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Welcome to another edition of the Business and Personal Podcast where we bring you closer to the people that you do business with, and we're thrilled today to have Dan Elcorn and Linda Singer on with us.
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They are insurance agents for Elcorn and Associates.
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They specialize in Medicare.
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We've seen a lot over the years.
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So they are perfect experts to guide people through this challenging process.
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And glad to get you here before annual enrollment gets crazy.
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We actually have a few minutes to talk.
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But thanks for joining me today.
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Well, thank you for having us, Ryan.
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Appreciate the opportunity to chat.
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So it's the Business and the Personal podcast.
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I like people to get to know you a little bit.
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And before we start the recording, you mentioned that you both uh basically started this business at the same time.
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So I guess we'll start with Dan and then over to Linda how you started and how you ended up meeting uh up here at Elkhorn and Associates.
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Well, my story, interestingly enough, I've uh come out of banking, and my parents who were aging in about uh 15 years ago were uh overwhelmed, a little perplexed with this uh Medicare business and said, Well, Dan, you're a banker, you must know something about insurance, which I didn't.
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And so assisting them through the process, and of course, then their neighbors and friends ended up finding myself licensed in the state of New York and eventually migrated over to doing this full-time.
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And so uh since 2013, this is all I do.
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We work with Medicare beneficiaries to find plans that match their doctors, their medications, their needs, and then over time joined uh with others like Linda and other colleagues from uh Long Island to the Canadian border.
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We're uh basically an Eastern New York agency working in our local communities.
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We love it.
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So my story is um a little more complicated, but I got into this as my last career, so to speak, and I started in life insurance, which lasted maybe two weeks, and then met up with um the local manager for United Healthcare, and I had already had my insurance license.
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So he, you know, scooped me up and I was um contracted already.
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Um I had my license, and I was, as Dan was, um, we were captive with just United Healthcare for a number of years.
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Um, that was back in April of 2013.
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So this is actually my 14th, is this our 14th in annual enrollment?
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And um it's ever so changing.
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It never stays the same, and that's probably a good thing, okay, because it keeps us on our toes and it keeps us connected to our members on a regular basis.
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So um, like Dan, I thoroughly enjoy helping people.
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I had a situation where I had um I worked for somebody whose parents were in um Medicare and didn't know anything about Medicare.
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And I thought to myself, before I end this universe, I am going to understand Medicare.
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And here I am working in it for 14 years.
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So I'm enjoying it, and I love helping people, so that's why I do it.
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Well, kudos to both of you for uh making it through all these uh challenging, especially uh recent years.
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And I like to joke, I've learned way more about Medicare at age 51 than I ever thought I would in my life from working with Medicare agents in the last five years or so.
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But the one thing I've learned there's no way in the world I'm gonna try to do this on my own uh when it comes time.
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Uh just let people know, first of all, you know, how much continuing education you need to take every year just to stay on top of all this stuff.
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This isn't just get the license and show up every year.
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You gotta keep learning as you go.
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Oh, yeah.
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Absolutely.
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You know, I it is it is not easy, okay.
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Um it's challenging.
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Every two years we have to re-up our regular, you know, insurance license with health and and accident and life.
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That's my you know what I have.
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And every year we have to re-up with our AHIP, okay, which is the American Health Insurance Plan, that we have to retake that test every year.
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And in order to contract with the individual carriers, which we have contracted with six of them this year in our area, um, we have to take those certifications, follow up with the companies, and make sure that we're still contracted and everything is copisthetic to go forward.
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That's right.
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So, what Linda mentioned about AHIP, that's the federal certification that it is all carriers, all individuals nationwide who are in involved in speaking with the public about Medicare need to pass this AHIP certification.
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And uh exactly right, the individual carriers then have their own certification.
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We want to make an important point.
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We don't represent every plan or carrier that offers a Medicare plan.
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We choose, as Linda said, where there's six uh in some markets, seven that we choose to work with.
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And so we encourage everybody, of course, to check all of your options through 1-800 Medicare or Medicare.gov.
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But uh, those that we choose to work with, because we think it's a great fit for our members, we we have to go through that certification every year.
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And that's generally what we do during the summer to get ready for the annual enrollment period, which begins in the fall.
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And I've just been fascinated to learn so and hear so many stories over the years from working with agents.
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It's listen closely, people.
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Uh, if you didn't realize this, all you have to pay for their services is attention.
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That's it.
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Um, it's it's really incredible that they bring all this knowledge to the table, they take the stress off your plate, major decision that you have to make every year, and you don't even have to pay for their services.
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So um it's unlike anything I've ever seen up there.
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You know, if you refinance your house, let's say you put someone into a new Medicare plan, you save them all this money.
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Well, they don't have to recoup closing costs like you do when you save money from refinancing a house.
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So um anyway, I digress a little bit, but uh Well, not at all, not at all, Ryan.
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The one thing we do ask.
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Go ahead, Linda.
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No, it's a very good point because people are reluctant to call us or to reach out many times because they automatically think an insurance agent is going to cost them.
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How much do you charge an hour?
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What is your consultation fee?
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And I I tell everybody right from the beginning when they call me, there's not going to be any charge for your services.
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You know, I will walk you through, I will give you all the information you need, you will be knowledgeable.
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I don't let anybody leave my, you know, table, so to speak, wherever I'm meeting them, without understanding the ABCs of Medicare.
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And they start off very, very closed and very confused and upset because they're all of a sudden thrown into having to change a major part of their life with insurance.
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And I assure them that I'm not gonna leave after the enrollment.
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I'm always there and I'm available.
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You mean you're not gonna pull a Joan Amit or William Shatner?
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You're actually gonna stick around.
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Yeah.
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That's a very important point, Ryan.
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We are not an 800 number somewhere in a call center when we meet with and assist uh our neighbors, frankly, with choosing or staying with a plan for the next year.
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It's because of the you know, personalized consultation as to what matches their needs.
