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Senior Medicare Advantage plan insurance in Bluffton, SC
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 Bluffton, SC 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 Bluffton, SC
- Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
- Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Bluffton, 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
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 Bluffton, SC
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 Bluffton, SC 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 Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC. 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.
Latest News in Bluffton, SC
All five men - Francisco Ramirez Santiago (43), Pablo Ramirez Santiago (46), Arelio Saul Galicia De Leon (53), Erick Alfons Clauel Gonzalez (28), and Jose Moreno Romero (56) - were booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center.
WTOChttps://www.wtoc.com/2025/09/26/five-foreign-nationals-charged-with-identity-fraud-bluffton/
BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - [UPDATE 3:18 p.m. 09/26/2025] SLED has released a press release and warrants for the five people arrested yesterday in Beaufort County.According to SLED, all five are foreign nationals who were arrested for using fraudulent Social Security Numbers in order to obtain employment at O’Hara Outdoors in Bluffton, South Carolina.All five men - Francisco Ramirez Santiago (43), Pablo Ramirez Santiago (46), Arelio Saul Galicia De Leon (53), Erick Alfons Clauel Gonzalez (28), and Jose Moreno Ro...
BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - [UPDATE 3:18 p.m. 09/26/2025] SLED has released a press release and warrants for the five people arrested yesterday in Beaufort County.
According to SLED, all five are foreign nationals who were arrested for using fraudulent Social Security Numbers in order to obtain employment at O’Hara Outdoors in Bluffton, South Carolina.
All five men - Francisco Ramirez Santiago (43), Pablo Ramirez Santiago (46), Arelio Saul Galicia De Leon (53), Erick Alfons Clauel Gonzalez (28), and Jose Moreno Romero (56) - were booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center.
SLED states the case will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
There is no mention of ICE in the warrants or the attached press release, despite earlier reports.
All five of these people - Jose Moreno Romero, Erick Alfons Clavel Gonzalez, Francisco Ramirez Santiago, Pablo Ramirez Santiago, and Arelio Saul Galicia De Leon - are charged with the same offense.
That offense is “identity fraud to obtain employment or avoid detection by law enforcement,” according to booking records.
WTOC is still working to confirm officially whether or not these arrests are connected to the ICE operation in Beaufort County earlier today.
[ORIGINAL STORY] An operation was carried out this morning by ICE and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) in Bluffton, SC, WTOC has learned.
After being alerted by a viewer tip about ICE activity in the area, WTOC reached out to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, who confirmed an operation occurred.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said that it was a joint SLED/ICE operation and that the Sheriff’s Office only provided assistance, such as managing traffic around the area.
WTOC is reaching out to additional law enforcement divisions (including SLED) and is working to learn more about today’s ICE operation in Bluffton.
Copyright 2025 WTOC. All rights reserved.
Mulberry Street Trattoria son planning Michelin star-level dining for Bluffton
Laura Finaldihttps://www.islandpacket.com/news/business/article312226367.html
When Chris Sullivan found out Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Duffy was opening a new restaurant in Chicago, Sullivan showed up with his resume, determined to work in the kitchen.“I insisted on getting a job,” he said. That insistence paid off, and Sullivan ended up helping to launch Ever restaurant. The Chicago eatery opened in the thick of COVID in 2020 and has since been awarded two Michelin stars.The Michelin Guide serves as the holy grail of excellence in dining. Earlier this year they announced expansion into Sou...
When Chris Sullivan found out Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Duffy was opening a new restaurant in Chicago, Sullivan showed up with his resume, determined to work in the kitchen.
“I insisted on getting a job,” he said. That insistence paid off, and Sullivan ended up helping to launch Ever restaurant. The Chicago eatery opened in the thick of COVID in 2020 and has since been awarded two Michelin stars.
The Michelin Guide serves as the holy grail of excellence in dining. Earlier this year they announced expansion into South Carolina and other southeastern states.
Now Sullivan, of Bluffton, is hoping his hometown is ready for a world-renowned dining experience.
