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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 Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach
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 Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach. 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 Myrtle Beach, SC
You can watch Hurricane Idalia in the Myrtle Beach area with these cameras. Here’s how
Eleanor Nashhttps://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article278681119.html
During a hurricane, live beach cams let you safely see the winds and waves.Many Myrtle Beach area resorts and restaurants live stream their views. For most of the year, these web cams show tranquil beach scenes for visitors longing for the ocean.Idalia strengthened to a hurricane early Tuesday morning as it heads to the Florida coast, according to the National Weather Service Hurricane Center. Current mo...
During a hurricane, live beach cams let you safely see the winds and waves.
Many Myrtle Beach area resorts and restaurants live stream their views. For most of the year, these web cams show tranquil beach scenes for visitors longing for the ocean.
Idalia strengthened to a hurricane early Tuesday morning as it heads to the Florida coast, according to the National Weather Service Hurricane Center. Current models has the storm reaching South Carolina around early Thursday.
When a storm like Idalia hits, the cameras turn into valuable tools for locals and tourists alike to witness the effects of the hurricane in real time.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation has live traffic cameras throughout the area to help track road conditions.
After you identify local emergency contacts and see if your area is likely to flood, check out these 23 beach cams to watch a hurricane.
Ripley’s Aquarium at Broadway at the Beach
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk - facing north
Myrtle Beach Boardwalk - facing south
Sea Captain’s House Restaurant
Prince Resort Cherry Grove Pier
Avista Resort North Myrtle Beach
Elliot Realty North Myrtle Beach
Coquina Harbor in Little River
Little River Swing Bridge and Harbourgate Marina
Murrells Inlet Marshwalk from Dead Dog Saloon
This story was originally published August 28, 2023, 9:26 AM.
Want to know the best things in Myrtle Beach? These area YouTubers have got you covered
Myrtle Beach Sun Newshttps://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/life/article279055989.html
Brian Boone is all about self-promotion.He’s dressed in a Hawaiian shirt with pink flamingos, dotted with the logo of his YouTube channel, Beachin with the Boones. His wife, Tierney, complements his look by wearing a pink dress covered with flamingos.The two are preparing to walk the Boardwalk in downtown Myrtle Beach on Labor Day for the next segment of their channel. The couple focus on things to do, sights to see and restaurants...
Brian Boone is all about self-promotion.
He’s dressed in a Hawaiian shirt with pink flamingos, dotted with the logo of his YouTube channel, Beachin with the Boones. His wife, Tierney, complements his look by wearing a pink dress covered with flamingos.
The two are preparing to walk the Boardwalk in downtown Myrtle Beach on Labor Day for the next segment of their channel. The couple focus on things to do, sights to see and restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area.
They go from Pawleys Island to Little River, Brian Boone, 53, said. They’ve been doing the videos since 2019 and have nearly 8,000 subscribers.
They are one of several area YouTubers who focus on promoting the Grand Strand.
And while each of them have their own style, the one thing that is consistent is their love for the coastal city.
Tierney starts off the video with “Hey, y’all, hey!” It’s her signature welcome for viewers, followed by Brian’s ending of “Keep Beachin.”
The Boones have a second home in Myrtle Beach with their primary residence in Columbia. They are both property managers, which brings them to the Myrtle Beach area regularly.
“We love Myrtle Beach,” Tierney said.
They started the channel on a dare by their children, and then found that people love Myrtle Beach, Tierney, 50, said.
They began to get requests from people to see the best of the beach, especially new restaurants and things to do. So we began “shoutin’ and promotin’,” Tierney said.
On Labor Day, the two visited the new restaurant Dirty Myrtle Wing Co.
The couple, who have been married for 25 years, like to have fun and that shows in the many videos they have made.
Videos include tips of what to bring to the beach, a visit to Broadway at the Beach and Hard Rock Cafe, a Cherry Grove pier update and their favorite restaurants along the MarshWalk. More recent videos include a trip to Fall Bike Week and a visit to the Surfside Beach Pier.
Some of their favorite videos they have done is the Royal Tiki Cruise and a trip on the Big “M” Casino boat.
“It’s the best boat ride ever,” Tierney said.
Brian said the couple doesn’t gamble, but instead go to the top of the boat and enjoy the ride out into the ocean.
Jordan Farrar is known as the Retro Myrtle Beach Guy, often dressed in vintage button-up shirts, slacks and boat shoes while driving his 1963 Chevy Corvair around the Myrtle Beach area.
He shows off his vintage style on YouTube with videos that show him puttering around in his convertible, visiting local restaurants, events and giving viewers a peek at the city’s history and culture.
“(I’m) trying to preserve that” Myrtle Beach culture, Farrar said previously about his videos.
Most recent videos show him at Mustang Week, the L.W. Paul Living History Farm and celebrating his anniversary by visiting a Scooby Doo escape room in Market Common.
