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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 Greenwood 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 Greenwood
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 Greenwood 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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood. 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 Greenwood, SC
Family, lawmaker call for release of Greenwood woman in prison for manslaughter
Zach Prelutskyhttps://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/06/30/family-lawmaker-asked-release-greenwood-woman-prison-manslaughter/
GREENWOOD, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Family, friends, and supporters of Tiffany Carroll are coming together to call for the release of the mother of five.The Greenwood native is serving a 15-year sentence in the 2017 death of her abusive boyfriend.“We’re calling for the release and exoneration of Tiffany Carroll,” said Rep. John McCravy.For three and a half years, Carroll’s family has been hoping she can come home.“My family grieves every day. We are in pain and sorrow,” said her si...
GREENWOOD, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Family, friends, and supporters of Tiffany Carroll are coming together to call for the release of the mother of five.
The Greenwood native is serving a 15-year sentence in the 2017 death of her abusive boyfriend.
“We’re calling for the release and exoneration of Tiffany Carroll,” said Rep. John McCravy.
For three and a half years, Carroll’s family has been hoping she can come home.
“My family grieves every day. We are in pain and sorrow,” said her sister Brenda McCullough.
In 2019, Carroll pleaded guilty but mentally ill to manslaughter in the death of William Jamal Johnson.
Carroll stabbed Johnson while the two were fighting.
After her arrest, a licensed clinical psychologist reported Carroll was in a “cycle of violence” and diagnosed her with Battered Woman Syndrome.
“We can’t say enough times that Tiffany was a victim of domestic violence,” said Meg’s House Executive Director Alice Hodges.
Carroll’s former second-grade teacher Mary Ann Wingard reconnected in recent years with Carroll and brought her case to the attention of Rep. McCravy.
“I noticed she looked very sad and very tired, but she was the same sweet person that I had known as a student,” said Wingard.
“The more I looked at it, the more I became convinced that the only way justice could be served is to free Tiffany from prison,” added McCravy.
McCravy is applying for a pardon for Carroll and says he has spoken with the eighth circuit solicitor, who reportedly told him he has no objections to a pardon and would even write a letter of support.
“She was not herself, she was not the (Tiffany) that we know, and we want her home, and she should be home with her family,” said McCullough.
McCravy says he could file the pardon paperwork as soon as next week. According to the SCDPPPS, it typically takes 7-9 months after pardon applications are submitted for a hearing date to be scheduled.
Carroll is also eligible for parole, and McCravy says she will have a hearing later this year.
Copyright 2023 WHNS. All rights reserved.
Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty Offers Home Buyers In Greenwood, SC, A Satisfaction Guarantee
Press Advantagehttps://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/news/press-advantage/your-home-sold-guaranteed-realty-offers-home-buyers-in-greenwood-sc-a-satisfaction-guarantee
Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty is helping buyers find and move into the home of their dreams from dozens of property listings in and around Greenwood, South Carolina.Founded by real estate broker Kellar Lawrence, Your Home Sold Guaranteed offers home buyers priority access to homes in the Palmetto State that match their criteria, including unlisted, off-market, and unclaimed properties. The company’s exclusive South Carolina Buyer Profile System saves its clients both time and money as they get priority access to all homes inc...
Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty is helping buyers find and move into the home of their dreams from dozens of property listings in and around Greenwood, South Carolina.
Founded by real estate broker Kellar Lawrence, Your Home Sold Guaranteed offers home buyers priority access to homes in the Palmetto State that match their criteria, including unlisted, off-market, and unclaimed properties. The company’s exclusive South Carolina Buyer Profile System saves its clients both time and money as they get priority access to all homes including bank foreclosures, company-owned properties, and other distressed sales.
Kellar Lawrence explains, “With us, you spend more time looking at properties that match your criteria rather than wasting it browsing through outdated information available in newspapers or the internet. Priority access also ensures that you’re out there before other buyers, giving you the upper hand to negotiate the lowest possible price. If you want to find out more, simply fill in the form on our website and get added to the hotlist. Make sure to also start packing as, with Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty, your search is as good as finished!”
Another advantage of working with Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty is its Guaranteed Sale Program which solves the ever so common catch-22 that home buyers face - when one should sell their existing home when moving into a new property. The program guarantees the sale of a client’s present home before they take possession of their new one.
