The Annual Enrollment Period is the time to review your current Medicare Health Insurance to make sure you are on the plan that has the best coverage for you. I represent six insurance companies and they each have a variety of options available, many that include new benefits for 2022. If you have not reviewed your current plan to assure it is meeting your needs, now is the time to do that. I have been in the health insurance industry for many years and I would be happy to answer your questions and /or help you evaluate your health insurance needs to make sure you are enrolled with a plan that makes the most sense for you. Please call Loy Suderman at 206-569-5415 to get the help you need.

There is still time to enroll for individual health insurance! Washingtonians have until January 15th to get coverage starting February 1, 2021. The attached Newsletter has information about the health insurance companies, counties they serve, provider networks and tax subsidy/reduced rate info. Click the photo below to go to the Exchange and can create an account. For my assistance, go to Quick Links and "Find a Broker" and type "Suderman" in the last name field and confirm your request. I will then be notified so we can connect. There is no charge to you for this service.      

The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is offering a Special Election Period (SEP) for uninsured people who had health insurance in March and have since lost it. This extended SEP ends on September 30, 2020. As the pandemic continues beyond what anyone expected in March, the Exchange is trying to help Washingtonians to have proper health coverage.

This Special Election Period is open to people who lost coverage and missed the
60-day enrollment window due to various extraordinary circumstances, including
delays in receiving federal or state unemployment insurance payments, or lack
of clarity about employer-based coverage.

The SEP is targeted to those who voluntarily or involuntarily lost health insurance
due to the pandemic; it began on August 17, 2020 and runs through September 30,
2020. Individuals who are approved for this SEP will have 60 days from the date
the SEP is opened to enroll in their chosen coverage.

If you or someone you know meets the requirements, now is the time to act. You must first complete an application on the Exchange, www.wahealthplanfinder.org, in order to be approved for a SEP to get coverage. If you need assistance, I am happy to help you; you may call me at 206.569.5415, or email me at Loy@Sudergroup.com, or you may contact any agent listed on the Exchange website.

November 1 - December 15, 2019    There are several changes in the Washington Individual and Family Health Insurance market and now is the time to enroll for 2020 coverage. There are changes to the counties that health plans are participating in and changes to the providers (physicians and hospitals) that are contracted with (in-network) with the various insurance companies. If you want to learn more about what coverage is available in your area, or if you have questions about the coverage that is available to you, I am available to assist you. I am an independent health insurance agent and have been in the WA health insurance industry for many years. I would be happy to answer your questions and help you select the coverage that is the best for you. You may contact me at (206)569-5415 or at loy@sudergroup.com. 

For those of you on Medicare, now is the time to review your current coverage and the new plan options to make sure you enroll in the best plan for you. A variety of new benefits have been added to Medicare Advantage plans such as hearing aids, travel to doctor appointments, meals after a hospital discharge, naturopathy/acupuncture and more; not all plans have added the same features. There are also some changes in premium and per service copays, depending on the plan you are on and the specific benefit. 

When reviewing your current coverage or selecting a new plan, there are several factors to consider, such as provider network, pharmacy coverage (is your specific medication included in the plan formulary), out of pocket costs and limitations, premium and the service area, just to name a few. 

I am a licensed agent, certified with several health plans representing multiple Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D Prescription Drug Plans in Washington and I can help you find the plan that best fits your unique needs.

One of the most frequent questions I get about Medicare is “Do I need to sign up for Medicare when I turn 65 if I have employer group coverage?” And the answer is:  It depends…. on the size of the employer group and some other factors:

-  Your cost for the coverage (including premium contribution and out of pocket expenses for deductibles, copays and your annual out of pocket maximum)

- If the employer plan benefits meet your needs (benefits, provider network)

- If your employer group is less than 20 employees, you should sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B when you are first eligible or face a lifetime late enrollment penalty. You have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period:       

      - 3 months prior to your 65th birthday
      - your birthday month
      - 3 months after your birthday month

In this case, Medicare is the primary payer and your employer group coverage pays secondary based on the benefit plan.