Bigtime Myrtle Beach channel describes itself as “Living our daily lives in Myrtle Beach and providing you with insight into area attractions and restaurants along the Grand Strand.”
Videos include a trip to the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk over July Fourth weekend, a bike tour of Huntington Beach State Park, best seafood spots and new stores at Barefoot Landing.
This duo offers travel videos about Myrtle Beach, as well as along the Grand Strand. They focus on top things to do, shopping, restaurants, entertainment, attractions and of course, the beaches.
The YouTube channel has more than 14,000 subscribers.
Recent videos include a trip to the Chili Fest downtown and a look at what the crowds are like in Myrtle Beach in October.
See construction in the Myrtle Beach area? These 4 businesses are coming
Eleanor Nashhttps://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article280565234.html
Four auto-oriented businesses are opening in the Myrtle Beach area.Last week, The Sun News reported that Mako Express Car Wash is adding two locations in Myrtle Beach and Conway.The Myrtle Beach area is experiencing rapid development. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Horry County gained 3...
Four auto-oriented businesses are opening in the Myrtle Beach area.
Last week, The Sun News reported that Mako Express Car Wash is adding two locations in Myrtle Beach and Conway.
The Myrtle Beach area is experiencing rapid development. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Horry County gained 32,000 residents between April 2020 and July 2022. Myrtle Beach was named the fastest growing place in America for the third year in a row.
The companies could not be reached for comment on expected opening dates.
Take 5 Oil Change will move into a lot on the corner of U.S. Highway 17 Bypass and Palmetto Pointe Boulevard, according to Horry County land records. This site was recently vacated by used car dealer Competition Cars, which moved to 541 Piedmont Ave. in Myrtle Beach.
Take 5 Oil Change already has four locations in the area, including Murrells Inlet and Carolina Forest. The Charlotte-based company offers 10-minute drive-through oil changes.
Address: 4806 U.S. Highway 17 Bypass, Myrtle Beach
Refuel Gas Station is coming by the Publix near Market Common, according to real estate brokerage Belk Lucy. The gas station will be located on the northwest corner of Coventry Marketplace, right off of U.S. Highway 17 Bypass.
Address: 1051 Green Teal Drive, Myrtle Beach
Tidal Wave Auto Spa announced it will open a location near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 Bypass and Dick Pond Road. The car wash takes the place of the recently demolished Rite Aid in the Walmart-anchored complex.
Address: 2701 Dick Pond Road, Surfside Beach
In addition to the Dick Pond Road location, Tidal Waves Auto Spa is set to open by the Walmart across from the U.S. Highway 17 Tanger Outlets. These two new car washes join a Conway location.
Address: 10830 Kings Road, Myrtle Beach
The 5 best Italian restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area for 2023, from Google reviews
Eleanor Nashhttps://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article280351204.html
From fettuccine alfredo and veal marsala to calamari and cannolis, who can resist a delicious Italian meal?With over 2,000 full-service restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area, there are many eateries on the Grand Strand where you can get your fill.Whether you want to dine near Broadway at the Beach, Coastal Grande Mall or Family Kingdom, there’s an Italian restaurant for you.Here are the ...
From fettuccine alfredo and veal marsala to calamari and cannolis, who can resist a delicious Italian meal?
With over 2,000 full-service restaurants in the Myrtle Beach area, there are many eateries on the Grand Strand where you can get your fill.
Whether you want to dine near Broadway at the Beach, Coastal Grande Mall or Family Kingdom, there’s an Italian restaurant for you.
Here are the highest-rated Italian restaurants in Myrtle Beach, according to Google reviews.
Since 1985, Villa Romana has served Roman-style dishes. Located near Family Kingdom, the restaurant uses family recipes. If you’re lucky, you might be serenaded by the house accordion player.
Plan a date night at Solé Italian Restaurant, an upscale spot near Broadway at the Beach. Google reviewers recommended the fiocchi appetizer – pear-stuffed pasta with a cream sauce. “It was out of this world. The pear and cheeses really went together,” one diner wrote this summer.
For over 15 years, diners have enjoyed from-scratch Italian dishes at Ciao. Some unusual dishes on the menu include the spinach and walnut ravioli – which one reviewer described as “scrumptious” – and the grouper francaise, served over with a lemon-wine sauce over pasta. Each entree comes with fresh bread and a walnut pesto dipping sauce.
Fill your appetite for Italian food all day long at Maggi D’s, near the Coastal Grande Mall. Order a sandwich or classic soup for lunch and check Facebook page for dinner specials. Don’t forget dessert – Google reviewers recommend the cheesecake and cannolis.
Choose between New York-style pizza and Italian favorites at Little Italy. The thin-crust pizzas are cooked in a brick oven. On weeknights, stop by for a happy hour, with discounted appetizers and drinks from 4-7 p.m.
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