Finally, to ease all worries about making a significant property investment, Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty promises, upfront and in writing, that the buyer will love their new home. If they don’t, the program guarantees that the company will buy it back.
“Many realtors don’t give you any guarantees to ensure your satisfaction,” Kellar says. “For us, client satisfaction is critical. So, we not only work hard to show you the very best properties for your needs and budget but also offer you a written guarantee that covers you if you are not satisfied with your purchase.”
Readers looking for homes for sale in Greenwood, SC, are urged to visit the company’s website and browse through its current listings. Home buyers are also encouraged to check out the several resources the company makes available to help them find homes at the best possible price. The company also works with property owners looking to sell their homes, netting them, on average, 3% higher selling prices and selling 25% faster than other realtors.
Hundreds of home buyers have time and time again profusely praised Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty for helping make their homeownership dreams come true. The Greenwood real estate broker even boasts an almost perfect 4.9 out of 5.0 overall rating on its Google Business Profile and a perfect 5-star rating on Zillow with clients praising the timely and relevant support they received from the company during the homebuying process.
A recent review says, “Eilene Webber was so wonderful to work with - my transaction went so smoothly. I initially lost out on the home I wanted, however, it came back on the market and Eilene let me know and we made an offer and closed within 8 days. What an Awesome experience, can't believe it happened so quickly. What a great team to work with. IF YOU NEED TO BUY OR sell, call Eilene.”
Another happy homeowner writes, “Jennifer was so easy to work with, and truly made me feel like her first priority. She was always available and always happy to listen. Anytime I had questions or concerns she was there to provide answers and put my mind at ease throughout the entire process. Jennifer and the entire Kellar Lawerence team uphold their promises and will provide you with the best homebuying experience! I highly recommend them for any of your real estate needs!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxJv-6sEmLw
Readers can contact Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Kellar Lawrence Real Estate in Greenwood, SC at (864) 806-2255 to get all their questions about the company’s listings and services answered.
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For more information about Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Kellar Lawrence Real Estate, contact the company here:
Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Kellar Lawrence Real Estate Kellar Lawrence (864) 362-2261 [email protected] Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty - Kellar Lawrence Real Estate 424 Main St Greenwood, SC 29646
40 years after this plane was taken out of a South Carolina lake, renovations continue
wltx.comhttps://www.wltx.com/article/news/history/b-25-plane-rennovations/101-8ae0346b-e8ed-4706-ad7b-fb9284a25229
The B-25 bomber crashed into Lake Greenwood in 1944, and after decades of recovery and restoration efforts, the plane looks like the original.COLUMBIA, S.C. — A crowd filled Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport on Saturday to celebrate four decades since a B-25 bomber plane was found in Lake Greenwood.Call it an obsession or a historic curiosity, but Ken Berry's love for aircraft is palpable. He's the president of the South Carolina Historic Aviation F...
The B-25 bomber crashed into Lake Greenwood in 1944, and after decades of recovery and restoration efforts, the plane looks like the original.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A crowd filled Jim Hamilton - L.B. Owens Airport on Saturday to celebrate four decades since a B-25 bomber plane was found in Lake Greenwood.
Call it an obsession or a historic curiosity, but Ken Berry's love for aircraft is palpable. He's the president of the South Carolina Historic Aviation Foundation and one of the volunteers who has spent years working on the B-25C bomber plane. He said the history of the bomber begins in Columbia at CAE.
"Back in that day, it was called Columbia Army Air Base. It was used in Greenville at the Donaldson Center, which in those days was called Greenville Army Air Base. It was a training plane that was used back and forth between the bases," Berry said. "They dropped bombs in lake murray, they weren't real bombs; they were filled with wet sand."
He said that, on June 6, 1944, the plane crashed into the water at Lake Greenwood during one of those practice bombings, where it disappeared for decards. Nearly 40 years later, the plane was recovered by a group of Navy deep divers, including Chuck Messick.
"We had to do everything by feel," Messick said. "Then from there, after we found the aircraft, we put together a plan."
"A few months after we found the plane, put together the plan, and then came down and recovered," he said.
After being purchased by the Historic Aviation Foundation in 2012, the plane was moved to the Jim Hamilton Airport, where it's been refurbished by a group of volunteers. Berry estimated that thousands of dollars have been spent on maintaining the plane, money that comes from grants and, to a larger extent, donors. On Saturday, the foundation hosted an open house celebrating its history.