The chef, whose family has operated Mulberry Street Trattoria in Bluffton for 21 years, owns and operates his own catering company, Edible Memories. He is working towards bringing a dining experience to Bluffton that the town has never seen before.
He and his mother, Elissa, are currently developing a new counter-service Old Town eatery that he hopes will be the first step towards bringing Michelin-level food and service to the town for the first time.
“I used to chase the Michelin scene,” he said. “And now I can apply my travels and times here in Bluffton.”
What is this building to?
Sullivan and his family moved to Bluffton when he was eight years old. His mother Elissa said her parents were already here, and she wanted to be close to them – plus, the cost of living was lower here than in their native New York.
Elissa said her son had a clear vision from the start – he knew he wanted to be a chef and that he wanted to have his own restaurant.
“I’m not sure of anyone that has, at eight years old, such a vision of ‘I want to be a chef,’” she said.
At 19, Sullivan enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He got a job at Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan, taking the train in from Poughkeepsie every day. On a family trip to California, he encountered Chef Thomas Keller’s French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley and decided to stay and work there. He moved to Chicago after securing the job at Chef Curtis Duffy’s Ever.
Sullivan returned to Bluffton in 2023, when he and his wife Destiny – who he met at Mulberry Street – learned they were expecting a daughter. He’s been back at the restaurant since, helping run things and bartending, and this summer, he started Edible Memories, which caters events, provides private chef and meal preparation services to local families and hosts dining events at Mulberry Street when it’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.
It’s a family affair
Getting help with his events is never too difficult, Sullivan said, because he’s related to four out of 12 people that work at Mulberry Street.
“It’s easy to get people to say yes when you’re family,” Elissa Sullivan said.
All of what Sullivan is doing now is intended to lay the groundwork for what Sullivan said he really wants to do. He and his mother are working on a new Bluffton restaurant that will bring Michelin star-level food to the area for the first time.
Sullivan and his mom didn’t want to go into detail about what exactly they’re planning, besides saying it will be a counter service eatery that will open in Old Town in 2027. But this is step one, Sullivan said: He eventually wants to build his own 30-seat restaurant, the kind of place where he or one of his chefs can talk to each and every guest. It will be a place where people will come because they know they’re getting something they can’t get anywhere else.
He just hopes Bluffton is ready for it. After all, many Blufftonians moved to the area from larger metropolitan areas known for their rich dining scenes.
“I do think Bluffton and Hilton Head need something like that,” he said.
Getting a taste
On a Monday night at Mulberry Street Trattoria, Sullivan was working his way through a crowd of about 30 people, wearing his chef’s whites and holding a glass of red wine.
The atmosphere was casual and light inside the dining room. Tables were arranged in a square shape around a central wooden beam. Patrons, who paid $50 each to attend, grazed on small bites like smoked salmon cheesecake with pumpernickel bread, ahi tuna wontons and crab lettuce wraps while sipping Italian wines. Standing in front of the kitchen was musician Campfire Tyler, who sang and strummed an acoustic guitar.
This was the first social event Sullivan hosted through Edible Memories; normally, he follows a traditional dinner service model. He got the word out the old fashioned way – word of mouth – but he also used social media. Mulberry Street has never really done a lot of advertising, his mother said.
Through Edible Memories, Sullivan has four more events planned for 2025, including a three-course, build-your-own brunch event on Sept. 28 with beignets, peach foster French toast and smoked salmon gravlax for $45 per person. A five-course Italian white truffle dinner for $210 per person will follow on Oct. 6, a Sicilian food and wine experience is scheduled for Oct. 26 for $90, and on Nov. 3, the menu for Sullivan’s winter wine dinner will include confit wagyu beef cheek, wild mushroom soup and a caramelized peach tart for $125 a head.
Elissa Sullivan said her son is non-stop, always thinking about the next thing he can make or do.
“He will text me ideas at 3 a.m., when it’s all coming to him,” she said. “He’s thinking about food all the time.”
