A question has been plaguing me lately… “How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan For You” I’m turning 62 this month and inching closer to a decision […] The post How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan For You appeared first on The Retirement Manifesto.
A question has been plaguing me lately…
“How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan For You”
I’m turning 62 this month and inching closer to a decision I view with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, I’ve heard from many retirees that Medicare is a confusing web of options. I have a friend who has spent hundreds of hours analyzing the options, and I dread doing that myself. I’ve only recently begun to read about the topic, and I’m realizing the complexity of the decision ahead.
I’m dreading the thought of figuring it all out. (Fortunately, I’ve discovered a solution…read on)
On the other hand, there’s the relief of saving some serious money. We’ve been paying for private insurance since I retired 7 years ago. It’s expensive, and I’m excited to experience the lower costs associated with Medicare.
I just wish there were an easier way to sign up for Medicare…
Fortunately, I’ve found a great (and easy, and free) solution, and today I’m excited to share it with you.
I now know how we’re going to choose the best Medicare for my wife and me. The great news is, you’re going to be able to use the same solution I’ve discovered, for free! But I’m getting ahead of myself…
I've been dreading the chore of figuring out Medicare. Fortunately, I found an easier solution, and today I'm sharing it with you.
Share on X
How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan For You
If you were paying attention, you received an email a few weeks ago announcing my first webinar. Today, I’m sharing the story behind that webinar, which includes the solution I’ve found for a question that’s been plaguing me: How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan.
I couldn’t be happier with the solution I’ve found, and I’m excited to share it with you. But first, here’s a reminder in case you missed the announcement:
I’m Hosting My First Webinar!
Over 1,000 of you have already registered for the webinar (Thank You!). I’m looking forward to talking with you (and Ari Parker, Graduate of Stanford Law School, Co-Founder of Chapter, and a true Medicare expert). If you haven’t signed up yet, you can sign up here:
I’ve had numerous readers ask if the webinar will be recorded. Good News: We are planning on recording the video, and I’ll send an email to all of my readers with a link to that video when it’s available.
The Solution I’m Using To Choose The Best Medicare Plan
Here’s the fun part – the story behind the webinar.
There’s a reason I’m doing this webinar with Ari. As I started looking into Medicare, I made a conscious decision. Rather than invest my time researching Medicare, wouldn’t it be smarter to use that time to research Medicare experts instead? Some areas are best outsourced, and I’ve concluded that deciding on how to choose the best Medicare plan is something I’m comfortable leaving to the experts.
Ari’s company (Chapter) is the solution I’ve found to solve the puzzle of How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan.
Solving the Medicare puzzle is what they do. And they’re good at it. Very good at it. Here’s a quick summary:
- Dave Ramsey uses them for all of his listeners.
- They’re independent and unbiased experts on Medicare.
- Their advisors do not know the commissions of the products they recommend.
- They have an A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- They have a 5.0 rating, with over 2,500 reviews.
- Their proprietary software finds your best solution.
- It’s entirely free, and there’s no obligation.
A special point on Bullet 3: This was one of the biggest reasons I chose Chapter. The reality is that many Medicare “experts” are guilty of being overly influenced by the commissions they receive on various products. One of my biggest concerns was having my advisor recommending something that made them the most money, rather than the product that best matched my needs. The fact that their advisors are “blind” to the commissions on the products they’re recommending was a big factor in my final decision.
Let me be clear: I’m not going to try to “sell” you on using them. I’m simply sharing what I’ve found in my research, and letting you know that I’m going to be using them to help me choose the best Medicare for my wife and me. I believe they are a great solution to a difficult challenge all of us face, and I wanted to make you aware.
Second, rest assured that the webinar will NOT be a sales pitch. I have asked Ari to focus his presentation on common mistakes people make when choosing a Medicare plan and answering the reader’s questions. I will mention my new partnership with Ari’s company, but that will be it. The purpose of the webinar is to provide education to you from a true Medicare expert, NOT to sell you on a solution.
Based on the response to the webinar, I know Medicare is a major concern for many of you. I’m simply sharing what I’ve discovered as the solution I’ll be using to make it a lot easier when it’s my time to decide on a plan.
The Good News – A Solution For My Readers
I’ve had numerous phone calls with Ari and his team, and we’ve reached an agreement. I’ve decided that Ari’s company will be the company I recommend for any of my readers looking for help with Medicare. For readers of The Retirement Manifesto, they’ll:
- Help you choose the best Medicare plan for you, at no cost.
- Provide expertise in all 50 States, based on the plans available in your area.
- Get you signed up with whatever plan you choose.
- Conduct an annual review during the “enrollment window” and advise if changes should be made.
- If you’re already enrolled, they’ll review your plan and let you know if it’s the best for you.
- Once you’ve talked with them, you’re under no obligation to follow their recommendation.
If you’re interested in talking to them:
CLICK THIS LINK TO GET STARTED (Affiliate Link)
If you prefer to call, simply dial (775) 565-0284.
