William Shatner Medicare Commercial Review [Scam Or Legit?]

David Duford last updated on February 4, 2023

Are you looking for quality medicare coverage?

Perhaps you saw a commercial from Medicare Coverage Helpline TV Commercial featuring spokesman William Shatner, and now you’re wondering, “Is this legitimate?

Well, not to worry!

For straight facts about how Medicare Coverage Helpline works and how you can be helped legitimately, then you’re certainly at the right place.

This article will explain everything to know about the Medicare Coverage program.

We’ll also take a good, hard look at the fine print—it might surprise you!

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This Review

First and foremost, let’s take another look at the commercial.

Throughout the commercial, I will stop, Timestamp the section so you can see for yourself and refer to it easier again, plus describe some important details with you.

Then in the different sections of the article, we will talk about the various elements of what is in the fine print and what they are talking about how it really works.

Let’s start and break down the different parts of this commercial:

Based On Your Zipcode & Significant Extra Part C Benefits – Timestamp: 00:13-23 Seconds

To have the proper time to compare, and ultimately decide what plan is best for you and your family, sit down with a caring, trained insurance agent. To save money, not rushed into a decision over the phone with you and your family’s best interests will help over time to be safeguarded.

Especially, since the amount of information that the U.S. government has for you to understand is actually phenomenal and can’t be understood fully over a phone call to a call center.

Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) Part C

This type of plan is an additional way to get what Part A and B cover but having additional benefits.

These additional coverage plans are many times called Part C or Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans and are offered by separate private companies that have been approved by and must follow rules that are governed by Medicare.

Have a look and read, if you wish, at The official U.S. government Medicare handbook 2022 pdf.

https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf

Description Of Medicare Advantage Plans

Page 61 of the U.S. government Medicare handbook

These MA plans Part D drug coverage, normally and in many cases to get this coverage, you will need to use the health care provider in that private companies plan network.

The benefit is that the private companies set a limit on the total amount of out-of-pocket money you spend each year for the specified covered services.

Remember you will still have Medicare, however, you will get most of your original Parts A and B coverages from your new Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan, not your original Medicare.

You will receive an additional specific card that you will now use for your new Medicare Advantage Pan so you can get your new Medicare-covered services officially.

(Always keep your original red, white, and blue card from Medicare in case you ever drop your MA plan and wish to once again return to only your original Medicare benefit plan.)

Some of these MA plans additionally offer other non-emergency coverages out of this private network at a higher cost.

Description Of Some Medicare Advantage Plan Coverages

See Page 61-62 of the U.S. government Medicare handbook

The Medicare Advantage (MA) (Part C) Plans will cover all of your Part A and B benefits except any hospice services or clinical trials and temporarily the new benefits that happen because of national coverages or legislation has determined.

If you do transition to a MA Part C plan, the Original Medicare will still cover the cost involved for hospice care, some of the clinical research studies, and some of the new Medicare benefits.

The MA Part C does and must cover all urgent care, emergency care, and nearly all the necessary medical services that the Original Medicare covers.

Description Of The Different Types Of Medicare Advantage Plans

See Page 66-70 of the U.S. government Medicare handbook

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan: See page 66.

• HMO Point-of-Service (HMOPOS) plan: This HMO plan may allow you to get some services out of network for a higher copayment or coinsurance. Also on page 66.

• Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans: On page 67.

• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan: At page 68.

• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan: See page 69.

• Special Needs Plan (SNP): See page 70.

Medicare Advantage Plan Enrollment means

• That most Medicare services are covered through the plan

• Most of your Medicare services aren’t paid for by your Original Medicare Plan

• Additionally most of the Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Advantage Plan Enrollment Extra Benefits means coverage for

Fitness Programs (like gym memberships or discounts)
Some Vision, Hearing, and Dental services

And More Benefits depending on what is chosen for example

Transportation to doctor visits
Over-the-counter drugs
Services that promote your health and wellness
Tailored benefit packages for certain chronically ill enrollees

Seek a professional, courteous, licensed, and above all experienced Agent that you can take the time to plan before you enroll to see exactly

what benefits each plan specifically offers
if you might qualify
if there are any limitations

Call To Check Your Zip Code – Timestamp: 00:25-38 Seconds.

Many times when you call these companies, you definitely will talk to a real person, but the problem is a lot of these call centers hire inexperienced people that don’t understand Medicare or they were just hired off the street or just got their insurance license.

Although they may seem to be helpful, a lot of the time the agents just don’t have access to all of the carriers like organizations that handle multiple companies to shop around to try to find the best price coverage.

So be aware of the waste of time to speak with agents that barely know anything about all these official rules so they can work in this call center. If they were experienced agents, they would be selling insurance for the private companies, right? They wouldn’t be making minimum wage at this call center. Hope that makes sense?