Messick said he was amazed at how much the plane has changed since he found it. He said the goal is to use this plane to educate younger generations about the sacrifices of those who served.
"We lose a little bit of the understanding of the sacrifices that really had to happen in World War II for us to be Americans," he said. "That sacrifice, I'm worried it would be difficult for us today to do that and hope that we never have to. But you do better if you understand what really did happen at the time to know that you don't want to be there again."
The Historic Aviation Foundation's next open house is on Sept. 9.
'We need that comfort': Family of Greenwood man looks for answers 2 months since disappearance
Carlos Cristian Floreshttps://www.wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-family-of-greenwood-man-looks-for-answers-2-months-disappearance/42494963
GREENWOOD, S.C. —It has almost been two months since 28-year-old Kenneth Hughes was last seen.However, no matter how bad the weather was Thursday, friends, family, and the Greenwood community came together to lift each other's spirits in hopes Hughes will come home.In a dark church in Greenwood County, the family and friends of Kenneth Hughes came together to pray for a miracle.Hughes was last seen off of Rush Road in Hodges, South Carolina, on Nov. 16. Since then, the family has dealt with ...
GREENWOOD, S.C. —
It has almost been two months since 28-year-old Kenneth Hughes was last seen.
However, no matter how bad the weather was Thursday, friends, family, and the Greenwood community came together to lift each other's spirits in hopes Hughes will come home.
In a dark church in Greenwood County, the family and friends of Kenneth Hughes came together to pray for a miracle.
Hughes was last seen off of Rush Road in Hodges, South Carolina, on Nov. 16. Since then, the family has dealt with the ups and downs of new leads and disappointment.
"I mean, we do get leads. Not every day but every so often and we get excited because we think we're going to find him. Then we hit a brick wall and then it's nothing. Then we get another lead and it's the same thing," Hughes' aunt, Rhonda Crenshaw, said.
Crenshaw said Hughes' son is also taking it hard as he waits for his dad to come home.
"He's been asking when his daddy is coming to see him. He's been crying wanting to know if he is going to see him again. It's just sad. He doesn't understand, he's 6," Crenshaw said.
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Michael Hubbard with Loudwater Outfitters, an organization that works on missing persons and cold cases, has been helping the family since Hughes disappeared. He said people need to understand this can happen to anyone.
"People think that somebody can't go missing in their family or in their community. That's the worst thing. Out of all these mothers and family members that I've talked to, not just Kenneth Hughes's case but all of them. It's terrible," Hubbard said.
While Hughes' family sat in that quiet church praying for good news, Crenshaw said the stormy weather outside was proof of her nephew's presence.
"He's coming in with the hurricane just because the thunder, lightning, wind and all that. I just thought that was funny because that's him. He was just always full force," Crenshaw said.
"If you're out there listening, give us a phone call and let us know if you're alright because that's what we need. We need that comfort, that closure in this situation. Your dad and your son, they are looking for your return," Hughes' uncle, Bill Crenshaw, said.
The Greenwood Co. Sheriff's Office about Hughes's case and they sent the following statement:
"We appreciate the communities support and willingness to help in all of the searches that have been conducted to try and locate Hughes. Our investigators are continuing to track down leads and interview those willing to speak to us. We ask that anyone that may have any information to come forward or submit it anonymously by calling 1-888-crime-sc."
Tracking Coronavirus in Greenwood County, S.C.: Latest Map and Case Count
New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/greenwood-south-carolina-covid-cases.html
Latest trendsHigher test positivity rates are a sign that many infections are not reported — even if they are tested for at home. This results in a more severe undercount of cases. The number of hospitalized patients with Covid is a more reliable measure because testing is more consistent in hospitals. Read more about the data....
Latest trends
Higher test positivity rates are a sign that many infections are not reported — even if they are tested for at home. This results in a more severe undercount of cases. The number of hospitalized patients with Covid is a more reliable measure because testing is more consistent in hospitals. Read more about the data.
In data for South Carolina, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. The state releases new data once a week. It released new data daily until June 12, 2021, and new data all weekdays until March 15, 2022. The state reports cases and deaths based on a person’s permanent or usual residence.
The Times has identified reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data.
The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths.
Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments.
Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible. For agencies that do not report data every day, variation in the schedule on which cases or deaths are reported, such as around holidays, can also cause an irregular pattern in averages. The Times uses an adjustment method to vary the number of days included in an average to remove these irregularities.
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