Actually I told him I wasn't sure if his assumptions were correct; I'd look into it. I then told him what UHC told me (eg they found a loophole but didn't say it like that - just said it was 2 different subsidiaries and so UHC says they have to pass medical underwriting to switch; ultimately talked to a supervisor's supervisor and got the same answer there too). I didn't actually tell him I agreed with him. I knew if what I found out wasn't the answer he wanted and if I didn't keep my opinion to myself he'd start to argue with me that I was supposed to fix it for him. With what I told him the argument is with UHC and not me. I plan to not return phone calls until I can have a more detailed conversation with medicare on Monday and then can tell him what Medicare says. Then what he chooses to do is up to him.
Wellcare, UHC... they're all out to get us
- Thread starter Fisher
- Start date
Amazed how the MSO's talk about all the free crap like all they get is a squeeze ball and a calendar. This free cap amounts to hearing aids for very small copay, 1300-1600/year for dental, 150-200/year for OTC, free eye exam and 300.00 for glasses. 350.00 gym membership, and a fitness benefit to buy weights, etc for home use.
Add all the free shit up and the fact they aren't paying a premium and it amounts to about what their max oop is on the plan. If you haven't figured it out people love free shit, especially when the Government is paying for it all. Oh, and my clients also leave with a bag of squeeze balls and calendars.
Add all the free shit up and the fact they aren't paying a premium and it amounts to about what their max oop is on the plan. If you haven't figured it out people love free shit, especially when the Government is paying for it all. Oh, and my clients also leave with a bag of squeeze balls and calendars.
The difference between the two is about $70/mo (paying $216.73 now to go up about $224.93 in Jan BUT last Jan he was paying $193.13 - heck why does everything end in 3? LOL). The rate increases are twice a year.
OK so next too much information - I asked because of medical underwriting and got a book so to speak.
With the heart stuff technically he has only had a high resolution Lung CT scan done for long covid due to mildly low oxygen diffusion (that has since recovered) that showed clogged cardiac arteries that no one knew about before. He was already taking high cholesterol meds, no other formal dx other than the one at the follow up with the cardiologist due to the incidental finding on the CT based on what the radiologist said. The cardiologist gave the tentative dx and that could change once more tests are done the week before thanksgiving since the lung CT is not the do all end all for cardiology dx's. And the cardiologst said maybe a stent or triple bypass. I was thinking, after you wrote your message that his only loophole on the cardiology stuff was to file for the change prior to the Nov tests and maybe get lucky with the medical underwriting since none of the cancers have needed treatment since 2011?
Not sure though if he'd pass even without that on there. He has had 3 cancers (2 in remission one for 21 years and one for 14 years; the indolent blood cancer is not curable but in remission since May 2011, is checked yearly and some people never relapse even though it is technically incurable), large and small fiber neuropathy, prediabetic (treated but because it helps slow neuropathy progression not due to type 2 diabetes), mildly high blood pressure (but treated), GI issues without a specific diagnosis... yet to meet him you'd have no clue anything is wrong.
Cripes I am glad that client will never see this thread as this is a lot of detailed, private information (but because of the mutual good friend if I don't go out of my way to help there will be issues I don't want).
Of course stuff like this really means clients can be/will be married for life to their initial choice for medigap once the initial enrollment is over. And of course if they don't bail soon enough from a MA plan to get back into straight Medicare with a gap plan in time for no medical underwriting. Getting some of them to understand this I sometimes feel like I am beating my head against the wall. If we had ESP then we'd know in advance when we'd fail medical underwriting so could bail. Duh you are healthy now, but what if...? You know that thing called aging. I had one client tell me if they got cancer they'd leave their advantage plan so they could go out of state for care to a decent cancer center. Umm no. It will be too late then. Sigh.
I appreciate the advice. I do think he is stuck despite what one could read into the Guaranteed Right Issue rules. As a result I am tempted to tell him to move temporarily to a birthday no medical underwriting change state, change G's and then move back home. Of course that won't go over well either.
PS I sort of hijacked this thread. I should have started a new one. Sorry to all of you reading this who find I turned left so to speak.
Yet there are still Boomers out there that think like me. I'm on a plan G and love it. When I go to the doctor I never take my checkbook. And I could give a shit about a free ride on a treadmill.Amazed how the MSO's talk about all the free crap like all they get is a squeeze ball and a calendar. This free cap amounts to hearing aids for very small copay, 1300-1600/year for dental, 150-200/year for OTC, free eye exam and 300.00 for glasses. 350.00 gym membership, and a fitness benefit to buy weights, etc for home use.
Add all the free shit up and the fact they aren't paying a premium and it amounts to about what their max oop is on the plan. If you haven't figured it out people love free shit, especially when the Government is paying for it all. Oh, and my clients also leave with a bag of squeeze balls and calendars.
But I would like one of those squeeze balls though.
Keep telling yourself and your clients that. Too bad they can't see all their options in an unbiased way. If those things you mention were even 1/10th as bad as you make them sound half of all Americans wouldn't be on those plans.
- 7,078
When I started going to the Y again after 2-3 years, they'd replaced all the treadmills. I have no clue how to run the TV's on the new ones.
So I walk on the track.
Oh, they see their options with daily commercials and mailings from supp and PDP carriers, etc. I get them all the time.
So far all I've heard on my calls so far are "I don't want an MAPD plan, my friend, dad, neighbor is going through hell right now and is not something I want to experience"
So far, 100% want to keep their med supp, and these are my healthy clients. Sick clients start tomorrow, and I'll let you know the number of "Thanks" I get for recommending they do OM from day 1.
MedicareWAA
Guru
- 445
Maybe you sell in a market with low rates. In many parts of the country, a plan G is $200+ a month. If you take a brand name medicine, add another $50+ a month. Good dental is another $40.
Many people cannot afford $300 a month in premiums. Some people just don't want to drop $3,600 in premiums. Some people are entirely fine paying it for all sorts of reasons.
Die hard MSUP fan boys love to exaggerate managed care gloom and doom. MA enrollees consistently report high satisfaction with their plans. The country is not littered with cancer patients dying in the gutters because MA plans won't let them see the doctor. Just like how the country is not littered with dying cancer patients whose commercial plan won't let them have chemo.
Sometimes a supplement is perfect for a client. Sometimes Advantage is perfect for a client. Many times, the perfect option is subjective, with only the client being able to say which one is right for them.
The right type of coverage and the right plan are different for different people, for all sorts of reasons. Our industry and our clients need a whole lot more agents willing to be objective and do the hard work necessary to match the right coverage to the right circumstances.
Just be ***ing objective. Be impartial. Help your clients make an informed choice. It's not your choice to make.
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