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And if something were to come up during the year, where there's some questions about coverage or networks, we are there a phone call away.
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Linda and I and all of our colleagues have many couples where one spouse is on a certain plan and the other spouse is on a different plan.
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That's unlike employer coverage, but the reason we can do that is because we match their individual needs to the plan.
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And sometimes one, you know, one individual's health and medication circumstances call for put this other plan.
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So we have lots of clients on different plans because it meets their needs.
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And like Linda mentioned earlier, you know, change is good in some ways for you because then it creates all this uncertainty uh for Medicare beneficiaries where they're seeking out help.
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So all these people that maybe didn't know your services existed previously are now learning that uh you do exist.
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And for those that still try to do that on their own, what are some of the common mistakes you see them make?
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Oh my goodness.
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Dan, we we deal with this a lot.
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Um, you know, there's so many people that are out there, um, we don't even know from where, calling and trying to get in touch with anybody that's on Medicare, okay, to just get them enrolled.
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And they promise them the moon.
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I just had three cases last month where I had to scramble to help these people get back into a plan, okay, because there are certain special enrollment periods during the year in which we can do this.
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Luckily, the three people qualified.
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So what happened was, you know, that I got these frantic calls.
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I'm so embarrassed, Linda.
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I listened to this person, I should have never done it, I will never do it again.
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Um, and I encourage everybody to call me.
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They get something in the mail, I want to see a copy of it, just take a screenshot, send it to my, you know, phone, and I will let you know if that's legit to answer or it's not.
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And I also tell them, just you know, tell the people that call that you have an agent.
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And, you know, write down, repeat to me what they've said.
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I will tell you if any of it is accurate.
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Okay.
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But luckily, I'm able to help these people.
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They usually get embarrassed and upset when they've, you know, listen to somebody that uh doesn't even know where they live, who their doctors are, and it's a really serious situation.
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I've had I've had women call me, you know, almost ready to have a heart attack.
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They said, I haven't slept for days.
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I was afraid to call you.
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I said, please always just call me.
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We all make mistakes, okay?
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But we're here year-round, 24 hours a day, to answer any calls.
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You know, it dan's the same way.
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Everybody on our team works the same way.
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And that happens a lot.
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So it's very dangerous to get into a plan that you all of a sudden go to your doctors and they say, sorry, we don't take this plan.
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And it's happened many times.
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Let me add a little to that.
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Yeah, so there's a couple things that when you asked about you know certain mistakes, one is not opening your mail, or thinking that a piece of mail from your existing insurance company is junk mail.
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So we start with please open your mail.
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Uh, and that includes your email.
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I mean, I've received the annual notice of change in my own personal case uh by email.
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So open your mail, open your email.
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Um, we find a lot of individuals enrolled in Medicare are either undercovered, which means they're, you know, they're attracted to some low premium plan, which gives leaves a lot of exposure for cost.
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We also have some individuals who are overcovered, which they're paying way too much for what their current circumstances require.
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So again, we go through that analysis.
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We don't we don't sell anything.
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We think of ourselves, frankly, as consultants and teachers to help people be informed.
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And to be informed is to be empowered.
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Um, but to absolutely to echo what Linda says, some of the um abuses, if you may, are through telemarketers.
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And to Linda's point, you know, when you get something in the mail or you get some random phone call, uh, call your local agent, us, or frankly, any local agent, because we find that whether it's our team or colleagues that we have in the community, we are far more aware of what's happening with local providers, the local hospitals.
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And honestly, we're neighbors and we're, you know, we see these folks in the grocery store.
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So we're not a nameless, faceless salesperson on an 800 number who might not be there a month from now.
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So open your mail, uh, truly evaluate whether your coverage is appropriate, and definitely work with a local independent agent, whether it be us or or others in your community.
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That is a great point of the unopened mail.
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You know, I hear all these stories of the Medicare fraud that makes everybody so scared, so they just set everything to the side, and there could be some very important information in there.
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Hadn't really thought of that.
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And uh gosh, I mean, last year I was hearing stories of people calling and saying, Yeah, Medicare is laminating your card now.
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I just need your number, and I will send your new laminated card out in the mail sounding so smooth about it, and getting people to fall for that.
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It's crazy.
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Yep.
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Medicare does not call anybody.
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Yeah, definitely.
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I've had a few of those um inquiries about the lamination of the cards, and it actually my own brother-in-law, you know, they called him and he said, I'm getting a new laminated card.
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I said, Oh no, you're not.
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Do not answer those calls.
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But I can understand why somebody would think I mean if you get that call, I mean I always think about you know, my my dad who has since passed, but in his late 80s and 90s, if he got a call like that, I can absolutely understand how he would think that he got a call from Medicare to watch the mail for his new card, but just to verify it, Mr.
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Alcorn, could you give me this?
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Like, dad, don't hang up, you know, like so yeah.
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But then this year, they did legitimately send new Medicare numbers out to some people to cut down on the fraud, so then that only adds to more confusion, is this legitimately?
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But if we're advising people and informing people what to watch for, when to watch for it, so we are proactively aware of what's going on, and as soon as we hear something, we have you know a number of different ways to communicate with our members to say this is what's coming.
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You may or may not be affected.
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Um, so that when that piece of mail does arrive, they at least get a little forewarning from us as to what to watch for.
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Correct.
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Yes.
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We are in touch throughout the year, absolutely.
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So, you know, we've already established how valuable your services are.
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Um, I think we've we've gone into good detail on that so people understand that they understand doesn't cost anything.
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So um, you know, I think we've got people that are interested now still listening, and the goal of this podcast is to connect you with them.
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So first of all, just kind of explain what a meeting is like with you and your team, what people should have prepared and get ready, and what you go through with them.
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Linda.
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Okay, Dan.
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Well, you know, um what I do personally is I tell my people to um obviously open their mail and look at the A knock ladder, okay?
