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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 Florence or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
Service Areas
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 Florence
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 Florence 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 Florence, 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 Florence. 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.
Latest News in Florence, SC
Florence County considers $50 million bond for county-wide improvements
Christian Smithhttps://scnow.com/news/local/florence-county-50-million-bond/article_960175fa-74e8-11ee-9384-774eba0123be.html
The bond ordinance passed its second reading by a unanimous vote of the Florence County Council on Oct. 19 and will be up for final approval at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 16. It will be paid using leftover money from the most recent one cent capital project sales tax, which was approved by voters in November 2020.County Administrator Kevin Yokim said on Oct. 26 that the county has not yet identified specific projects to use the $50 million on but that any project that uses the money will itself need to go before county c...
The bond ordinance passed its second reading by a unanimous vote of the Florence County Council on Oct. 19 and will be up for final approval at the council’s next meeting on Nov. 16. It will be paid using leftover money from the most recent one cent capital project sales tax, which was approved by voters in November 2020.
County Administrator Kevin Yokim said on Oct. 26 that the county has not yet identified specific projects to use the $50 million on but that any project that uses the money will itself need to go before county council for approval.
“Now, examples of things that I’ve suggested to council of what we’re going to spend the money on: probably the largest one is paving projects or related projects in the nine council districts. It will be up to each individual council member to figure out what roads or type projects they want,” he said.
Another chunk of the money will likely be used for economic development projects like buying land for industrial parks, improving existing industrial parks and other projects the county hopes will spur investment in the local economy and the creation of more jobs.
Around three years ago, Florence County took out a $22 million bond specifically for economic development projects. Yokim said that money is quickly being used up.
The county has bought a number of large tracts in the past few years to aid in economic development, but the upcoming $50 million bond may be used to buy land for another purpose: conservation.
It recently purchased the 500-acre Independence Farm to be the next county park. Yokim said the county will likely continue buying strategic parcels to strike a balance between the need for economic development and the need to preserve land for future generations.
Rural water infrastructure improvements are also on the list of projects under consideration for the bond.
Currently, a number of small towns in the county have their own water systems, but they do not connect. Since the systems are so small, any equipment failures or similar problems could have drastic effects for the residents, according to Yokim.
“You’ve got a small municipality. They might have three wells that service their whole municipality. What happens if a pump on a well goes out? Can they still provide it with the other two wells? And because of supply chain issues: one, can they afford to buy a pump? Two, if they can, with supply chain issues, how long is it going to take?” he said.
The county may help pay for water lines to connect the systems, each equipped with a master water meter, he said. These master meters would remain shut most of the time, but if one community was struggling, it could ask to buy water from a nearby system until it was able to fix the problem.
Funds may also go to pay for rural fire station upgrades. Many rural fire projects were already approved along with the sales tax in 2020, but costs have gone up since then and more money will likely be needed to make up the difference, according to Yokim.
The county has all of the funding it needs for the $120 million bond approved by voters in the 2020 sales tax referendum, and conservative estimates show that the county will get at least another $50 million from the tax before it ends in 2028, he said.
State law allows county councils to decide how to spend excess money gained from capital project sales taxes as long as all the projects in the sales tax referendum are complete or there is enough funding in place to do them.
“Because of COVID, because of the talk of a recession, the projections were conservative, as they should have been,” Yokim said about the $120 million bond approved by voters in 2020.
However, he said, Florence County never saw the dramatic dip in its tax collection that the projections included. The $50 million bond will allow the county to immediately use the extra money it expects to gain from the sales tax if it is approved at Florence County Council’s next meeting.
Free festival in Florence offers music, food from more than 25 countries
Simon Williamshttps://wpde.com/news/local/free-festival-music-food-different-countries-international-hispanic-heritage-month-events-what-to-do-florence-county-south-carolina-ebenezer-park-this-weekend-october-14-2023-saturday-kid-friendly-children-games-popcorn-fall
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquíApproaching the end of Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S., Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s International Food Festival in Florence is extending the celebration to include countries like India, China, and the Philippines.NEW: ...
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí
Approaching the end of Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S., Trinity Evangelical Presbyterian Church’s International Food Festival in Florence is extending the celebration to include countries like India, China, and the Philippines.
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The free festival is at Ebenezer Park Saturday, representing more than more than 25 countries.
No matter where you’re from, organizers said it’s a great opportunity to explore and celebrate each other.
“You’ll learn more about our roots, and also, all the community will have the opportunity to try Latin food, Asian food, and other countries!” Annette Diaz said.
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Organizers are excited about a parade during the festival, representing each country with their flags and music.
The festival is from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday, and they’ll also have hotdogs, popcorn and snow cones.
Florence grocery store owner selling shares to grow community
Tonya Brownhttps://wpde.com/news/local/florence-grocery-store-owner-selling-shares-to-grow-community-east-darlington-street
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — The owner and operator of the Save A Lot grocery store on East Darlington Street in downtown Florence is making a bold move to essentially help save his business and grow the community.Waters said he's selling 120,000 shares at $25 each."They can buy up to 200 shares. I am using two exemptions. Exemption 141 A for the federal. and I am using SC exemption 13-206 for the state. Talk to the attorney general Alan Wilson. They walked me through what I was doing. Here I am taking government money be...
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — The owner and operator of the Save A Lot grocery store on East Darlington Street in downtown Florence is making a bold move to essentially help save his business and grow the community.
Waters said he's selling 120,000 shares at $25 each.