In full transparency, I’ve entered an “Affiliate Agreement” with Ari’s company, Chapter. It’s a common arrangement in the blogging world, and it means I’ll get a small commission (at no cost to you) if you decide to use Chapter as your Medicare advisor. I wouldn’t have entered this agreement if I didn’t believe it was the best solution available, and I’d be recommending them regardless of whether or not I received a commission. In fact, as a show of good faith, I’ve decided to donate 50% of any commissions earned to charity. I’m not in this for the money, and I hope I’ve earned enough of your trust at this point for you to recognize my motives are pure.
The good news: you can take advantage of that link, talk with them to get their input on the best Medicare plan (or have them review your current plan and give their recommendation on whether it’s the best plan for you), and then decide you don’t want to go that route and do something else.
There’s no obligation, and it’s always free.
Decide For Yourself
I wanted to share the full story before you joined the webinar. Hopefully, you’ll now be watching with a slightly different perspective. Consider it your opportunity to get a glimpse into Ari’s way of thinking as you review your options for how you’re going to choose the best Medicare plan for you and your family. If you like what you see, come back to this post and simply click the link to start the process.
A Brief Homework Assignment: Medicare 101 (3 P’s)
As we prepare for the webinar, I wanted to give a brief overview of Medicare to “get you up to speed” on the basics before the session. The “3 P’s” outline below are taken from Ari’s book, “It’s Not That Complicated: The Three Medicare Decisions to Protect Your Health and Money” (Amazon Affiliate link). I ordered the book last week and look forward to reading it as I continue my Medicare education.
Medicare 101:
Traditional Medicare consists of two parts:
- Part A covers hospital stays and is premium-free for most people but there’s a substantial deductible.
- Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. The monthly premium is $185/mo for most Americans.
Part D is prescription drug coverage. It’s technically optional, but there’s a late enrollment penalty if you don’t sign up in time. It’s crucial to understand that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) is not comprehensive health insurance. So, the key question is:
How will you cover the 20% Medicare doesn’t cover?
The good news is that there are only two options to cover the 20%.
– Option 1 is to choose a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, which sits on top of your Original Medicare and allows you to see any Medicare provider nationwide.
– Option 2 is a Medicare Advantage plan, which is an “all-in-one” alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurers. These bundled plans typically include Part D drug coverage and extras like dental and vision. They often have lower premiums than Medigap but come with network restrictions and other rules.
The Three P’s
When deciding between Original Medicare (Parts A & B) plus a separate drug plan versus an all-in-one Medicare Advantage plan, consider these “3 P’s”:
Providers: Is it important to keep your current doctors? With Original Medicare, you can see any provider nationwide who accepts Medicare. Most Advantage plans have restricted networks.
Prescriptions: How much do you spend on medications? Compare Part D and Advantage plan formularies and costs for the drugs you take. An inexpensive plan may cost more in the long run if it has high prescription copays.
Priorities: What do you value most in a health plan – low premiums, extra benefits, simplicity, flexibility, or minimal out-of-pocket costs? Advantage plans often have low premiums but more restrictions. Pairing Medigap with Original Medicare costs more monthly but covers more with less complexity.
In closing, it’s important to note that every Chapter Advisor is trained to use their proven 3 Ps Method to review each Medicare beneficiary’s providers, prescriptions, and priorities — “ensuring that every client receives the high-quality healthcare they need and deserve at the best value.”
Conclusion
I’m so impressed with the company that I’ve decided to partner with them. I realize Medicare is a concern for many of the readers of this blog, and I wanted to share the solution that I’ve decided to use personally. Yes, I have an Affiliate Partnership with them, but my motives are pure. I think they’re the best solution available, so I’m sharing it with you. If you know of a better solution, drop a comment below. Let’s work together to solve a frustratingly complex issue for all of us – How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan.
As a next step, I’d encourage you to join the free webinar and see what you think. At a minimum, you’ll learn a lot about Medicare from a true expert. At best, you’ll be on a path to figuring out how you’re going to choose the best Medicare plan for your family. If you haven’t yet, click the button below to register for the webinar:
Then, make your own decision. If you’ve already heard enough and want to get started with Chapter:
Click This Link To Talk With Chapter (Affiliate Link)
If you’d rather call, dial (775) 565-0284.
I’m excited about being able to provide this solution to my readers.
I know there’s a real need, and I hope others can benefit from the solution I’ve chosen for myself.
Your Turn: If you’re already on Medicare, what process did you use and how confident are you that you chose the best Medicare plan for you? If you’re not yet on Medicare, are you intimidated by the decision? How are you planning to go about making the decision? Let’s chat…
Chapter Advisory, LLC (“Chapter”) is a private health insurance agency. In California, Chapter does business as Chapter Insurance Services (Lic. No. 6003691). Chapter is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government entity. While Chapter has a database of every Medicare plan option nationwide and can help you to search among all options, it has contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, Chapter does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, Chapter represents 50 organizations which offer 18,601 products nationwide. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Enrollment in a plan may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or you are in your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period.
The post How To Choose The Best Medicare Plan For You appeared first on The Retirement Manifesto.
