Senior Medicare Advantage plan insurance in Aiken, SC

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Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions

Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.

Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).

At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.

We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Aiken or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.

Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
What is Medicare?
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Aiken
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Aiken, SC
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment

Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Aiken, SC

Guiding You Through The Confusion of Medicare!

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What is Medicare?

If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.

There are four parts of Medicare:

This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.

This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.

This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.

Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).

The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:

What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service

At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.

Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Aiken

Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.

Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.

Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.

Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:

Deductibles

Copayments

Coinsurance

Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance

To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:

As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:

To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.

Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.

For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Aiken is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.

Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Aiken, SC

A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:

Preferred Provider Organizations
Special Needs Plans
Private Fee-for-Service
Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
Health Maintenance Organizations

In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.

How Medicare Advantage Plans Work

Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).

Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.

When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.

Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules

Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in Aiken. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.

Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:

If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor

Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.

Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance

How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.

We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.

The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment

Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:

Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.
Listening to your specific needs.
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude.
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.

Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.

USC Aiken honors outstanding alumni at first All Schools Gala

Dr. Jeffrey Boswell, director of anesthesia services for Aiken Physicians Alliance and an assistant clinical professor at the USC School of Medicine, was named USC Aiken's Alumnus of the Year at the university’s inaugural All Schools Gala on Nov. 8.“It’s an unbelievable honor to have been considered among such a great company of highly qualified nominees. I’m overwhelmed that I happened to be selected,” said Boswell, who holds two degrees in nursing from USC Aiken.Tim Behling, founder and chief exe...

“It’s an unbelievable honor to have been considered among such a great company of highly qualified nominees. I’m overwhelmed that I happened to be selected,” said Boswell, who holds two degrees in nursing from USC Aiken.

Tim Behling, founder and chief executive officer of Successteam Foundation for Youth Development, was named Outstanding Recent Alumnus.

“Receiving an alumni award as a first-generation college graduate, growing up in a household where college wasn’t necessarily preached or advocated for, is amazing. Receiving this honor means a lot to me. To go from first-gen to alumni award recipient means a lot,” said Behling, who graduated with a degree in business administration in 2018.

“If you can graduate from college, pretty much you can do anything. Any challenge that you take on that isn’t familiar to you, it really just sets you up for success,” Behling said.

Awards also were presented to an outstanding alumnus from each of the university’s two colleges and three professional schools.

Jenny Gilmore, an instructor, PhD student and research assistant at North Carolina State University, was named Alumnus of the Year for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

A 2014 graduate with a degree in English, she now studies public administration at the doctoral level. She teaches an introductory class about nonprofits and researches nonprofit service delivery to vulnerable populations, particularly survivors of intimate partner violence.

“Aiken’s vast network of nonprofits helped me survive a lot of things and become resilient and become a public servant,” Gilmore said.

“It feels surreal,” she said about receiving the award. “I cried when I was walking to the stage.”

“We drove all the way down from Raleigh yesterday to come celebrate with the community,” said Gilmore, who previously served on the university’s Alumni Board.

Theodius Oates III was named Alumnus of the Year for the College of Sciences and Engineering. A doctor of physical therapy for Veterans Affairs, he graduated in 2008 with a degree in exercise science.

“When you’re doing things in life, you kind of just do it because you want to help people, and to know that people are noticing that, it’s always a blessing,” Oates said.

He said it was gratifying to see “how great people can do in their careers… even from a small school.”

“As long as you have the drive and the will, you can pretty much accomplish anything,” Oates said.

Briana Aaron was named Alumnus of the Year for the School of Nursing. A 2014 graduate, she is a nursing instructor at USCA and is pursuing a PhD in nursing at the Medical University of South Carolina.

“It feels great to be recognized for all the hard work,” Aaron said. “I think as a faculty member and as a nurse, too, it’s really good always to give back.”

Bridget Coleman was named Alumnus of the Year for the School of Education. Coleman is a professor at USC Aiken and a dual graduate, receiving a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1991 and a master's in elementary education in 1999.

As president of the National Association of Professors of Middle Education, she was attending a conference in Nashville, Tenn., and was unable to be at the awards ceremony but provided a statement that was read to the audience.

“I take pride in being a double-legacy USCA alumna. Thank you for honoring me and the accomplishments of my career. It all started right here at USC Aiken,” she said.

Allison Lanier was named Alumnus of the Year for the School of Business. She is director of client engagement for GMB, which provides marketing, branding, architectural, engineering and consulting services to educational institutions. She is a 2010 graduate of USCA.

Catherine Fanchette, president of the USCA alumni board, presented scholarship to two students, freshman Jovie Grace Brown and senior Jazavia Peeples.