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Look at the Medicare and U book.
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Um, because as Dan said, we don't, you know, we don't represent every plan.
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We we have, you know, picked through the plans that we think would most benefit our clients this year.
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And we do that every year.
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Dan, we sit down as a team and we figure out ahead of time what plans will work best for our members.
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And we contract with those individual companies every year.
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So, inasmuch as we don't represent every single plan, um we advise people to go to Medicare.gov or 1-800 Medicare and look at the other options that are available if they're, you know, if they're looking for something specific.
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They come to us, you know, um, we have a website that allows people to call us.
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You know, they go down the line and look at all the agents that are available and what areas we work in, and um they can either call us and if we're not available, we have a reception that answers our calls.
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This she'll set up an appointment and you know we go from there.
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I usually um when I take a phone call from a member or a potential client, I will um go over, you know, just certain questions with them.
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I set up a time to meet with them and I tell them what I need when you know we do meet.
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I need their Medicare card, I need a list of their doctors, I need a list of their medications, okay?
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And I also like to ask them what worked for them in the previous year that they had, okay?
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Whether it was a work plan that they're coming off of or um another Medicare plan.
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What did they like?
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What didn't they like?
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Were their doctors, you know, um, were the providers all in the in the network, and so on, whether or not it was a PPO or an HMO, okay, a home maintenance organization is a group of of doctors and providers that are in one area of you know um where they live, the service area.
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A PPO or uh preferred provider organization is um outside of the area, they can go in or out of the network.
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A lot of our members go south or either, you know, the winter they go to Arizona, they go to Florida, and so on.
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So we want to know if they need, you know, an out-of-network plan as well.
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So there's a whole bunch of questions that we ask, and there's forms on our website that they can fill out ahead of time.
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For instance, there's a scope of appointment that we ask that they have to sign in the very beginning of our meeting.
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There is um lists for their doctors, there's um, you know, the provider network where they can go in for each company and look at, you know, the providers that are available.
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And also their um the formulary for their drug lists.
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So there's ways we make it very easy for everybody to figure it out on their own if that's what they want to do, and we guide them.
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How'd I do Dan?
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I think Linda just mentally went through our entire checklist of everything we, you know, the what we what we confirm with folks exactly.
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I mean, we get information from our members and we get required forms because there's you know certain federal compliance issues we need to deal with.
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And then we take that, it's really best if we have all that information prior to our meeting, and our meeting can be in person, it can be by telephone, it can be by Zoom.
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What like we like to say, we meet people where they're at.
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Um, you know, some of our clients are not as technically proficient and would prefer a table meeting.
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Others are saying, Dan, let's just, you know, let's do this by Zoom.
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We want to be where they're at.
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But everything Linda said, uh, we do ask priorities, what's most important to you?
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Because we might not be able to get the lowest premium nationwide coverage, uh, full dental benefits and you know, zero cost sharing.
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That just that doesn't happen.
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But help us understand of that what's most important to you.
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If you've got, you know, five thousand dollars worth of dental work coming up and you don't see very many specialists, that might have us look at what plan is more heavily towards dental.
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If you have Part B uh medications administered in a healthcare setting, that's an entirely different scenario.
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So, you know, everything Linda said and just add to that priorities.
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And I do want to point out that Linda said we have many clients with second homes uh in other areas.
00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:34.079
So then what happens is we need to make sure that the plan they will be in not only works with a network of providers in their home community, anywhere in you know up New York State, but then some of these clients also have a network of providers in Arizona or Florida or the like.
00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:42.480
So we actually double check, make sure that they the plan they're going into works with both set of providers in both communities.
00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.759
It works.
00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.640
Yeah.
00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.400
So many little things.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.680
Uh again, to point out why people just shouldn't try to do this on their own.
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.319
It's easy to miss those minute details.
00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:57.759
But to Linda's point about being available 24-7, she does sleep as do I.
00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:06.319
But our our telephone line is staffed with a with a local live person taking our calls 24-7.
00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:17.519
And we do have calls come in in the middle of the night, and there's somebody answering the phone and saying, Listen, I will get your message to Linda, or better yet, how about I get you on her calendar?
00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.960
It works really, very well.
00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:24.480
So I always like to close with uh testimonials, uh happy stories, that kind of thing.
00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:27.680
Um, so I'm gonna put both of you on the hot seat here.
00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.960
I will start with Dan.
00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:34.480
Give me one story that uh in your years of the Medicare world still warms your heart.
00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:38.480
Someone maybe you saved a lot of money from upcoming surgery, whatever it happens to be.
00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:45.200
Obviously, without giving out their personal information, but uh something that's just one of those, gosh, that's why I do this, that's why I love this kind of moments.
00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.279
Yeah, I can think of quite a few of them.
00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:59.680
Um, but there's one I was talking about just a moment ago where uh a neighbor of mine, frankly, the um the wife was a retired school teacher, had a terrific plan.
00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.039
The school system and her spouse was paying everything.
00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:12.880
That particular school district did not offer the spouse a significant benefit.
00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:22.160
And to your point, you had mentioned it literally thousands of dollars of premium savings for comparable coverage.
00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.359
It was remarkable.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:31.519
And it really helped them save a lot of money, live a more comfortable retirement life.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:47.440
We have countless stories of folks who were eligible for state subsidies that the state doesn't advertise, by the way, that we're aware of what those eligibility standards are.
00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.200
We don't ask people what their income is.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.720
We ask if it's above a certain amount or below a certain amount.
00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:56.319
And if that's below a certain amount, we're aware of those.
00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:03.200
And I can't, we both have countless stories of individuals who have long been eligible for these benefits.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:15.920
We were able to walk them through the enrollment and get some retroactive uh rebates and credits so that they're getting the medications that they need, they're getting some cost reductions.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.839
It was all there all the while.
00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.000
Nobody explained it to them.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:27.359
Um that's what working with a local agent is just helping people get access to care and saving money.
