The Medicare Maze

By Anthony Arruda
Founder of the Senior Planning Center

The ever-changing Medicare health plan options present both confusion and opportunities.
I hear from many seniors who are confused about the Medicare maze.

Today, we have many options to reduce cost and/or enhance benefits for our seniors. Both changes in plan benefits and costs as well as changes with your needs dictate the importance of a plan review. Yet, most people will put this off and are somewhat reluctant to change. Plus, most Maine seniors are rightfully confused by the many complexities of Medicare and therefore they let their plan ride from year to year, without evaluating their options.
In many parts of Maine, the majority of seniors have Medicare supplements on top of Medicare A and B. However, more and more seniors looking for expanded benefits, lower premiums, and drug coverage, may find a Medicare Advantage Plan a welcome alternative. Many seniors who have converted, have been able to save money and cover items like preventive dental, hearing aids, eyeglasses and more.
Many circumstances can affect our retirement income, which in turn may allow seniors to qualify for the Medicare Savings Plan. About 70 percent of Maine’s Medicare beneficiaries do qualify for some benefits through this program. At Senior Planning Center, we assist thousands of Maine’s seniors with this helpful opportunity to lower their Medicare health plan costs.
Other life changes such as a move to a different area or a change in our primary care physician or even a change in meds could trigger the need to review a Medicare health plan with a qualified professional.
At the Senior Planning Center, we represent all the major Medicare health plans, so our agents work for you, not the insurance companies.
We are your Maine resource. To assist Maine seniors, we continue to expand throughout our great state, by adding additional Medicare health professionals to our team. Senior Planning Center has even added another new office at 1364 Main St., in Sanford.
It is our job to assist you through the Medicare maze to ensure that you have a Medicare health plan that best suits your needs. As we say at the Senior Planning Center, “Help, when it matters most.”