“In the past five years we have grown exponentially in the opportunities that we afford students as well as the events including our alumni and recognizing them. I’m very happy to be a part of it,” said Fanchette, who is coordinator for educator effectiveness, recruitment and retention for the Colleton Country School District.

Dr. Dan Heimmermann, chancellor of USCA, said alumni support is a crucial component of the university’s success.

“There are so many ways that our alumni can give back," he said. "Whether you’re interested in making financial contributions, mentoring students, or offering a few words of encouragement, every bit of support helps the future of our university, and the future of our community, state and nation.”

Why is post-Helene cleanup so slow? S.C. Sen. Tom Young has some answers

Tired of looking at downed trees and piles of debris?If your answer is yes, the latest news isn’t good.Based on what S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, told the Rotary Club of Aiken on Dec. 2, the reminders of Tropical Storm Helene are going to be around long past the holidays in some areas because the cleanup is “a slow process.”One reason is the large size of the trees Helene knocked down while passing to the west of Aiken County in late September....

Tired of looking at downed trees and piles of debris?

If your answer is yes, the latest news isn’t good.

Based on what S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, told the Rotary Club of Aiken on Dec. 2, the reminders of Tropical Storm Helene are going to be around long past the holidays in some areas because the cleanup is “a slow process.”

One reason is the large size of the trees Helene knocked down while passing to the west of Aiken County in late September.

Aiken Area News

They “can’t be removed without special equipment,” and “there is a limited pool of contractors who are out there who have this type of equipment,” Young said.

The contractors also need to “know what FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) requires,” according to Young.

In addition, this limited pool of contractors is spread among five states that suffered major damage from Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida.

Then Milton made landfall in the Sunshine State as a Category 3 hurricane Oct. 9, providing contractors with even more work to do in the Southeast.

“All of those factors are influencing the rate that this debris is picked up,” Young said.

In a Nov. 21 letter to state legislators, S.C. Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell wrote that debris removal “will not be a problem that will be completely solved by the end of the year.”

According to an initial estimate by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, there was 2 million cubic feet of debris that had to be cleaned up in South Carolina following Helene.

Powell wrote that 1.1 million cubic feet had been removed as of Nov. 21.

“At present, we have 98 SCDOT (S.C. Department of Transportation) crews and 214 contractor units working on this issue,” Powell told legislators.

“We have been encouraged by more subcontractors with larger equipment becoming available in the last couple of weeks,” he also wrote.

During the upcoming session of the South Carolina legislature, which is scheduled to begin next year on Jan. 14, “there will probably be some type of financial package that will have to be passed to assist local governments with hurricane recovery,” said Young during his Dec. 2 speech to the Rotary Club.

Aiken County burn ban still in effect due to debris-related fires

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Aiken County continues to go back and forth on a burn ban.Late last month, Belvedere firefighters called on the Aiken County Council to enact an emergency burn ban after a weeks-long drought and debris piles stacked high.The council agreed, and last week, they implemented a county-wide burn ban that was supposed to be in effect until November 19.But over the weekend, emails and Facebook posts saying otherwise caused some confusion.It’s now still in effect, but we explain why some fi...

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Aiken County continues to go back and forth on a burn ban.

Late last month, Belvedere firefighters called on the Aiken County Council to enact an emergency burn ban after a weeks-long drought and debris piles stacked high.

The council agreed, and last week, they implemented a county-wide burn ban that was supposed to be in effect until November 19.

But over the weekend, emails and Facebook posts saying otherwise caused some confusion.

It’s now still in effect, but we explain why some firefighters say it’s still needed.

Belvedere firefighters received nearly 60 calls in October — all from debris-related fires.

Local group helps clean up biking trails after Helene

If you mountain bike around the CSRA, you know about SORBA — the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.

That’s why Chief Chad Hyler asked the Aiken County Council for the emergency burn ban.

“We have neighbors who don’t want to go to sleep at night because they’re worried about people burning 24 hours a day,” said Hyler.

Aiken County Department of Emergency Management and the Aiken County government shared a Facebook post over the weekend saying the ban was lifted even though the council had not voted on it.

Gary Bunker is the Aiken County council chairman, and he says there was confusion among senior management.

Hyler and the Forestry Commission say bans are implemented based on rain, wind and other weather conditions.

“Now, we’ve got all this rain, people are wanting to burn. Some are still scared of it because stuff does dry out,” said Hyler.

But Hyler says rain, or lack of rain, isn’t necessarily their main problem.

Nonprofits work to regroup after Helene

Local non-profit organizations are left figuring out what’s next after having to cancel large fundraisers because of Hurricane Helene.