00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:32.240
It really does uh give us joy to help up the folks in our community do that.
00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.480
Linda, I'm sure you have the same and more.
00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.799
Wow, I there's so many.
00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:41.839
There's, you know, it's so rewarding in so many ways, okay?
00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:46.319
I mean, just with the kudos you get from people when you are saving them money.
00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:56.000
The one particular story I have is I worked with a gentleman and he happened, you know, he happens to be someone I golf with, and he's my golf partner this year.
00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:59.279
Um, he's he's 82 years old.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:07.920
When he switched into um Medicare three years ago because he was on his wife's plan, what happened with Medicare?
00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:12.960
He enrolled in like July or August to be enrolled for October.
00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:21.519
He never got his card until December that had an enrollment date for his part B to start start October 1.
00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:35.200
So he not only was paying, you know, they were taking out of his Social Security um all this money, which he didn't realize why they were taking it out to begin with, because he was still under his wife's uh coverage.
00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:39.279
He ended up paying$600 for an MRI in November.
00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:48.799
And I was in touch with him, and I when he got his card in December, and he said, Linda, I've had coverage since October 1st, but I just got my card.
00:24:49.200 --> 00:25:01.119
I I worked very hard on notifying Medicare, got in touch with some, you know, um directors there and said, Isn't there something you can do to reverse this?
00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:06.160
Because once you're in part B, usually you cannot opt out of part B or change it.
00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:23.279
They worked very hard for you know for this gentleman and uh gave him uh it was like$800 back, okay, in February, because he, you know, he had no way of knowing that he was actually covered and he could have come off his wife's plan.
00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:32.640
So he was paying, you know, the amount for the Part B plus his wife's plan, plus getting coverage, you know, that was costing him a lot of copies, okay?
00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:35.279
So I helped him and we joke all the time.
00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:47.200
I said, I I not only know your your date of birth and everything about you, I know your Medicare number by heart because I was constantly, you know, typing it and putting it in, you know, after this got settled, and he called me.
00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:51.519
I mean, you know, he thinks I walk on water and I said, I'm just doing my job.
00:25:51.680 --> 00:26:02.319
I go to the ends of the earth to help people when they're wronged, you know, and they he should have had that card by September to be covered for October 1st, knowing full well they were going to take that money out.
00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:06.480
He could have stopped his wife's coverage, you know, his employer coverage.
00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.720
So, anyway, that's one story.
00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.440
You know, a lot of those things happen all the time.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:15.359
And like I said, it's not about the enrollment for us, okay?
00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:20.079
We are very, very devoted to helping people, and we do it with love.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:25.519
We do it because we love what we do and we want the best for our members.
00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:34.480
If uh anybody was unsure of how far you guys go to help people out, I think that illustrated it perfectly, right there.
00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:40.640
Um, I am hopeful with this podcast here that I can connect you to more success stories like that.
00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.079
That's the goal here.
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:47.440
Um, what's a takeaway for people on the easiest way to get a hold of you and get on the schedule?
00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.359
Because I'm sure that fills up fast.
00:26:51.039 --> 00:27:06.079
So the easiest way is to call our office 518-346-2115 uh or go to the website www.dgalcorn.com.
00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:16.640
You'll see on the top of the page, schedule an appointment or schedule a telephone appointment with your agent, and it'll bring you right to where our entire team.
00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:23.279
You can get on the calendar and uh send us a note, get us a message, we respond.
00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:27.440
We but we like to have an appointment scheduled because then we don't do a lot of back and forth.
00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.880
But yeah, that's the easiest way.
00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:32.799
Give us a call, make an appointment, send us a note, we'll get back.
00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.839
And you're exactly right.
00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:38.079
We have a finite amount of time between October 15th and December 7th.
00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:45.599
So during that time, it it is busy, so we really do encourage folks to make an appointment and get on it earlier rather than.
00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.640
All right.
00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:49.359
Well, thanks again for uh taking uh out of your time.
00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.680
Uh maybe we'll touch base on December 8th.
00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.759
I think that's the next time you might be available.
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.720
That's great.
00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.440
Thank you, Ryan.
00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:14.720
Appreciate you having us and uh be well, you know.
00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:18.640
Welcome to another edition of the Business and Personal Podcast where we bring you closer to the people that you do business with, and we're thrilled today to have Dan Elcorn and Linda Singer on with us.
00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:21.679
They are insurance agents for Elcorn and Associates.
00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:23.199
They specialize in Medicare.
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:25.519
We've seen a lot over the years.
00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:30.399
So they are perfect experts to guide people through this challenging process.
00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:33.600
And glad to get you here before annual enrollment gets crazy.
00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.200
We actually have a few minutes to talk.
00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:36.640
But thanks for joining me today.
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:38.560
Well, thank you for having us, Ryan.
00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:40.560
Appreciate the opportunity to chat.
00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:43.119
So it's the Business and the Personal podcast.
00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.960
I like people to get to know you a little bit.
00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:50.240
And before we start the recording, you mentioned that you both uh basically started this business at the same time.
00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:57.600
So I guess we'll start with Dan and then over to Linda how you started and how you ended up meeting uh up here at Elkhorn and Associates.
00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:16.560
Well, my story, interestingly enough, I've uh come out of banking, and my parents who were aging in about uh 15 years ago were uh overwhelmed, a little perplexed with this uh Medicare business and said, Well, Dan, you're a banker, you must know something about insurance, which I didn't.
00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:29.599
And so assisting them through the process, and of course, then their neighbors and friends ended up finding myself licensed in the state of New York and eventually migrated over to doing this full-time.
00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:32.879
And so uh since 2013, this is all I do.
00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:49.760
We work with Medicare beneficiaries to find plans that match their doctors, their medications, their needs, and then over time joined uh with others like Linda and other colleagues from uh Long Island to the Canadian border.
