Paid Advertisement Ask the Medical Specialist by: Aaron Zolbrod QUESTION: Question from Madeline: One of your recent articles says "The only difference between Supplement Plans G and N are two small co-pays those on N pay, $20 at a physician office visit, be that a PCP or a Specialist, and $50 at the Emergency Room. Services like Physical Therapy (PT) or allergy injections are not subject to the co- pay." I've been struggling for months trying to decide whether to shift to plan N from Fand held off because I have a lot of PT visits. Everything I read in the past just mentioned "office visits". I've called Medicare and was passed around to a number of people. The final gal who answered told me PT visits were considered office visits and were subject to co pays. Who does one contact at Medicare to get correct answers? ANSWER: The representative who told 25-year career in sales was, $20 per doctor visit, she you that PT is subject to the "never guess when some- copay was wrong. It's not. We have thousands of cli- ents on Plan N. The only co- to without 100% certainty pays are at "physician office Say you don't know, go find doing is pre-paying for doc- visits" as you mentioned. Physician and office being the two key words. As far as PT or allergy injections exactly what we do on the are concerned, a doctor isn't providing the service. I want to address what Those and others such as CT Scans, MRI's, X-Rays, blood work, etc. where a doctor isn't involved also don't include a co-pay. Nor do other procedures that physicians perform such as surgeries, or when they nothing else, move to Plan visit patients who are ad- mitted to a hospital. Co-pays part B deductible of $203 are only applicable when one visits a physician in his ike F, there are no bills or her office. Period. one asks you a question you don't know the answer equal value from Plan G as would have to visit a PCP or specialist 24 times to get N. All those who have G are the answer, and give it to the customer after your re to use. And as I tell all my search is complete." That's clients, if you're going to tor visits they aren't likely the doctor that many times occasions we get stumped. in a year, you probably have a lot more to worry about than if Plan N is costing you a $100 or $2200 more per year than G would. For the Madeline said about being torn on moving from Plan F to N. No one who can pass medical underwriting most part we recommend G should give leaving Plan F or Ca second thought. If only to those who consist- ently utilize a therapist or counselor for mental health G, which works exactly the purposes two to four times same as Fonce the small a month. As we also discussed in a recent column, those want- ing to move to a Supplement from an Advantage Plan must pass medical under- has been met. Once it has, for any Medicare covered services. I guarantee Madeline is paying at least writing. That also holds $300 to $400, probably more, true for those who want to per year for F than what G would cost. And in five years, that will be closer to within the same com- As far as who one contacts at Medicare to get correct answers, sadly, Madeline's experience is not uncom- mon at all. Medicare's website, medicare.gov, can be helpful to some extent if $1,000. It makes no sense to pany So, while debating on one can find the page where spend $300 to $1,000 to elimi- changing plans, one could you type a couple words or phrases in a search bar that can confirm if a treat- ment or service is covered. Google can also be helpful just by asking a question such as, "does Medicare cover xyz?" move from one Supplement letter plan to another, even nate $200 in bills. be diagnosed with a condi- So many people are fearful tion that would prevent a of moving from Plans Fand move to a less expensive C because they've never received a bill for Medicare Plans however, those on covered services. They worry that changing plan letters could lead to being responsible for thousands of dollars. It simply can't plan. Unlike Advantage Supplements can change any time during the year and don't need to wait until 2022 to do so. Our clients don't have to worry about calling Medi- care or surfing the internet happen with either Plan G because they can simply ask or N. Unfortunately, this one of our staff members these types of questions. We extremely common and almost always know the an- expensive mistake. swer, eliminating the frus- tration of being transferred a better value than G, it's back and forth or getting conflicting, or in Madeline's Madeline, N, at a minimum me if you would like to sub- case, wrong information. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received in my If you have any questions on this topic, want a quote on a different Supplement Plan letter or company, or would like to set up an appointment for a no-cost consultation, please call one of our offices or visit our website. You can also email line of thinking is still an When calculating if N is simple. For someone like is around $40/month or $480/ year less than G. At mit a question for a future column. The Health Insurance Store.a 724-603-3403 Connellsville 412-349-8818 Email your question to: aaron@getyourbestplan.com Forest Hills www.getyourbestplan.com No-cost, unbiased Medicare plan review and consultation with local, licensed agents Paid Advertisement Ask the Medical Specialist by: Aaron Zolbrod QUESTION: Question from Madeline: One of your recent articles says "The only difference between Supplement Plans G and N are two small co-pays those on N pay, $20 at a physician office visit, be that a PCP or a Specialist, and $50 at the Emergency Room. Services like Physical Therapy (PT) or allergy injections are not subject to the co- pay." I've been struggling for months trying to decide whether to shift to plan N from Fand held off because I have a lot of PT visits. Everything I read in the past just mentioned "office visits". I've called Medicare and was passed around to a number of people. The final gal who answered told me PT visits were considered office visits and were subject to co pays. Who does one contact at Medicare to get correct answers? ANSWER: The representative who told 25-year career in sales was, $20 per doctor visit, she you that PT is subject to the "never guess when some- copay was wrong. It's not. We have thousands of cli- ents on Plan N. The only co- to without 100% certainty pays are at "physician office Say you don't know, go find doing is pre-paying for doc- visits" as you mentioned. Physician and office being the two key words. As far as PT or allergy injections exactly what we do on the are concerned, a doctor isn't providing the service. I want to address what Those and others such as CT Scans, MRI's, X-Rays, blood work, etc. where a doctor isn't involved also don't include a co-pay. Nor do other procedures that physicians perform such as surgeries, or when they nothing else, move to Plan visit patients who are ad- mitted to a hospital. Co-pays part B deductible of $203 are only applicable when one visits a physician in his ike F, there are no bills or her office. Period. one asks you a question you don't know the answer equal value from Plan G as would have to visit a PCP or specialist 24 times to get N. All those who have G are the answer, and give it to the customer after your re to use. And as I tell all my search is complete." That's clients, if you're going to tor visits they aren't likely the doctor that many times occasions we get stumped. in a year, you probably have a lot more to worry about than if Plan N is costing you a $100 or $2200 more per year than G would. For the Madeline said about being torn on moving from Plan F to N. No one who can pass medical underwriting most part we recommend G should give leaving Plan F or Ca second thought. If only to those who consist- ently utilize a therapist or counselor for mental health G, which works exactly the purposes two to four times same as Fonce the small a month. As we also discussed in a recent column, those want- ing to move to a Supplement from an Advantage Plan must pass medical under- has been met. Once it has, for any Medicare covered services. I guarantee Madeline is paying at least writing. That also holds $300 to $400, probably more, true for those who want to per year for F than what G would cost. And in five years, that will be closer to within the same com- As far as who one contacts at Medicare to get correct answers, sadly, Madeline's experience is not uncom- mon at all. Medicare's website, medicare.gov, can be helpful to some extent if $1,000. It makes no sense to pany So, while debating on one can find the page where spend $300 to $1,000 to elimi- changing plans, one could you type a couple words or phrases in a search bar that can confirm if a treat- ment or service is covered. Google can also be helpful just by asking a question such as, "does Medicare cover xyz?" move from one Supplement letter plan to another, even nate $200 in bills. be diagnosed with a condi- So many people are fearful tion that would prevent a of moving from Plans Fand move to a less expensive C because they've never received a bill for Medicare Plans however, those on covered services. They worry that changing plan letters could lead to being responsible for thousands of dollars. It simply can't plan. Unlike Advantage Supplements can change any time during the year and don't need to wait until 2022 to do so. Our clients don't have to worry about calling Medi- care or surfing the internet happen with either Plan G because they can simply ask or N. Unfortunately, this one of our staff members these types of questions. We extremely common and almost always know the an- expensive mistake. swer, eliminating the frus- tration of being transferred a better value than G, it's back and forth or getting conflicting, or in Madeline's Madeline, N, at a minimum me if you would like to sub- case, wrong information. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received in my If you have any questions on this topic, want a quote on a different Supplement Plan letter or company, or would like to set up an appointment for a no-cost consultation, please call one of our offices or visit our website. You can also email line of thinking is still an When calculating if N is simple. For someone like is around $40/month or $480/ year less than G. At mit a question for a future column. The Health Insurance Store.a 724-603-3403 Connellsville 412-349-8818 Email your question to: aaron@getyourbestplan.com Forest Hills www.getyourbestplan.com No-cost, unbiased Medicare plan review and consultation with local, licensed agents