Check if Your Zip Code Has The Benefits That Add Money To Your Social Security Check Every Month – Timestamp: 00:37 Seconds

This part is called the Refund Part B buyback during A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) allows a Medicare beneficiary to join, switch, or drop their prescription drug plan (PDP) Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan (MA or MAPD) outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) that runs from October 15th through December 7th.

How do you qualify for $148.50 back from Medicare?

If you have Parts A and B, you can enroll in an Advantage plan with a give-back option. These plans reduce your Part B premium up to the full standard amount of $148.50 each month and add the money to your Social Security check.

Only eligible beneficiaries are those with a limited income for a program with the government that helps pay for prescriptions drug costs for Medicare Part D.

These beneficiaries of Medicare that get (LIS) the low-income subsidy can get some assistance to pay the monthly premiums, coinsurance, copayments, and monthly premium for their Part D.

Other than zip code, Medicare has an extra help eligibility if you qualify for the (LIS) low-income subsidy that is available for Medicare Part D.

The requirements are if your assets and annual income limits are below the eligibility threshold. These limits could change yearly so you should check the most recent levels and pinpoint more accurately the requirements online at Medicare.gov.

Many people do qualify for the Medicare Extra Help savings and don’t even realize it.

When calculating eligibility for the low-income subsidy, Medicare doesn’t count any resources like your home or any insurance policies or your car. So for you to find out if you qualify, the best way is to apply.

A Paid Actor At Timestamp: 00:50 Seconds

This is a paid endorsement, and it’s somebody who is getting paid to make these comments.

It’s not somebody who actually bought the medicare coverage plan from the 800 number but instead an actor who got paid money to talk, so you should know this and always be aware.

At Timestamp: 01:12 Seconds, It Says Call The Number On The Bottom Of The Screen

The number leads us to assume we will be calling a licensed agent; however, look closely at the bottom of the screen as it states in the FINE PRINT.

“Plans and benefits vary, and premiums, co-pays, and co-insurance may apply. Plans that have no copays, no deductibles may require qualifying for low-income subsidies or, special needs plans (SNP). Benefits may differ from those offered under your current plan.”

So, there is no guarantee that you are going to get this insurance. And maybe you can’t get this because you don’t have access to the better plans in your area.

In addition to not meeting the low-income criteria (low-income criteria), you most likely will be dealing with a call center, a Medicare call center, that really just has most likely ONE company that isn’t necessarily the best option.

Before you make a wrong commitment, the best advice to do instead is deal with

A Professional that has access to the best carriers in your area
A Broker Independent that can shop around for the best program!
A program that is not just a Zero Premium Plan but gives you the least amount of Copays, deductibles and maximizes the benefits that you’re eligible for.

NO GUARANTEE what the commercial is saying is the case, AND THAT’S WHAT THE FINE PRINT essentially implies: they flash this for only 4 seconds!

(In 4 seconds, you can’t get to your tv to read the fine print!)

Including Expanded Dental Care At Timestamp: 01:18 Seconds

Reports say that Medicare Advantage enrollees have access to dental coverage; however, not many have Medicare Advantage.

Congress is battling whether or not to add more benefits, as you can read more about this here.

Important to know about Medicare Advantage Plans

(also known as Medicare Part C) is a healthcare option that basically replaces your original coverage from Medicare. The Part C plans can be purchased from private insurance companies to then cover your medical and hospital benefits.

If you are a senior with Original Medicare, you will most likely need to purchase additional dental insurance coverage. This is due to Medicares Part A, which is hospital insurance, and Part B is medical insurance, possibly covering dental expenses only if it’s part of an emergency or surgery.

The Medicare Advantage Plan (MA)( also known as Part C) is separate insurance that can include dental benefits, depending on the company you choose.

Choosing Correctly

When choosing the best Medicare Advantage plans, you should consider something that includes coverage with dental, vision, and hearing and, of course, with the services that are most important to you.

An example of services could include fillings, dentures, routine dental exams, x-rays, or even gum disease treatment.

Depending on your area and needs, United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, WellCare, Aetna, and Humana are some examples of good private companies to choose your Medicare Advantage Plans.

Is the plan available in your area and nationwide at competitive prices? Many top companies to choose from have premiums ranging from $0 to over $100 each month, depending on your needs.

Choosing Plans To Benefit You The Most

Many Decisions to make for Expanded Coverage in your Medicare Advantage Plan. Recommend that you consider talking to a broker or consultant to go through every detail with you before you commit to enabling the best coverage for the money and peace of mind for you and your family.

Important Considerations

Finding a list of Medicare Advantage Plans that are in your coverage area.