00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:54.640
We're uh basically an Eastern New York agency working in our local communities.
00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:55.840
We love it.
00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:17.280
So my story is um a little more complicated, but I got into this as my last career, so to speak, and I started in life insurance, which lasted maybe two weeks, and then met up with um the local manager for United Healthcare, and I had already had my insurance license.
00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:22.400
So he, you know, scooped me up and I was um contracted already.
00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:30.960
Um I had my license, and I was, as Dan was, um, we were captive with just United Healthcare for a number of years.
00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:34.240
Um, that was back in April of 2013.
00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:39.840
So this is actually my 14th, is this our 14th in annual enrollment?
00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:43.680
And um it's ever so changing.
00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:54.400
It never stays the same, and that's probably a good thing, okay, because it keeps us on our toes and it keeps us connected to our members on a regular basis.
00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:59.039
So um, like Dan, I thoroughly enjoy helping people.
00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:10.879
I had a situation where I had um I worked for somebody whose parents were in um Medicare and didn't know anything about Medicare.
00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:16.879
And I thought to myself, before I end this universe, I am going to understand Medicare.
00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.599
And here I am working in it for 14 years.
00:03:19.759 --> 00:03:24.080
So I'm enjoying it, and I love helping people, so that's why I do it.
00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:29.759
Well, kudos to both of you for uh making it through all these uh challenging, especially uh recent years.
00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:37.759
And I like to joke, I've learned way more about Medicare at age 51 than I ever thought I would in my life from working with Medicare agents in the last five years or so.
00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:43.360
But the one thing I've learned there's no way in the world I'm gonna try to do this on my own uh when it comes time.
00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:51.120
Uh just let people know, first of all, you know, how much continuing education you need to take every year just to stay on top of all this stuff.
00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.680
This isn't just get the license and show up every year.
00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:55.199
You gotta keep learning as you go.
00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:55.759
Oh, yeah.
00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:56.240
Absolutely.
00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:00.479
You know, I it is it is not easy, okay.
00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:02.080
Um it's challenging.
00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:08.639
Every two years we have to re-up our regular, you know, insurance license with health and and accident and life.
00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:10.719
That's my you know what I have.
00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:20.240
And every year we have to re-up with our AHIP, okay, which is the American Health Insurance Plan, that we have to retake that test every year.
00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:39.279
And in order to contract with the individual carriers, which we have contracted with six of them this year in our area, um, we have to take those certifications, follow up with the companies, and make sure that we're still contracted and everything is copisthetic to go forward.
00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:40.240
That's right.
00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:57.759
So, what Linda mentioned about AHIP, that's the federal certification that it is all carriers, all individuals nationwide who are in involved in speaking with the public about Medicare need to pass this AHIP certification.
00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:03.680
And uh exactly right, the individual carriers then have their own certification.
00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:05.439
We want to make an important point.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:12.319
We don't represent every plan or carrier that offers a Medicare plan.
00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:19.120
We choose, as Linda said, where there's six uh in some markets, seven that we choose to work with.
00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:26.720
And so we encourage everybody, of course, to check all of your options through 1-800 Medicare or Medicare.gov.
00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:34.800
But uh, those that we choose to work with, because we think it's a great fit for our members, we we have to go through that certification every year.
00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:41.120
And that's generally what we do during the summer to get ready for the annual enrollment period, which begins in the fall.
00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:47.199
And I've just been fascinated to learn so and hear so many stories over the years from working with agents.
00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.000
It's listen closely, people.
00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:55.120
Uh, if you didn't realize this, all you have to pay for their services is attention.
00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:56.079
That's it.
00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:07.040
Um, it's it's really incredible that they bring all this knowledge to the table, they take the stress off your plate, major decision that you have to make every year, and you don't even have to pay for their services.
00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:10.000
So um it's unlike anything I've ever seen up there.
00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:15.360
You know, if you refinance your house, let's say you put someone into a new Medicare plan, you save them all this money.
00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:19.920
Well, they don't have to recoup closing costs like you do when you save money from refinancing a house.
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:25.279
So um anyway, I digress a little bit, but uh Well, not at all, not at all, Ryan.
00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:27.120
The one thing we do ask.
00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:28.399
Go ahead, Linda.
00:06:28.720 --> 00:06:38.800
No, it's a very good point because people are reluctant to call us or to reach out many times because they automatically think an insurance agent is going to cost them.
00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.480
How much do you charge an hour?
00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:42.319
What is your consultation fee?
00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:48.319
And I I tell everybody right from the beginning when they call me, there's not going to be any charge for your services.
00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:53.600
You know, I will walk you through, I will give you all the information you need, you will be knowledgeable.
00:06:53.759 --> 00:07:02.160
I don't let anybody leave my, you know, table, so to speak, wherever I'm meeting them, without understanding the ABCs of Medicare.
00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:12.639
And they start off very, very closed and very confused and upset because they're all of a sudden thrown into having to change a major part of their life with insurance.
00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:16.399
And I assure them that I'm not gonna leave after the enrollment.
00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.720
I'm always there and I'm available.
00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:22.000
You mean you're not gonna pull a Joan Amit or William Shatner?
00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:23.680
You're actually gonna stick around.
00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:25.279
Yeah.
00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:28.959
That's a very important point, Ryan.
00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:42.480
We are not an 800 number somewhere in a call center when we meet with and assist uh our neighbors, frankly, with choosing or staying with a plan for the next year.
00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:48.319
It's because of the you know, personalized consultation as to what matches their needs.
00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:59.279
And if something were to come up during the year, where there's some questions about coverage or networks, we are there a phone call away.
00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:10.800
Linda and I and all of our colleagues have many couples where one spouse is on a certain plan and the other spouse is on a different plan.
00:08:10.959 --> 00:08:18.959
That's unlike employer coverage, but the reason we can do that is because we match their individual needs to the plan.
