Bilhartz Desert Insurance Segment – January 9, 2024

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Seg 3 – Bilhartz Desert Insurance Segment

LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE SHOW FOR DETAILS OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN THIS INTERVIEW.

BILHARTZ DESERT INSURANCE w/ Brian Bilhartz. 41865 Boardwalk; Ste., 108, Palm Dessert. 92211.
– REPORT that he’s glad the Dec., 7 deadline is over BUT there is a new deadline.
– QUESTIONS FROM “JOEY PALS”
1. What are all these calls I’m getting to get OTC drugs @ no costs? (This depends on your insurance company and your eligibility. Be careful. In general a lot of Medicare Advantage Plans DO OFFER OTC drugs. Premiums are $174.70 a month now.)
2. What are these TV commercial for E-insurance or something like that? (D.O.H.C. removed the link for this from their website.)
3. Why am I still getting phone calls about deadlines for Medicare? I thought that was Dec., 7 and was over? (From Jan., 1 to Mar., 31, 2024 there’s a secondary enrollment period. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period vs the ANNUAL election period.)
– REPORT that there are over 100 to 110 Medicare Advantage Plans available in Riverside County.
– REPORT that the problem is FINDING the right specialists and coordinating care.
– DF. if you have a Medicare Advantage program whether you changed it or not you have the chance to MAKE ONE MORE CHANGE after AEP. (Annual Enrollment Program). Medicare says your can’t market the “catch-up” program. Brian is not marketing, but educating. This change really shows up when you go to the pharmacy and the tier that your medications are on has been changed and you are shocked.
– REPORT that the information for the MAOEP is just as involved as the AEP.
– If you have Medicare Advantage you are 4 times less likely to be hospitalized AND re-admitted. 2 times less likely to have chronic illnesses. 1.4 times less likely to need drugs.
– Then for Medicare Advantage folks there’s an open enrollment from Jan., 1 – Mar., 31, 2024. You can make ONE MORE CHANGE @ this point in time. On Jan., 2 all things will have changed if you haven’t taken care of the paperwork no later than Dec., 7.
– REPORT that you should get an Annual Notification of Change from your insurance company. THERE ARE SO MANY CHANGES COMING, not all are for the better.
– REPORT that the Medicare Advantage Plans ARE COUNTY SPECIFIC.
– REPORT that all costs WILL INCREASE. Watch the changes in drug costs.
– REPORT that his agency focuses on Medicare. Not many agents do this specialty. He will have on-line and in-person classes to attend to keep up w/ the changes. He has 42 agents that work under him.
– REPORT that Medicare is NOT just for older persons.
– DISCUSSION of his association w/ the clients from D.O.H.C. He is the LOCAL agent and phone number!!!!
– REPORT that there is no cost to help his clients make a sound decision about their Medicare needs and the clients DON’T PAY HIM.
– REPORT that this is so complicated one should work w/ Brian to get through it. WATCH out for “tricks”…..speak w/ Brian to be certain.
– REPORT that Brian will serve his clients in their home, in his office, on the phone. He has all the special classification to do all of this.
– (contact info; www.bilhartzinsurance.com and (760) 459-9617).

Brian