MA) plan, that physical is basically no more than that required for marriage. To ensure you are who you say & are alive. I suggest to Abt Insurance Agency about your Medigap options. Especially if just eligible & are guaranteed issue. These are my plans at age 65 & will work a sedentary weekend job (allowed by SSDI rules) to pay for these extras.

Because when you turn 65 you are not worth the time or effort. Everything is centered around the young.

@@mizmarie6511 Is this your personal opinion or are you employed in the insurance industry? Yes I agree that it's best to take care of oneself while young to prevent future health issues, but to say "when you turn 65 you are not worth the time or effort" is exactly what many feared about Obamacare ("death panels", which didn't happen). I've had not only Medicare since 2006 from being disabled, but also Medicare Advantage plans (similar to employer insurance) & have been treated kind by both my doctors & insurers.

My doc wants to see me twice/ year for medication review

The link below will take you to that brochure: www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/AWV_Chart_ICN905706.pdf Thanks for watching!

@@AbtInsuranceAgency Thank you, Steph

Dora, it's basically the same as a marriage physical today. Depending on your health needs, you already may be going to your primary care doctor every 1 to 6 months, I go every three or 4 times yearly. So my doctor doesn't perform these physicals on me anymore, although did get my initial "Welcome to Medicare" physical. Which was exactly what I described above, like that needed for marriage, to basically ensure you're alive & to get a list of current conditions, if any.

In many cases you can delay Medicare until you retire, without penalty - this video explains more: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/i9KXf8-ny9OoZpc.html

It would depend on how it is coded.

Good tip!

Currently MA, CT, WI and MN. Medigap rules and regulations are a bit different there and I am not licensed in those states right now, but have a great referral partner who does work in these areas!

Typically Medicare Supplement/Medigap plans only cover claims approved by Medicare Parts A and/or B.

When you sign up for Medicare you get a list of preventative services that are covered. If you request a service, such as a routine physical, your doctor office should tell you that it isn't covered, but otherwise you should read the information.

My Dr informed me, she basically said what Medicare covers is a hands off physical. All questions, so if you want bloodwork done and want it covered, you need to have a complaint or symptom. It's crazy, all the years I worked, it was mandatory(or you paid more for your health coverage) to have a physical. Then when you most likely will benefit from it, it's not covered.

Medicare Supplement Plans cover what Medicare A and B covers. So if Medicare denies the claim (ie. doesn't cover routine preventative labs) then the Medigap Plan won't pay on it either.

That's what we're here for! Call us anytime, (888) 465-9728 😊

Noel, yes you can cancel your Part D drug Plan, or simply not pay your Part D premiums and the plan will cancel. However, if you go more than 63 days without creditable drug coverage you will be assessed a penalty if you choose to enroll in Part D again in the future.

Yes depending on what your doctor ordered. And if Medicare doesn’t cover it, you pay the full billed amount, not the reduced insurance amount. Prior to being on Medicare, if my employer health insurance did not cover something, they reduced the charge to what the allowed amount was under the plan and that is what I would be billed for. Not Medicare, you will be billed for whatever the doctor billed Medicare for which is usually an inflated charge.

Medicare Advantage plans typically covers MORE than the "Welcome to Medicare" physical & is often free of cost. I go so often that they don't do the usual annual on me, because labs are required to monitor Prediabetes & high (or bad) LDL cholesterol levels. Most MA plans also has lots of included educational materials, plus free virtual nurse visits. While these won't be able to issue a prescription, will help a member decide to go to a doctor, or if an over the counter medicine may be helpful. However, please don't call this number for sudden chest pain, headaches or anything one would consider calling 911 over.