Has it been your experience that most people have no idea how Medicare works, what their options are, etc.
These are some of things I'm talking about...
- Have a MAPD and think it's a Supp
- Have a MAPD and call it a supplement (as in an add-on, not knowing that there are actual Medicare Supplements)
- Think their Part B premium is part of the cost of their MAPD Plan and don't know it's a Medicare cost
- Don't know what the 2 Medicare options are for additional coverage (Supps/Part D or MAPD)
- Don't know their MOOP on their MAPD Plan
- Think their MAPD Plan is regular Medicare
- Don't know the agent gets paid after the first year
- Have no idea what a MAPD Plan is, even though they are on one
- Don't even know you could get a Supp/Part D plan instead of a MAPD
- Thinking they can only get Medicare during AEP
- Confusing all enrollment periods
- Just completely clueless about everything having to do with Medicare
- Etc.
The agent does have to do quite a bit of explaining so the consumer understand everything.
It just seems incredible to me that people don't do basic homework to learn about something so important.
I'm also not really shocked though because this is a microcosm of a much bigger problem, in that most people simply don't plan financially for anything.
Most people don't have enough life insurance (if they have any at all), disability insurance, save enough money, etc.). Most people don't know what their car insurance covers, etc.
Also...
Some of these people are already on a MAPD and still don't know anything. I find this to be outrageous and could be considered malpractice on the part of their agent. Their agent didn't do their job and just had the consumer sign the paperwork for a MAPD, not explaining anything to the consumer.
These are some of things I'm talking about...
- Have a MAPD and think it's a Supp
- Have a MAPD and call it a supplement (as in an add-on, not knowing that there are actual Medicare Supplements)
- Think their Part B premium is part of the cost of their MAPD Plan and don't know it's a Medicare cost
- Don't know what the 2 Medicare options are for additional coverage (Supps/Part D or MAPD)
- Don't know their MOOP on their MAPD Plan
- Think their MAPD Plan is regular Medicare
- Don't know the agent gets paid after the first year
- Have no idea what a MAPD Plan is, even though they are on one
- Don't even know you could get a Supp/Part D plan instead of a MAPD
- Thinking they can only get Medicare during AEP
- Confusing all enrollment periods
- Just completely clueless about everything having to do with Medicare
- Etc.
The agent does have to do quite a bit of explaining so the consumer understand everything.
It just seems incredible to me that people don't do basic homework to learn about something so important.
I'm also not really shocked though because this is a microcosm of a much bigger problem, in that most people simply don't plan financially for anything.
Most people don't have enough life insurance (if they have any at all), disability insurance, save enough money, etc.). Most people don't know what their car insurance covers, etc.
Also...
Some of these people are already on a MAPD and still don't know anything. I find this to be outrageous and could be considered malpractice on the part of their agent. Their agent didn't do their job and just had the consumer sign the paperwork for a MAPD, not explaining anything to the consumer.