00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:28.160
And sometimes one, you know, one individual's health and medication circumstances call for put this other plan.
00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:32.480
So we have lots of clients on different plans because it meets their needs.
00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:44.000
And like Linda mentioned earlier, you know, change is good in some ways for you because then it creates all this uncertainty uh for Medicare beneficiaries where they're seeking out help.
00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:50.960
So all these people that maybe didn't know your services existed previously are now learning that uh you do exist.
00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:57.039
And for those that still try to do that on their own, what are some of the common mistakes you see them make?
00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:58.960
Oh my goodness.
00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:02.080
Dan, we we deal with this a lot.
00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:14.879
Um, you know, there's so many people that are out there, um, we don't even know from where, calling and trying to get in touch with anybody that's on Medicare, okay, to just get them enrolled.
00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.720
And they promise them the moon.
00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:28.399
I just had three cases last month where I had to scramble to help these people get back into a plan, okay, because there are certain special enrollment periods during the year in which we can do this.
00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.039
Luckily, the three people qualified.
00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:35.120
So what happened was, you know, that I got these frantic calls.
00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.639
I'm so embarrassed, Linda.
00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:41.919
I listened to this person, I should have never done it, I will never do it again.
00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:44.799
Um, and I encourage everybody to call me.
00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:55.120
They get something in the mail, I want to see a copy of it, just take a screenshot, send it to my, you know, phone, and I will let you know if that's legit to answer or it's not.
00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:00.159
And I also tell them, just you know, tell the people that call that you have an agent.
00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:03.840
And, you know, write down, repeat to me what they've said.
00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:06.080
I will tell you if any of it is accurate.
00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:06.480
Okay.
00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:09.200
But luckily, I'm able to help these people.
00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:20.159
They usually get embarrassed and upset when they've, you know, listen to somebody that uh doesn't even know where they live, who their doctors are, and it's a really serious situation.
00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.720
I've had I've had women call me, you know, almost ready to have a heart attack.
00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:26.159
They said, I haven't slept for days.
00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:27.200
I was afraid to call you.
00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:29.279
I said, please always just call me.
00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:31.519
We all make mistakes, okay?
00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:36.639
But we're here year-round, 24 hours a day, to answer any calls.
00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:38.320
You know, it dan's the same way.
00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:40.559
Everybody on our team works the same way.
00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.000
And that happens a lot.
00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:50.000
So it's very dangerous to get into a plan that you all of a sudden go to your doctors and they say, sorry, we don't take this plan.
00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:52.559
And it's happened many times.
00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:54.399
Let me add a little to that.
00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:10.320
Yeah, so there's a couple things that when you asked about you know certain mistakes, one is not opening your mail, or thinking that a piece of mail from your existing insurance company is junk mail.
00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.360
So we start with please open your mail.
00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:15.360
Uh, and that includes your email.
00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:21.360
I mean, I've received the annual notice of change in my own personal case uh by email.
00:11:21.759 --> 00:11:24.480
So open your mail, open your email.
00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:41.360
Um, we find a lot of individuals enrolled in Medicare are either undercovered, which means they're, you know, they're attracted to some low premium plan, which gives leaves a lot of exposure for cost.
00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:49.919
We also have some individuals who are overcovered, which they're paying way too much for what their current circumstances require.
00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:52.240
So again, we go through that analysis.
00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.399
We don't we don't sell anything.
00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:59.679
We think of ourselves, frankly, as consultants and teachers to help people be informed.
00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:02.080
And to be informed is to be empowered.
00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:12.320
Um, but to absolutely to echo what Linda says, some of the um abuses, if you may, are through telemarketers.
00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:35.360
And to Linda's point, you know, when you get something in the mail or you get some random phone call, uh, call your local agent, us, or frankly, any local agent, because we find that whether it's our team or colleagues that we have in the community, we are far more aware of what's happening with local providers, the local hospitals.
00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:40.080
And honestly, we're neighbors and we're, you know, we see these folks in the grocery store.
00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:48.080
So we're not a nameless, faceless salesperson on an 800 number who might not be there a month from now.
00:12:48.159 --> 00:13:02.240
So open your mail, uh, truly evaluate whether your coverage is appropriate, and definitely work with a local independent agent, whether it be us or or others in your community.
00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:05.600
That is a great point of the unopened mail.
00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:14.960
You know, I hear all these stories of the Medicare fraud that makes everybody so scared, so they just set everything to the side, and there could be some very important information in there.
00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.559
Hadn't really thought of that.
00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:22.879
And uh gosh, I mean, last year I was hearing stories of people calling and saying, Yeah, Medicare is laminating your card now.
00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:29.919
I just need your number, and I will send your new laminated card out in the mail sounding so smooth about it, and getting people to fall for that.
00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:30.879
It's crazy.
00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:31.519
Yep.
00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:34.320
Medicare does not call anybody.
00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.519
Yeah, definitely.
00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:49.440
I've had a few of those um inquiries about the lamination of the cards, and it actually my own brother-in-law, you know, they called him and he said, I'm getting a new laminated card.
00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.559
I said, Oh no, you're not.
00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:53.039
Do not answer those calls.
00:13:53.679 --> 00:14:12.080
But I can understand why somebody would think I mean if you get that call, I mean I always think about you know, my my dad who has since passed, but in his late 80s and 90s, if he got a call like that, I can absolutely understand how he would think that he got a call from Medicare to watch the mail for his new card, but just to verify it, Mr.
00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:13.600
Alcorn, could you give me this?
00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:18.080
Like, dad, don't hang up, you know, like so yeah.
00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:28.000
But then this year, they did legitimately send new Medicare numbers out to some people to cut down on the fraud, so then that only adds to more confusion, is this legitimately?
00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:43.759
But if we're advising people and informing people what to watch for, when to watch for it, so we are proactively aware of what's going on, and as soon as we hear something, we have you know a number of different ways to communicate with our members to say this is what's coming.