Sullivan said he knows his eventual restaurants will be built out of the same principle that he has for his catering – that making food is, for him, a true labor of love.
“My food is very much an expression of me,” he said.
Japanese-style head spa is opening in Bluffton soon. Here’s when and where
Anna Claire Millerhttps://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/article312134283.html
A new spa concept is set to open in Bluffton next month, offering a unique wellness service to the Lowcountry community.The Lavender Lounge, a Japanese-inspired head spa, will open its doors on Oct. 10 at 14 Oak Forest Road, Suite B, with a grand opening set for Oct. 24.Located in Belfair Towne Village, next door to House of Color Salon & Spa, The Lavender Lounge is tucked right within the Bluffton community and provides convenient access to nearby Hilton Head Island.Here’s everything to know about this new bus...
A new spa concept is set to open in Bluffton next month, offering a unique wellness service to the Lowcountry community.
The Lavender Lounge, a Japanese-inspired head spa, will open its doors on Oct. 10 at 14 Oak Forest Road, Suite B, with a grand opening set for Oct. 24.
Located in Belfair Towne Village, next door to House of Color Salon & Spa, The Lavender Lounge is tucked right within the Bluffton community and provides convenient access to nearby Hilton Head Island.
Here’s everything to know about this new business and what services it offers.
About the owner
The Lavender Lounge owner, Melissa Fahs, relocated to Bluffton from Massachusetts in 2023.
Holding a background as a former business owner and in marketing for hospitality and technology companies, Fahs initially didn’t know much about the wellness industry, until a business trip to Atlanta sparked a new career direction.
“My colleagues up north were flying down and had gotten stuck in a storm, but since I drove, I decided to visit my first head spa to fill the time,” she said.
That single visit had her hooked and led to months of research, other spa visits, obtaining her formal certification and eventually, the creation of her own space here in Bluffton.
“I realized there was nothing like this locally and saw an opportunity,” she said.
Now, after a year of securing her space and making renovations, Fahs says that she’s finally ready to open her doors.
What is a head spa?
While common in Japan, head spas are still relatively new in the U.S. The practice, dating back to the early 1600s, is based on the principle that scalp health is essential to overall hair and wellness.
“When you visit salons in Japan, primarily in Tokyo, head spa services are included as part of the service,” Fahs said. “Beauty and wellness go hand in hand, so these treatments almost work like a facial for your scalp.”
The technique used at The Lavender Lounge is rooted in traditional Japanese practices, which emphasize acupressure massage to stimulate circulation, support follicle health and promote relaxation.
These head spa treatments also have added health benefits, Fahs noted, which may include relief from headaches, improved sleep, reduced inflammation and increased hair growth due to cleaner, better-nourished hair follicles.
“Clients seek out head spa services for a variety of reasons – scalp conditions like dryness or oil buildup, migraines, hair loss, or simply to relax,” she said.
What The Lavender Lounge offers
The Lavender Lounge will operate five private treatment suites, allowing each client a one-on-one experience from consultation to final styling.
Each service begins with a scalp analysis using a trichoscope, a magnifying device that provides a detailed view of the scalp. This allows specialists to customize the treatment to the guest’s needs.
The spa uses filtered and softened water, aromatherapy and Japanese hair therapy products for treatments, which include exfoliation, a double cleanse, a mask, conditioning, massaging, and a blowout.
Fahs says that The Lavender Lounge uses equipment made by Takara Belmont, a Japanese salon equipment company, which features a spa basin designed to simulate the feel of a rainforest waterfall.
Fahs says The Lavender Lounge will offer three service tiers:
Additional services include a shoulder, neck and hand massages, along with facials. Blowouts are included, but guests can opt out for reduced price options.
Fahs anticipates accommodating roughly 300 guests per week, and online booking will go live the week of October 10. Appointments can be made via the spa’s upcoming website, which is set to fully launch this weekend.
To learn more about The Lavender Lounge, you can visit their Facebook or website.
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