If your employer group is more than 20 employees, and has medical and prescription drug coverage that is at least as good as Medicare, you may not need to sign up for Medicare Part B right away. However, you should review the benefits and cost of your employer plan compared to the benefits and cost of Medicare plus a Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. In many cases, people save money by enrolling with Medicare.

There are several options for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans available, and the key is determining which one will offer you the best coverage based on your healthcare needs, your lifestyle and your budget.

Medicare agents must be licensed in the state they sell products and must complete an annual certification and insurance company specific product training each year to assure they are qualified to help beneficiaries in making good choices. 

If you need assistance with your Medicare decisions, please contact me at 206-569-5415 or by email at suderloy@gmail.com. I am a licensed and certified health insurance agent in WA State and represent multiple health insurance companies. I can help you with your decision and enrollment for the plan that best meets your needs.

December 15th is the deadline to enroll or make changes to your health insurance for individuals and families. If you need assistance understanding the current options available to you or help in completing your enrollment application, call Suder Group Health Insurance Consultants at (206)569-5415. 

There will not be an extension this year as we have done in the past in WA, so now is the time to act and make sure you have coverage!

This is the time to review your current Medicare coverage to make sure it is meeting your health care needs. There are a variety of Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Prescription Drug Plans to choose from. Independent health insurance agents are a good source to assist you in finding the best plan to meet your specific needs. Unlike agents who only represent one insurance company, independent agents represent multiple companies and can help guide you to the plans that will offer the best coverage for you. For assistance in King, Snohomish, Pierce, Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties. Click to contact Loy Suderman at Suder Group  

If you missed open enrollment for Individuals and Families for a January 1 coverage start date, you still have time to get coverage in place for February 1st. Washington State has extended open enrollment to January 15th for those who missed the December 15th deadline. January 15th is the absolute deadline unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. If you need help and advice, contact an expert - Call Loy at 206-569-5415 or email Loy@Sudergroup.com. Get the help you need!

Need help figuring out the best plan for you? Contact Loy Suderman at SuderGroup, 206-569-5415, Loy@SuderGroup.com. As an independent agent, I represent multiple health insurance companies and will help you find the best plan to meet your specific needs.

New to Medicare?

Medicare can be confusing for many people – for instance, often people do not realize that Original Medicare does not cover all of their medical expenses - there are out of pocket costs that can really add up with deductibles, copays and coinsurance. There are a variety of plans available to help protect you from these costs, including Medicare Supplement (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage plans. And, you need to purchase Part D prescription drug coverage to avoid paying a penalty later on.

If you are approaching your 65th birthday, it is very likely you have been receiving information from a variety of health insurance companies about their plans – understanding the differences can be a challenge, there are so many options to choose from and there is no one size fits all.

As an independent health insurance agent, I represent several Medicare plans and I can help you understand your options so you can find the coverage that is right for you. You are not charged a fee to work with an independent agent; I earn commissions from the insurance companies and my goal is to help you find the plan that best meets your needs.

Before I or any agent can work with you, you must have your Medicare card that indicates the effective date of your Hospital (Part A) and Medical (Part B) enrollment. There are three ways you can enroll:

• By Phone: Call Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
• In Person: Take proof of your age and W-2 forms for the past two years to any Social Security office. Your local phone directory will list the office location nearest you.
• Online: Apply online at www.ssa.gov.

If you have questions, or if I can be of assistance to you, please call me at (206)569-5415 or send me an email to loy@sudergroup.com. I’m happy to select the plan that will meet your unique needs.

However, time is running out quickly. January 31st is the final deadline to get coverage and avoid a tax penalty on your 2016 taxes. There are many good options available for people who want to purchase directly with a health plan and for those who qualify for a tax credit on the Exchange. Let's face it, finding the right insurance is a confusing and sometimes frustrating experience. I will help simplify the process for you. I've helped a lot of people find coverage that will meet their specific needs and I can help you too! Call (206)569-5415 today and I'll help you check off one more item from your January "To Do" list.