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Senior Medicare Advantage plan insurance in Summerville, 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 Summerville 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 Summerville
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Summerville, SC
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment

Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Summerville, SC

Guiding You Through The Confusion of Medicare!

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What is Medicare?

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

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

There are four parts of Medicare:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Summerville

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 Summerville 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 Summerville, 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 Summerville. 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.

Watch as dry grass quickly ignites a home's front yard after lawn care tool scrapes cement

A South Carolina man's lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter came true, kind of.Doorbell camera footage captured the moment Chip Googe’s lawn quickly went up in flames on Saturday. Googe said on Facebook the fire sparked after his neighbor’s landscaper hit the concrete with a tool.He said a spark landed in the dry grass in front of his Summerville, South Carolina home, causing the large flames....

A South Carolina man's lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter came true, kind of.

Doorbell camera footage captured the moment Chip Googe’s lawn quickly went up in flames on Saturday. Googe said on Facebook the fire sparked after his neighbor’s landscaper hit the concrete with a tool.

He said a spark landed in the dry grass in front of his Summerville, South Carolina home, causing the large flames.

The fire came after the South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a statewide red flag alert, saying wildfire conditions in the state were optimal.

“The combination of wind, low relative humidity and dry fuels is very favorable for wildfire ignitions, so we ask that people who don’t have to burn to hold off until these conditions subside,” Fire Chief Darryl Jones said in a press release.

Watch as flames ignite dry grass in home's front yard

In footage captured on Googe’s Ring camera, the flames grow in a blink of an eye.

“The wind was no joke and spread it fast!” Googe said.

He then grabs a hose to attack the fire, which he eventually puts out. He said there was no damage to the house. In the same post following the incident, Googe joked about finally becoming a firefighter.

“So glad my dreams of becoming a fireman came true!” he said.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

Summerville leaders look to bring STEM lab to community, empowering local youth

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Summerville leaders are looking to incorporate a new educational opportunity in the community designed to empower local youth and teens.The Town of Summerville is moving forward with installing a STEM lab in the Rollins Edwards Community Center.This is an initiative the Town of Summerville’s Facility Manager Brandon Yeager says he is very passionate about bringing to the community.“Year after year we have continued to add new and exciting programming. Our attendance continues to gro...

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Summerville leaders are looking to incorporate a new educational opportunity in the community designed to empower local youth and teens.

The Town of Summerville is moving forward with installing a STEM lab in the Rollins Edwards Community Center.

This is an initiative the Town of Summerville’s Facility Manager Brandon Yeager says he is very passionate about bringing to the community.

“Year after year we have continued to add new and exciting programming. Our attendance continues to grow and we’re trying to reach the community in every way we can, so adding the STEM lab just gives us just another reach into programming that we can offer” Yeager says.

Yeager says the STEM lab would offer hands-on opportunities through various different programs such as robotics, coding, music, along with art, photography, and esports.

Yeager says a lot of their current programming is targeted towards ages 6 to 13. He says while the STEM lab would be available to all age groups, they hope it will target a demographic they don’t usually reach which is ages 13 to 17.

He says not only will the STEM lab help youth learn more digital skills, but also expose them to different career opportunities.

“Technology is a vital part of our lives today and we really want to give access to everyone, but also give an opportunity for just safe instruction, so helping people navigate online interaction,” Yeager says. “It’s helping them discover a new passion for themselves. I believe it’s our responsibility to give as many opportunities to the community that we can.”

He says that a lot of their programs are through third-party contractors, so this would be one of the biggest independent initiatives in the town.

“We feel like the STEM opportunity will give us a chance to reach maybe those hard to reach teens. The teens that don’t normally get out into the community and participate in these events, but when there is esports going on and coding classes and some really cool computer labs going on, we’re hoping we will reach those teens,” Summerville Town Council Member Tiffany Johnson-Wilson says.

The cost for launching the STEM lab is $50,000 which would include 10 computer stations, chairs, and transforming the existing multi-purpose room to function as a computer lab.

The town is currently looking for corporate sponsors to help fund the initiative.

If you’re interested in supporting you can contact byeager@summervillesc.gov or 843-514-7384.

Leaders seek community input on Summerville’s North Main Street redevelopment

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Summerville leaders are looking for the community’s input on what they would like to see happen to one of the largest tracts of land in downtown Summerville.Plans to redevelop the 5.3 acres on 500 North Main Street have been discussed for years as developers, along with town and county officials, have been trying to figure out the best way to enhance the site while also preserving its history.The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber Foundation has opened up a community survey that will ...