Choosing the Best Type of Plan

Special Needs Plans (SNP)
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS)
Health Maintenance Organization-point of service (HMO-POS)
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Knowing the Plans Details

Comprehensive Dental

(extraction, periodontics, and restorative services)

Preventative Dental

(cleaning, X-rays, and exams)

Knowing in advance the Costs involved

Monthly premiums
Yearly Maximum you pay for the health costs
Out-Of-Pocket costs
Copayments or Coinsurance costs

Pros And Cons – You Decide What’s Best

Because many plans are different between plans and providers and even differences in plans that are offered by the same providers can be for example 50% coinsurance or a $50 copayment for a Dental Plan.

Many prefer a Medicare Advantage Plan because many coverages include a prescription drug program, dental, vision, and hearing care are bundled together under one plan. These plans often have lower monthly premiums (even $0) depending on the coverage of the plan.

Medicare Advantage Plan monthly premiums are typically ranging from $0 to over $100 depending on the coverage.

Some Enrollment Rules

You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan
When you are eligible for Medicare
When you turn 65 or younger if you have a qualifying disability
October 15 to December 7 enrollment periods

(during this time you can change from your Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan or even change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another when circumstances you see the benefit you to make a change.)

Special Enrollment Period (SEP) you may be able to qualify for this if you have a life event happening such as a move or experience loss of income.

Some plans even offer meals delivery. Plans are based on your location with different eligibility and costs.

FINE PRINT At 01:18 Says

“Plan availability varies by region and state. Transportation to plan-approved locations. Extra benefits require enrollment in a Medicare Advantage Plan.”

If Your Zip Code Has The Benefit That Adds Up To $148 A month, That’s $1700 Per Year At Timestamp: 01:33 Seconds

Again, the fine print says

“Certain beneficiaries may qualify for help paying their Part B premium as part of each state’s Medicaid or medical assistance program.”

Again, you may qualify for this, however, it’s all dependent upon you qualifying for the (LIS) low-income subsidy. Only eligible people can get some assistance that lowers your monthly premium that can then possibly add up to yearly savings.

And once again, calling a call center with limited options, might not have this or even know to suggest it and definitely can’t shop around for the best private company since they don’t represent many companies like the brokerage independent agency like us at Direct Express Support can and will help you and prove to you so you can make the proper choices.

The Fine Print At The Bottom At Timestamp: 01:48 Seconds

“The Medicare coverage helpline is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program. Outside of the medical annual election period, members can enroll in the program only if they meet certain criteria. A licensed insurance agent can help you determine if you are eligible.”

(So what this means is that it only may apply during the AP election period to qualify for a medical plan.)

Then more of the fine print states

“Your call will be directed to a licensed insurance agent or a third party partner of TogetherHealth Pap, Inc., who can provide more information about your Medicare insurance plan options.“

What That Fine Print Means

So when they say a third-party partner, this means it may not go to Medicare Coverage Helpline. It may go to some random call center that you don’t know or have a relationship with or don’t understand anything about that.

You are just calling a random person without verifying; are they experts? Do they understand the business? There is not much quality control with that, so again buyer beware.

This is opposed to independent brokers that have the latest and best that you get to choose from so that obviously then you and your family are most likely to retain the best for you and save money because it’s not wasted on lesser inferior coverage.

Simply, see for yourself in a timely fashion to make the correct decision for you and your family.

The conclusion of fine print states

“There is no obligation to enroll. This information is not a complete description of benefits, contact the plan for more information. This is not a complete list of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing, please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, or consult www.medicare.gov“

Good News

The good news is many times we help people with Medicare questions because there may be the opportunity to get back extra benefits, such as dental vision and hearing, to get back your $148.50 out of your paycheck that Social Security takes away each month.

Are you interested in free benefits that you may be eligible for? These are the free Government benefits that you may be eligible for?

Also, another way to help money get reduced from your pocket is your copays that can many times be reduced for hospitalization.

Quality

We want to help to get you a quality Medicare plan. To get access to government benefits that you could not previously get or currently have while also getting back some of your currently spent money.

Knowing the legitimacy of what you spend and what you are entitled to while benefiting from additional coverage that you might not even realize you qualify for is worth a look for you and your family.

Since we are independent brokers, this allows us to shop all the major insurance carriers to find you the best deal in terms of price and coverage.

You’ve got lots of different options here at Direct Express Support. Many times you could qualify for a better policy that starts immediately.

Right now, it’s real easy to get more information;

You can just simply fill out the form you see on your screen that says something like Get Help Now

if you are on your Desktop PC,

fill out the form on the right that’s titled Get Your Life Insurance Quote Now

Call 1-888-626-0439

Then one of our friendly representatives will be back with you with more information.

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