David Forbes - Medigap vs Medicare Advantage: Follow These 5 Simple Steps and Get the Best Medicare Plan... Guaranteed!

Medigap vs Medicare Advantage:
Follow These 5 Simple Steps and Get the Best Medicare PlanGuaranteed!

Copyright 2014 By David Forbes

Alliance Marketing Associates, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Published in the United States by Alliance Marketing Associates, Inc. PO Box 7573 Pensacola FL 32534

Getting the Lay of the Land
Step 1 Become Familiar with the Differences Between Medigap Plans and Medicare Advantage.

Your Potential Costs
Step #2 Learn About Your Potential Costs for Both Medigap and Medicare Advantage.

Timing is Every Thing
Step #3 Know the best time to buy a Medigap policy and when you can enroll, drop or switch Medicare Advantage Plans

Know Thyself
Step #4 Have a clear picture of your allowable healthcare budget, current health and future lifestyle goals.

Road Map for Action
Step #5 Know what resources you have available and how to enroll or purchase your chosen plan.

This book is dedicated to everyone who takes responsibility for themselves, loves their family and serves their community.

Thank you to all my readers and subscribers at Medicare Plan Review who have contributed to the conversation and provided me with the motivation to undertake this project.

Trying to de-code the world of Medicare vs. Medigap and Advantage Plans vs. Insurance is like walking in a dense jungle with only a butter knife to cut through the brush! Ive spent countless hours doing my own research and also talked to many people. David Forbes is the first one who actually made things easier to understand. He also speaks in plain English, so those of us who arent in the business can grasp the concepts much better. I give this gentleman an A+, and highly recommend him. I promise hell save you a ton of time, and a lot of headaches!

Jim Roan
Clearwater FL

I stumbled upon Davids 8-Step Medicare Mini-Course about a year ago. I have referred several friends who are aging into Medicare to his course. It is a great overview Medicare bite-sized and easy to digest. It helps them structure their questions as so many are confused and overwhelmed by Medicare. I suggest they keep it as a resource for the future.

The first choice in deciding between the two paths of Medicare is very important and we have no experience with the model so it is intimidating. I know 65 creeps up on you but if everyone would start studying Medicare on their 64th birthday, before they even approach their Initial Enrollment Period, they would be prepared and better informed.

Lynda
Ventura CA

The materials presented by David Forbes were helpful and to the point. He has summarized a truckload of information in presenting these materials.

Preston Keys
Toledo OH

When I was a young man in my twenties I traveled across the country from one short-lived job to the next. One night while in the company of people who were equally as aimless as me I was complaining about not getting ahead and not getting what I wanted in life. A grizzled old man who I hardly knew asked me, Do you realize that every choice youve made brought you to where youre at today? He continued, And if you accept that what are you going to do today to be in a better place tomorrow?

We are confronted with choices every day. How we choose and what we choose can have long-term consequences. The more serious the subject, the more important it is that we make sound choices based on the facts at hand. This couldnt be truer about choosing a Medicare plan. If you are Medicare-eligible or have been on Medicare for some time youre probably aware that you have more than one type of Medicare plan to choose from. Unless your coverage is through an employer or union insurance policy, Veterans Administration (VA) benefits, TRICARE or some other retirement-based plan, your choices include:

• Original Medicare
• Medicare plus a Medigap Policy
• Medicare Advantage Plan

This book will take you through a series of 5 steps to help you choose your best Medicare plan. Im emphasizing your best Medicare plan because I dont want to give the impression that there just happens to exist one plan that is best for everyone and that I just happen to hold this secret knowledge. If that was true a book on how to methodically follow 5 steps in order to get the best Medicare plan would not be needed. You would just visit me the oracle!

So how did I come to write a book about choosing the best Medicare plan? For the past 5 years I have been providing information and commentary on Medigap, Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medicare in general on my blog Medicare Plan Review. I had worked for a number of years helping people eligible for Medicare navigate their plan choices as a licensed agent. I no longer work as an insurance agent but I wanted to fill a gap by providing straight-forward easy to understand information about Medicare and Medicare plan choices. I do not represent an insurance company and have no interest in what type of plan you choose as long as its right for you. My blog has become a place where people can ask questions or comment on Medicare related topics. You can visit Medicare Plan Review at http://affordablemedicareplan.com.

After receiving over 2 million page views I realized that people searching for information on choosing between Medigap (Medicare supplemental) and Medicare Advantage made up a large number of my visitors. This is completely understandable because most people know that insuring only with Original Medicare can leave them vulnerable to potentially high unexpected medical costs. This realization started me on a search to find straight-forward easy to understand information on choosing between these two choices. What I found didnt satisfy me. The good thing about the official Medicare website is that it is loaded with information the bad thing about the official Medicare website is that it is loaded with information! This book will help you cut to the chase and make the right choice so you can get your best Medicare plan.

I also have a free bonus for you. Ive created a Free 8 Part Video Mini-Course as a companion to this book. Visit http://free-mini-course.com to sign up for this ABSOLUTELY FREE mini-course on how to choose your best Medicare plan.

I have made every attempt to cover this topic with accuracy and as thoroughly as possible. But this isnt a complete guide to Medicare, laws vary from State-to-State and everyones needs and circumstances are different. If you dont feel that you can competently make a choice after reading this book you should enlist the help of an insurance professional, trusted friend or family member who you can help you. Since this book is about choosing between Medigap and Medicare Advantage I have not gone in-depth on the Medicare Part D program, although later in the book I direct you to a good resource that has been helpful for thousands of people.

One thing youll notice as you read this book is that I use the words Medigap, Medigap policy, Medigap plan, Medicare supplement, Medicare supplement plan, Medicare supplemental and supplement interchangeably. They all mean the same thing for our purposes. Over the past 5 years Ive learned that not everyone recognizes that Medigap is merely the official term for Medicare supplement.