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October 15, 2020 at 09:34 PM
(Related: The COVID Shot: A Medicare Customer Question)
Some Medicare questions are connected to financial and health concerns brought on by the pandemic.
If your client is over the age of 65 and using employer-sponsored health coverage, here are a few questions your client might want answered before making the switch to Medicare.
Should I be thinking about Medicare right now?
During the pandemic, Medicare beneficiaries have the added benefit of temporary telehealth coverage, meaning now is a good time for all those eligible to make the switch. COVID-19 tests and antibody/serology tests are also covered by Medicare Part B, with no out-of-pocket costs, and any future coronavirus vaccine will also be covered.
Most individuals who switch to Medicare do so to take advantage of the savings, with Medicare premiums starting at $144 and deductibles at $198. Medicare coverage options also give beneficiaries access to 93% of primary care doctors nationwide.
For those on employer plans, the benefits of switching to Medicare are clear. The majority of employers (81%) offer only one plan and 71% of workers under employer plans are charged a copay for visits to primary care centers. By comparison, out-of-pocket costs can be heavily reduced or cost-free for those with Medicare coverage.
Bethany Cissell is a health care insurance services specialist at 