Their main issue is not being able to access resources.

He also says for many of them, this isn’t their only job.

“Most folks are working eight to five shift jobs. Without having those volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to do it,” said Hyler.

Bunker says he wasn’t aware of the Facebook posts saying the ban was lifted.

After we spoke with him and the EMS director, the post on Facebook was deleted.

Belvedere isn’t the only fire station battling this issue.

Wagener Fire Chief Tillman Rushton said: “Was riding down the road and just saw a bunch of smoke behind the house, and then when speaking to the homeowner, he let us know that he was cleaning up storm debris and burning it, and when he came back home today his whole backyard was back on fire.”

Hyler says some streets are still hard for them to get to because of the debris.

They’ve also seen nearly $50,000 worth of property damage since October, which is why he wants to make sure you know the ban is still in place.

Prime Steakhouse's founder has stepped away from ownership of popular Aiken restaurant

The founder of Prime Steakhouse is no longer at the helm of the downtown Aiken businessRandy Stamm recently sold the popular restaurant, which has been serving local diners and visitors to the city for 15 years and is still going strong at 316 Richland Ave. West.“It really boils down to something pretty simple,” said Stamm in a telephone interview. “I’m 65 years old, and there comes a time when you have to walk away. At my age, how many hours a day can I [continue to] work? I would go to work at 5 o&rsqu...

The founder of Prime Steakhouse is no longer at the helm of the downtown Aiken business

Randy Stamm recently sold the popular restaurant, which has been serving local diners and visitors to the city for 15 years and is still going strong at 316 Richland Ave. West.

“It really boils down to something pretty simple,” said Stamm in a telephone interview. “I’m 65 years old, and there comes a time when you have to walk away. At my age, how many hours a day can I [continue to] work? I would go to work at 5 o’clock in the morning, and I would get done at 8 o’clock at night. There’s a limit to what one person can do.”

Stamm began helping out at his family’s New York City steakhouses when he was a teenager. In the early 1980s, he went out on his own.

Aiken Area Business

During his long career, Stamm has operated nearly 40 eateries.

“When I came to Aiken, I had no intention of opening another restaurant,” Stamm said. “I was here to take care of my mother. But I figured if I’m going to be in a small town, what’s one more? And I have had two since I’ve been here.”

In July 2009, Stamm launched Prime Steakhouse in the former home of the Sugar Magnolia Cafe.

Back then, when the business was known as Prime Steak & Lobster, Stamm described the restaurant as a “classic big-city steakhouse.”

The beef “is prime grade and has been aged at least 28 days,” he told the Aiken Standard. “All the lobster is flown in fresh daily from New England.”

Other items on the menu included creamed spinach, homemade onion rings and family-style salads.

In 2016, Stamm opened Nonna’s in Edgefield. The focus there was on Northern Italian cuisine, and baked lasagna, grilled sausage giambotta and three types of parmigiana — eggplant, chicken and veal — were among the entrees.

Aiken Area Business

Nonna’s no longer is in business.

“I went out on top,” said Stamm of his decision to sell Prime Steakhouse. “Somebody made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

Stamm told the Aiken Standard that the buyer was an “Aiken restaurant group.”

According to multiple sources, however, the new owners are entrepreneur Norman Dunagan and undisclosed partners.

Dunagan did not respond to requests for comment prior to the deadline for this story’s publication.

Aiken County land records show that Heritage Aiken Properties LLC purchased Prime Steakhouse’s real estate from Stamm for $850,000 on Oct. 15.

The registered agent for Heritage Aiken Properties is Aiken attorney Christopher Austin, who is Austin and Pethick law firm’s CEO and principal shareholder.

“We did this thing with a handshake back in June and we negotiated all summer long because I wanted to make sure my employees were taken care of,” Stamm said. “It was important to me that they would still have jobs in this economy.”

Stamm has been enjoying himself since he sold Prime Steakhouse.

“All the wonderful people who supported me in Aiken for 15 years, them I miss,” he said. “But to be honest with you, in the last week or so, I don’t miss it (Prime Steakhouse) at all. I don’t miss getting up at 5 o’clock every morning to go and meet trucks, you know. It’s the toughest business out there. You’ve got to be married to it.”

Stamm told the Aiken Standard that he has plans to “do something else in the restaurant business, but not owning a restaurant for right now. “It will be on my own terms and my own time,” he added.

Stamm, who has a beach house in the Beaufort area, didn’t rule out someday opening an eatery on the South Carolina coast.

For more information about Prime Steakhouse, call 803-642-4488 or visit primesteakhouseaiken.com.

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