"They can buy up to 200 shares. I am using two exemptions. Exemption 141 A for the federal. and I am using SC exemption 13-206 for the state. Talk to the attorney general Alan Wilson. They walked me through what I was doing. Here I am taking government money because this is what built the store. And taking it and giving it back to the people who we got the money from," said Waters.
Waters said he was able to secure $3.6 million dollars in grants to open a Save-A-Lot grocery store through his company Elijah Craig, LLC. He got a $300,000 incentive package from the City Of Florence to finally open the store in 2021.
However, he said since it's opened he's not getting the customers he needs to keep the business filled with groceries.
"There are some things that I have to do. And I’ve come to recognize that I need some help. I don’t want to wait 20 years to see my dream come true. And all of a sudden they just fade away. Because I was too proud not to ask for help or too proud not to seek help. And that’s what I’m doing now," said Waters.
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Waters is sharing the following information with those interested in buying shares:
"Cost of Shares: $25 per share, with a maximum of two hundred shares per person purchased at one time. Shares may be purchased in five, $5 dollar installments on a weekly basis in-store. This will allow low-income people to buy shares. Our store will be in the hands of the community forever. Shares are lifetime purchases to be passed to the next generation after generation.
Dividends: Dividends will be paid each quarter, based on the rate of return on the net profits from sales for that quarter. Our Board along with our CPA will develop the ROR, to be included in our welcome aboard package.
Shareholder Board of Directors: Shareholders will elect a five-member board to oversee all shareholder funds. Funds will only be used for inventory and working capital. We have obtained over 5.6 million thus far, however, I want to pass some ownership to our community.
This will allow the store to truly become a community store indefinitely.
Our audaciously inclusive initiative aims to provide an opportunity for residents of the state of South Carolina, especially Afro-Americans and low-income families throughout South Carolina, to become shareholders in Elijah Craig LLC dba Florence Save a Lot., fostering community empowerment, economic inclusion, and creating opportunities for generational wealth and prosperity.
The Florence Downtown Save a Lot is more than a grocery store. We are a community. By becoming an owner (also referred to as “member”) of Elijah Craig LLC dba Florence Save a Lot, you become a partial owner of our store and take ownership in our community. Your investment in the store allows us to make investments in local farmers and artisans, offering direct support to the sustainable, natural foods and products that they provide, along with the Save a Lot brand. As a community-owned grocery store, we are accountable to you, the members of our community who support and invest in us. We are committed to supporting the environmental, social, and economic concerns of our owners. I know that we need shoppers and others to invest in the store; therefore, I have decided to make the Florence Downtown Save a Lot store truly a community store. "
For additional information, you can contact Tim Waters by phone at 843-472 -7463 and by email at [email protected].
You can also visit the store at 310 North Dargan Street in Florence.
SC Dept. of Education sent letter to Florence charter school to cease all operations
Tonya Brownhttps://wpde.com/news/local/sc-dept-of-education-sent-letter-florence-charter-school-to-cease-all-operations-public-south-carolina-education-students-charter
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — The South Carolina Department of Education sent a letter to Palmetto Youth Academy on August 23 asking the school to cease all operations as a public school.In a recent affidavit asking the court to issue an order, Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley said the school was terminated effective June 30....
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — The South Carolina Department of Education sent a letter to Palmetto Youth Academy on August 23 asking the school to cease all operations as a public school.
In a recent affidavit asking the court to issue an order, Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley said the school was terminated effective June 30. This order came after a motion by the F1S Board of Trustees to not renew the district-sponsored charter school.
Florence 1 Schools said the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) closed PYA on August 1.
ABC15 obtained a copy of a letter the SCDE sent to PYA following a hearing last month when an administrative law court judge didn't grant PYA a stay to continue operating.
A portion of the letter reads:
“The immediate effect of the Court's order is that there is no legal means through which PYA can currently operate with public funds. If it has not done so already, PYA must immediately cease all operations as a public school. The SCDE expects Palmetto Youth Academy to fully and faithfully comply with the AL's order. The SCDE likewise anticipates that Florence One will be a willing partner in effectuating an orderly transition and ensuring that PYA's students are quickly enrolled in an appropriate school program. To this point, the ALC Order mentions that "the District appears ready to mitigate that disruption."
It goes on to say," The SCDE expects that appropriate action will be taken with respect to all state and federal funding related to PYA. PYA must provide a full accounting of all funds spent since the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school year to Florence One."
S.C. Administrative Law Court Judge Sebastien Phillip Lenski presided over a hearing Monday involving a motion filed by Florence 1 Schools for an injunctive relief asking a judge to issue a restraining order, appoint a receiver and issue a Writ of Mandamus demanding Palmetto Youth Academy (PYA) to close.
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Florence 1 Schools' lawyer said PYA is using funds from the district to continue operating the school.
Montgomery said right now there's no trust between PYA and Florence 1 Schools.
He told the judge that's why it's important for a receiver to be appointed to investigate how much money has been spent and on what.
PYA's Director Dr. Yvonne Brown Burgess spoke out and contradicted what her lawyer told the judge saying "The school is closed."
ABC15 found information on the S.C. Secretary of State's website that shows Brown-Burgess, as of May 13, has another business registered at the same location as PYA at 1209 North Douglas Street in Florence.
It's listed on the website as Palmetto Promise Academy.
The non-profit business is shown to be in good standing, according to the website.
ABC15 sent Brown-Burgess a couple of text messages asking about Palmetto Promise Academy and if PYA is still operating, but have yet to hear back from her.
At this time, there's still no decision on Florence 1 Schools' injunctive relief.
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