00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.159
You may or may not be affected.
00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:52.879
Um, so that when that piece of mail does arrive, they at least get a little forewarning from us as to what to watch for.
00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:53.519
Correct.
00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:53.840
Yes.
00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:57.039
We are in touch throughout the year, absolutely.
00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:01.039
So, you know, we've already established how valuable your services are.
00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:07.600
Um, I think we've we've gone into good detail on that so people understand that they understand doesn't cost anything.
00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:14.720
So um, you know, I think we've got people that are interested now still listening, and the goal of this podcast is to connect you with them.
00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:24.240
So first of all, just kind of explain what a meeting is like with you and your team, what people should have prepared and get ready, and what you go through with them.
00:15:24.720 --> 00:15:25.039
Linda.
00:15:25.440 --> 00:15:25.919
Okay, Dan.
00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:36.799
Well, you know, um what I do personally is I tell my people to um obviously open their mail and look at the A knock ladder, okay?
00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.039
Look at the Medicare and U book.
00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:43.440
Um, because as Dan said, we don't, you know, we don't represent every plan.
00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:51.440
We we have, you know, picked through the plans that we think would most benefit our clients this year.
00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.720
And we do that every year.
00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:59.039
Dan, we sit down as a team and we figure out ahead of time what plans will work best for our members.
00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:02.879
And we contract with those individual companies every year.
00:16:03.039 --> 00:16:18.639
So, inasmuch as we don't represent every single plan, um we advise people to go to Medicare.gov or 1-800 Medicare and look at the other options that are available if they're, you know, if they're looking for something specific.
00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:25.120
They come to us, you know, um, we have a website that allows people to call us.
00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:37.440
You know, they go down the line and look at all the agents that are available and what areas we work in, and um they can either call us and if we're not available, we have a reception that answers our calls.
00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:41.919
This she'll set up an appointment and you know we go from there.
00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:52.480
I usually um when I take a phone call from a member or a potential client, I will um go over, you know, just certain questions with them.
00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:57.279
I set up a time to meet with them and I tell them what I need when you know we do meet.
00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:03.759
I need their Medicare card, I need a list of their doctors, I need a list of their medications, okay?
00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:10.319
And I also like to ask them what worked for them in the previous year that they had, okay?
00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:15.920
Whether it was a work plan that they're coming off of or um another Medicare plan.
00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.880
What did they like?
00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.079
What didn't they like?
00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:38.559
Were their doctors, you know, um, were the providers all in the in the network, and so on, whether or not it was a PPO or an HMO, okay, a home maintenance organization is a group of of doctors and providers that are in one area of you know um where they live, the service area.
00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:46.079
A PPO or uh preferred provider organization is um outside of the area, they can go in or out of the network.
00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:54.000
A lot of our members go south or either, you know, the winter they go to Arizona, they go to Florida, and so on.
00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:58.960
So we want to know if they need, you know, an out-of-network plan as well.
00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:06.480
So there's a whole bunch of questions that we ask, and there's forms on our website that they can fill out ahead of time.
00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:12.559
For instance, there's a scope of appointment that we ask that they have to sign in the very beginning of our meeting.
00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:23.680
There is um lists for their doctors, there's um, you know, the provider network where they can go in for each company and look at, you know, the providers that are available.
00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:27.440
And also their um the formulary for their drug lists.
00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:35.279
So there's ways we make it very easy for everybody to figure it out on their own if that's what they want to do, and we guide them.
00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.119
How'd I do Dan?
00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:44.960
I think Linda just mentally went through our entire checklist of everything we, you know, the what we what we confirm with folks exactly.
00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:55.039
I mean, we get information from our members and we get required forms because there's you know certain federal compliance issues we need to deal with.
00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:06.079
And then we take that, it's really best if we have all that information prior to our meeting, and our meeting can be in person, it can be by telephone, it can be by Zoom.
00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:09.920
What like we like to say, we meet people where they're at.
00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:14.799
Um, you know, some of our clients are not as technically proficient and would prefer a table meeting.
00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:18.319
Others are saying, Dan, let's just, you know, let's do this by Zoom.
00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.240
We want to be where they're at.
00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:25.759
But everything Linda said, uh, we do ask priorities, what's most important to you?
00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:36.000
Because we might not be able to get the lowest premium nationwide coverage, uh, full dental benefits and you know, zero cost sharing.
00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:38.160
That just that doesn't happen.
00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.599
But help us understand of that what's most important to you.
00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:53.920
If you've got, you know, five thousand dollars worth of dental work coming up and you don't see very many specialists, that might have us look at what plan is more heavily towards dental.
00:19:54.079 --> 00:20:01.759
If you have Part B uh medications administered in a healthcare setting, that's an entirely different scenario.
00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:05.920
So, you know, everything Linda said and just add to that priorities.
00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:13.119
And I do want to point out that Linda said we have many clients with second homes uh in other areas.
00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:34.079
So then what happens is we need to make sure that the plan they will be in not only works with a network of providers in their home community, anywhere in you know up New York State, but then some of these clients also have a network of providers in Arizona or Florida or the like.
00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:42.480
So we actually double check, make sure that they the plan they're going into works with both set of providers in both communities.
00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.759
It works.
00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.640
Yeah.
00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.400
So many little things.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.680
Uh again, to point out why people just shouldn't try to do this on their own.
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.319
It's easy to miss those minute details.
00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:57.759
But to Linda's point about being available 24-7, she does sleep as do I.
00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:06.319
But our our telephone line is staffed with a with a local live person taking our calls 24-7.
00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:17.519
And we do have calls come in in the middle of the night, and there's somebody answering the phone and saying, Listen, I will get your message to Linda, or better yet, how about I get you on her calendar?
00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.960
It works really, very well.
00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:24.480
So I always like to close with uh testimonials, uh happy stories, that kind of thing.
00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:27.680
Um, so I'm gonna put both of you on the hot seat here.
