The Annual Enrollment Period is the time to review your current Medicare Health Insurance to make sure you are on the plan that has the best coverage for you. I represent six insurance companies and they each have a variety of options available, many that include new benefits for 2022. If you have not reviewed your current plan to assure it is meeting your needs, now is the time to do that. I have been in the health insurance industry for many years and I would be happy to answer your questions and /or help you evaluate your health insurance needs to make sure you are enrolled with a plan that makes the most sense for you. Please call Loy Suderman at 206-569-5415 to get the help you need.

There is still time to enroll for individual health insurance! Washingtonians have until January 15th to get coverage starting February 1, 2021. The attached Newsletter has information about the health insurance companies, counties they serve, provider networks and tax subsidy/reduced rate info. Click the photo below to go to the Exchange and can create an account. For my assistance, go to Quick Links and "Find a Broker" and type "Suderman" in the last name field and confirm your request. I will then be notified so we can connect. There is no charge to you for this service.      

One of the most frequent questions I get about Medicare is “Do I need to sign up for Medicare when I turn 65 if I have employer group coverage?” And the answer is:  It depends…. on the size of the employer group and some other factors:

-  Your cost for the coverage (including premium contribution and out of pocket expenses for deductibles, copays and your annual out of pocket maximum)

- If the employer plan benefits meet your needs (benefits, provider network)

- If your employer group is less than 20 employees, you should sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B when you are first eligible or face a lifetime late enrollment penalty. You have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period:       

      - 3 months prior to your 65th birthday
      - your birthday month
      - 3 months after your birthday month

In this case, Medicare is the primary payer and your employer group coverage pays secondary based on the benefit plan.

If your employer group is more than 20 employees, and has medical and prescription drug coverage that is at least as good as Medicare, you may not need to sign up for Medicare Part B right away. However, you should review the benefits and cost of your employer plan compared to the benefits and cost of Medicare plus a Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. In many cases, people save money by enrolling with Medicare.

There are several options for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans available, and the key is determining which one will offer you the best coverage based on your healthcare needs, your lifestyle and your budget.

Medicare agents must be licensed in the state they sell products and must complete an annual certification and insurance company specific product training each year to assure they are qualified to help beneficiaries in making good choices. 

If you need assistance with your Medicare decisions, please contact me at 206-569-5415 or by email at suderloy@gmail.com. I am a licensed and certified health insurance agent in WA State and represent multiple health insurance companies. I can help you with your decision and enrollment for the plan that best meets your needs.

If you missed open enrollment for Individuals and Families for a January 1 coverage start date, you still have time to get coverage in place for February 1st. Washington State has extended open enrollment to January 15th for those who missed the December 15th deadline. January 15th is the absolute deadline unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. If you need help and advice, contact an expert - Call Loy at 206-569-5415 or email Loy@Sudergroup.com. Get the help you need!

New to Medicare?

Medicare can be confusing for many people – for instance, often people do not realize that Original Medicare does not cover all of their medical expenses - there are out of pocket costs that can really add up with deductibles, copays and coinsurance. There are a variety of plans available to help protect you from these costs, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage plans. And, you need to purchase Part D prescription drug coverage to avoid paying a penalty later on.

If you are approaching your 65th birthday, it is very likely you have been receiving information from a variety of health insurance companies about their plans – understanding the differences can be a challenge, there are so many options to choose from and there is no one size fits all.

As an independent health insurance agent, I represent several Medicare plans and I can help you understand your options so you can find the coverage that is right for you. You are not charged a fee to work with an independent agent; I earn commissions from the insurance companies and my goal is to help you find the plan that best meets your needs.

Before I or any agent can work with you, you must have your Medicare card that indicates the effective date of your Hospital (Part A) and Medical (Part B) enrollment. There are three ways you can enroll:

• By Phone: Call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
• In Person: Take proof of your age and W-2 forms for the past two years to any Social Security office. Your local phone directory will list the office location nearest you.
• Online: Apply online at www.ssa.gov.

If you have questions, or if I can be of assistance to you, please call me at (206)569-5415 or send me an email to loy@sudergroup.com. I’m happy to select the plan that will meet your unique needs.

However, time is running out quickly. January 31st is the final deadline to get coverage and avoid a tax penalty on your 2016 taxes. There are many good options available for people who want to purchase directly with a health plan and for those who qualify for a tax credit on the Exchange. Let's face it, finding the right insurance is a confusing and sometimes frustrating experience. I will help simplify the process for you. I've helped a lot of people find coverage that will meet their specific needs and I can help you too! Call (206)569-5415 today and I'll help you check off one more item from your January "To Do" list.

Selecting the right health insurance plan for you and your family is a time consuming and overwhelming process. The terminology is confusing and there are so many options - it's hard to know which one is right for you.

We can help simplify the process! We work with our clients to understand their specific needs. We help you identify the plans that will be the best fit for you and/or your family and provide you with a custom quote. We represent multiple health insurance companies in WA and earn commissions from the plan you choose. There is no charge to you for using our services.

The penalty for not having health insurance is going up in 2016. Open enrollment, from November 1st - January 31st is your window of opportunity to get enrolled or change plans.

Call 206-569-5415 to get help understanding your options and completing the enrollment process.

For those of you on Medicare, now is the time to review your current coverage and the new plan options to make sure you enroll in the best plan for you. A variety of new benefits have been added to Medicare Advantage plans such as hearing aids, travel to doctor appointments, meals after a hospital discharge, naturopathy/acupuncture and more; not all plans have added the same features. There are also some changes in premium and per service copays, depending on the plan you are on and the specific benefit. 

When reviewing your current coverage or selecting a new plan, there are several factors to consider, such as provider network, pharmacy coverage (is your specific medication included in the plan formulary), out of pocket costs and limitations, premium and the service area, just to name a few. 

I am a licensed agent, certified with several health plans representing multiple Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D Prescription Drug Plans in Washington and I can help you find the plan that best fits your unique needs.

Have you had a life changing event such as a birth, getting married or divorced, or losing employer group coverage? If so, you may qualify for getting coverage now, before open enrollment for 2016 starts.

Are you newly qualified for Medicare because you are nearing age 65 or you qualify due to a disability? If so, now is the time to review your options and select a plan for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Part D plan that will meet your needs.

I consult with each of my clients to understand what is most important to them when it comes to purchasing health insurance. I represent multiple health insurance companies and I can help you find coverage that will meet your unique circumstances.

Washington State has extended the open enrollment period until April 17th for individuals who did not understand the increased tax penalty for 2015. If you or someone you know needs help in selecting a plan on the WA State Exchange, wahealthplanfinder.org, I can help you find an insurance plan that meets your needs.