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Summerville leaders are looking for the community’s input on what they would like to see happen to one of the largest tracts of land in downtown Summerville.

Plans to redevelop the 5.3 acres on 500 North Main Street have been discussed for years as developers, along with town and county officials, have been trying to figure out the best way to enhance the site while also preserving its history.

The Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber Foundation has opened up a community survey that will be facilitated by a consultant group, asking residents to rank their priorities for the redevelopment plans as leaders and developers move forward.

“We want community input because we want to get this right for future generations. It’s a very important part of Summerville. It’s the gateway into our town and we want to make sure we get it right,” President and CEO of the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce Rita Berry says.

The current zoning of the property is downtown-mixed use, which permits housing, retail, office space, and lodging.

However, the building on site, currently the county services building, used to be a hospital which community members have expressed wanting to see preserved. There is also a Veterans memorial honoring branches of the military and public service, including name-dedicated bricks, that sits in front of the building.

County officials say this project is an opportunity to expand the downtown Summerville experience from Hutchinson Square up to 500 North Main.

“The idea of putting something on this site that generates tax revenue that supports the county, that supports the town, is important for the long term vision. This is not a short-term, we’re going to do this and walk away and everything is going to be great,” Dorchester County Chairman David Chinnis says.

Chinnis says plans so far do include a park and keeping the county office building on site. He says there is also discussion about possible affordable housing.

“That is one of the things that we’ve told the developer we need. That needs to be in here,” Chinnis says.

Chinnis says that keeping the center portico of the old hospital is a top goal, but that with it sitting in the middle of the site it does make things more difficult.

“Quite frankly, it would be much simpler if we weren’t trying to conserve that central building. You clear the site off and you develop it the way it looks, the way some people say, well, I want it to look like this, I want it to look like that. That being in the center of the lot makes it challenging because now everything is being built around the outside edges,” Chinnis says.

Chinnis says ultimately the town has the final approval on what happens to the site.

The deadline for Summerville’s Board of Architectural Review to approve any plans has been extended to June 30.

The deadline for community members to fill out the survey is April 4. You can find the link here.

Leaders from the Chamber Foundation say that all responses are confidential. The survey does ask for name and address to make sure the responses are coming from constituent communities.

Summerville restaurant closes its doors after opening more than 8 decades ago

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A Summerville restaurant staple is closing its doors after more than eight decades of serving Southern hospitality.Eva’s on Main opened in 1944 and Wednesday was their last day open. The owner and customers reflected on the bittersweet end to a long-standing favorite in the community.The Southern food restaurant has a long history starting in 1944 with Eva Hensen.“We felt that it was important to carry on that legacy,” Eva’s Restaurant owner Whitney Easler said.The...

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A Summerville restaurant staple is closing its doors after more than eight decades of serving Southern hospitality.

Eva’s on Main opened in 1944 and Wednesday was their last day open. The owner and customers reflected on the bittersweet end to a long-standing favorite in the community.

The Southern food restaurant has a long history starting in 1944 with Eva Hensen.

“We felt that it was important to carry on that legacy,” Eva’s Restaurant owner Whitney Easler said.

The current owners have been running Eva’s for six years.

“We’ve had a number of longtime customers that have dined with us from back in the day when they were young, and they remember Eva snapping peas in the kitchen,” Easler said.

General manager Tina Howard has been serving friendly faces here for a decade.

“Customers are family to me. We have customers that eat here twice a day,” Howard said.

“This was our home away from home. We came here to feel like we were still back in Delaware. We love the food and the people that work here,” long-time customer Bonnie Booth said.

Owner Whitney Easler said those Southern roots that customer loves are what make it special.

“Making everybody feel like they’re eating at grandma‘s house and we’ve come to know so many of our customers by name. They know who we are and we know who they are. It’s like an old home when you dine at Eva’s,” Easler said.

While it’s a tough last call for many, the final dishes were served Wednesday with no regrets.

“It’s hard to let go, but we’re ready to retire and spend more time with family,” Easler said.

“It’s bittersweet, it’s a part of history gone but now it’s time for change,” Howard said.

Howard said much of the staff will still be working here, for the longtime customers who may want to stop by and visit. But they’ll have to change their taste, as an Italian deli is moving in. Howard said they’re expected to open their doors in three to four weeks.

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