00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:28.960
I will start with Dan.
00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:34.480
Give me one story that uh in your years of the Medicare world still warms your heart.
00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:38.480
Someone maybe you saved a lot of money from upcoming surgery, whatever it happens to be.
00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:45.200
Obviously, without giving out their personal information, but uh something that's just one of those, gosh, that's why I do this, that's why I love this kind of moments.
00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.279
Yeah, I can think of quite a few of them.
00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:59.680
Um, but there's one I was talking about just a moment ago where uh a neighbor of mine, frankly, the um the wife was a retired school teacher, had a terrific plan.
00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.039
The school system and her spouse was paying everything.
00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:12.880
That particular school district did not offer the spouse a significant benefit.
00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:22.160
And to your point, you had mentioned it literally thousands of dollars of premium savings for comparable coverage.
00:22:22.319 --> 00:22:23.359
It was remarkable.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:31.519
And it really helped them save a lot of money, live a more comfortable retirement life.
00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:47.440
We have countless stories of folks who were eligible for state subsidies that the state doesn't advertise, by the way, that we're aware of what those eligibility standards are.
00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.200
We don't ask people what their income is.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.720
We ask if it's above a certain amount or below a certain amount.
00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:56.319
And if that's below a certain amount, we're aware of those.
00:22:56.400 --> 00:23:03.200
And I can't, we both have countless stories of individuals who have long been eligible for these benefits.
00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:15.920
We were able to walk them through the enrollment and get some retroactive uh rebates and credits so that they're getting the medications that they need, they're getting some cost reductions.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:17.839
It was all there all the while.
00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:20.000
Nobody explained it to them.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:27.359
Um that's what working with a local agent is just helping people get access to care and saving money.
00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:32.240
It really does uh give us joy to help up the folks in our community do that.
00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.480
Linda, I'm sure you have the same and more.
00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.799
Wow, I there's so many.
00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:41.839
There's, you know, it's so rewarding in so many ways, okay?
00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:46.319
I mean, just with the kudos you get from people when you are saving them money.
00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:56.000
The one particular story I have is I worked with a gentleman and he happened, you know, he happens to be someone I golf with, and he's my golf partner this year.
00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:59.279
Um, he's he's 82 years old.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:07.920
When he switched into um Medicare three years ago because he was on his wife's plan, what happened with Medicare?
00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:12.960
He enrolled in like July or August to be enrolled for October.
00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:21.519
He never got his card until December that had an enrollment date for his part B to start start October 1.
00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:35.200
So he not only was paying, you know, they were taking out of his Social Security um all this money, which he didn't realize why they were taking it out to begin with, because he was still under his wife's uh coverage.
00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:39.279
He ended up paying$600 for an MRI in November.
00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:48.799
And I was in touch with him, and I when he got his card in December, and he said, Linda, I've had coverage since October 1st, but I just got my card.
00:24:49.200 --> 00:25:01.119
I I worked very hard on notifying Medicare, got in touch with some, you know, um directors there and said, Isn't there something you can do to reverse this?
00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:06.160
Because once you're in part B, usually you cannot opt out of part B or change it.
00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:23.279
They worked very hard for you know for this gentleman and uh gave him uh it was like$800 back, okay, in February, because he, you know, he had no way of knowing that he was actually covered and he could have come off his wife's plan.
00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:32.640
So he was paying, you know, the amount for the Part B plus his wife's plan, plus getting coverage, you know, that was costing him a lot of copies, okay?
00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:35.279
So I helped him and we joke all the time.
00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:47.200
I said, I I not only know your your date of birth and everything about you, I know your Medicare number by heart because I was constantly, you know, typing it and putting it in, you know, after this got settled, and he called me.
00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:51.519
I mean, you know, he thinks I walk on water and I said, I'm just doing my job.
00:25:51.680 --> 00:26:02.319
I go to the ends of the earth to help people when they're wronged, you know, and they he should have had that card by September to be covered for October 1st, knowing full well they were going to take that money out.
00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:06.480
He could have stopped his wife's coverage, you know, his employer coverage.
00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.720
So, anyway, that's one story.
00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.440
You know, a lot of those things happen all the time.
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:15.359
And like I said, it's not about the enrollment for us, okay?
00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:20.079
We are very, very devoted to helping people, and we do it with love.
00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:25.519
We do it because we love what we do and we want the best for our members.
00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:34.480
If uh anybody was unsure of how far you guys go to help people out, I think that illustrated it perfectly, right there.
00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:40.640
Um, I am hopeful with this podcast here that I can connect you to more success stories like that.
00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.079
That's the goal here.
00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:47.440
Um, what's a takeaway for people on the easiest way to get a hold of you and get on the schedule?
00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.359
Because I'm sure that fills up fast.
00:26:51.039 --> 00:27:06.079
So the easiest way is to call our office 518-346-2115 uh or go to the website www.dgalcorn.com.
00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:16.640
You'll see on the top of the page, schedule an appointment or schedule a telephone appointment with your agent, and it'll bring you right to where our entire team.
00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:23.279
You can get on the calendar and uh send us a note, get us a message, we respond.
00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:27.440
We but we like to have an appointment scheduled because then we don't do a lot of back and forth.
00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.880
But yeah, that's the easiest way.
00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:32.799
Give us a call, make an appointment, send us a note, we'll get back.
00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.839
And you're exactly right.
00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:38.079
We have a finite amount of time between October 15th and December 7th.
00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:45.599
So during that time, it it is busy, so we really do encourage folks to make an appointment and get on it earlier rather than.
00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.640
All right.
00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:49.359
Well, thanks again for uh taking uh out of your time.
00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:51.680
Uh maybe we'll touch base on December 8th.
00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.759
I think that's the next time you might be available.
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.720
That's great.
00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.440
Thank you, Ryan.
00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:14.720
Appreciate you having us and uh be well, you know.
