Easy Way to Get Extra Help with Your Prescription Costs

Even though the AEP (Anuual Enrollment Period) is over, you can still get help with your prescription costs.  

In times like these, every dollar counts. Some people qualify for big savings on their Medicare prescription drug costs and don't even realize it. 

In fact, if you receive Medicare, you may be eligible for the Extra Help, which could save you about $4,000 per year on your monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments.

Many People Quality and Don’t Know-It

To qualify for Extra Help, you must be receiving Medicare, have limited resources and income, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. 

To find out if you qualify, Social Security will need to know the value of your savings, investments, real estate (other than your home), and your income. We will also need information about you and your spouse, if you are married and living together.

Even if you were previously turned down for Extra Help due to income or resource levels, you should reapply. If you qualify, you'll get help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage premiums, co-payments, and deductibles. To qualify, you must make less than $17,655 a year (or $23,895 for married couples). 

Even if your annual income is higher, you may still qualify for partial extra help. Your resources must also be limited to $13,640 (or $27,250 for married couples). Resources include bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, but not your house or car.

How to Apply for Extra Help

To get through the Extra Help process, call me at (773) 614-3201 and I'll help you with the process. It will take only a few minutes. 

Once you are determined to be qualified, you can choose either a Medicare prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan for your savings.

Make sure you aren't missing out on these easy savings. The sooner you call, the sooner your savings begin.

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What You Need to Know About Your 2019 Medicare Benefits

AEP is here. Know your 2019 Medicare benefits.

AEP stands for Annual Enrollment Period. It is the one time of the year you're allowed to make changes to your Medicare coverage, including your Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).

You will also learn about any changes to Medicare as well as changes to your Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C).

AEP is from October 15th to December 7, 2018. This is the Medicare's Open Enrollment for 2019 begins and ends. It is your once a year opportunity for you to switch from a traditional Medicare plan to a private Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan (MA/MAPD) or vice versa and to disenroll from the MA/MAPD) and enroll in a Private Prescription Drug (PDP) plan.

Before the start of AEP, if you have a MA/MAPD you will be receiving two important documents the:

1. Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which lets you know of any changes to your current health plan for the upcoming year

2. Evidence of Coverage (EOC), which provides details about your health plan, including what it covers and how much you will pay for health care for the coming year.

They should have been in your mailbox by September 30th.

If you are pleased with your Medicare Advantage coverage, you don't need to do anything. Your coverage will automatically renew for another year.

If you have any questions about AEP and need a free consultation simply call (773) 614-3201 or e-mail me at bwillbar@gmail.com. I'm ready to help you.

The Annual Enrollment Period has come to an end. However, there is an Open Enrollment Period coming up on January 1, 2019 where you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan or to return to traditional Medicare, and choose both a Prescription Drug Plan, and a Medicare Supplement Plan. Detail on this in my next blog. Look for it. 

Stop! Don’t’ Get Ripped off by Funeral Directors

Funeral directors are first and foremost businessmen. They are in business to make a profit.

While the title of this article may appear to incriminate funeral directors, it is not meant to do so. In fact, what I do is of great benefit to funeral directors. 

Most of them are honest and are trying to make a good living for themselves and their families. However, at the time of a funeral, the surviving family members are in a highly emotional state and are vulnerable to being ripped off for thousands of dollars.

What is necessary is for the survivors to have a third-party to handle the funeral arrangements free of charge. This is in addition to having a Final Expense Plan for your parents or grandparents in place. 

It is important for them to clearly state how they want their funeral to be handled by the third party. The survivors would then have the option to use the third-party who would have previously received the information directly from the deceased family member and could proceed to get the funeral arrangements in motion.

So, in summary, here are 3 things that should be in place.

1. The chosen third party services must be totally free. It must not be a lawyer, or any other professionals who would charge you.

2. The third party must have the information directly from the deceased family member who stated clearly, when living, how he or she wanted the funeral arrangements to be done as well as how much should be paid for the funeral.

3. The surviving family members must have been informed by the deceased family members that they preferred the third-party to make the funeral arrangements and know how to contact the third party.

As a financial consultant this is exactly what I do for Illinois residents free of charge. I take away the need to identify and negotiate with funeral directors. 

I make it easy for the surviving family member to experience a satisfactory ending with the beloved family members and to deal with the normal grief period that all of us have to go through.

If this benefit sounds useful to you call (773) 614-3201 or e-mail me at bwillbar@gmail.com.