Analysis Paralysis
Something that our agents hear quite often is that Medicare is confusing, which is obviously true! Seniors tell us that there are so many options, and that it's hard to know where to start. Let's keep it simple here.
Yes, there are different types of Supplement (Medigap) plans… and yes there are different types of Advantage (Part C) plans. This can be quite confusing, but to simplify things it USUALLY comes down to deciding between one or the other! Supplement plans typically require finding an additional drug plan (Part D), while Advantage Plans usually include drug coverage.
Both plans offer great coverage, and the right fit for you depends on what YOU need from your Medicare! Most of our clients found that going with EITHER a Supplement plan or an Advantage plan offered better coverage than the employer plans that they were used to.
If I could advise every senior on what to do when you’re coming onto Medicare, I would tell them to enjoy the process as much as possible. Yes, it can be a pain in the butt talking to Social Security. It’s kind of like going to the DMV, nobody wants to deal with it but we all have to and it stinks, that’s the worst part. Don’t overthink the Medicare side of things, do your own independent research and talk to a licensed professional, preferably a broker, so you don’t have to feel married to one company. So many seniors have done so much research that they are terrified to make a decision, and they get what I call “Analysis Paralysis”, which causes them to wait till the last minute (or later) to make a decision.
Start doing your research in advance, that way you take some of the pressure off of your shoulders! You don’t need to finish that “Medicare and You” book in a day (you can pick it up from your local Social Security office), read a couple pages here and there, or talk to some friends who are on Medicare already. When you’re ready, we would love to have a chat and get to know you!