North Texas Medicare Insurance Specialists

Medicare insurance Agents in North Texas

Making the right choices when it comes to deciding on Medicare coverage can have a big impact on you and your family’s lives. But with so much information out there, things can be confusing, especially if you are new to Medicare. We believe your smartest move may be to seek help from a local professional who can help you make the best decision for your individual situation.

3 Benefits of Using a Local Medicare insurance Agent to Pick Your Plan

There are three critical reasons why you should consider enlisting a local agent’s help.

Expertise. If you are new to Medicare, the choices you face may feel a bit overwhelming and you’re sure to have questions about what’s best for you. People who have been covered by an employer’s group insurance plan need to understand that Medicare is different in terms of benefits, costs, and the providers you can access, so an overall general knowledge about Medicare is critical which is perhaps the biggest benefit an agent can offer. In addition, because providers vary by market, having someone who works in your local service area is especially important when comparing the pros and cons of each plan. Agents who sell Medicare plans are also required to go through many hours of additional training and get a special certification to sell Medicare products, providing you a greater sense of reassurance when you engage them to assist you.
Full range of options. Independent agents are often your best bet when shopping for Medicare, primarily because they represent a wide range of companies. Agents who represent only a few companies—we call them captive agents—may have limited options. An independent agent can give you a more complete rundown of your options than can a captive agent.
Save time. Independent agents work with Medicare plans every day and are aware of the latest changes as well as the intimate details of the benefits and limitations of each plan. If you try to research this information on your own, you will probably arrive at the same place, but with a lot more effort. If you are new to Medicare, this task can be especially time-consuming without the help of an agent. With an agent, you’ll also be in line to receive updates and information that could help you with future decisions regarding your Medicare choices.

Are You Eligible for Medicare?

Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.

If you are not 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).

Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them.
You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:

You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement
Board disability benefit for 24 months. You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.

While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.

Ashford Insurance Medicare Insurance Specialists

Meet the Ashford Insurance Licensed Medicare Insurance Professionals

Sonia, “The Medicare Insurance Lady”, has been helping folks eligible for Medicare in Texas with their Medicare Insurance now since 2005. Sonia is also licensed in Oklahoma.

Sarah began working in the Texas healthcare industry in 2001, where she worked for many years with elderly Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.

Shanelle Reyes has been a Texas licensed insurance agent since 2008. Her specialty for several years was selling life insurance where she enjoyed helping families plan for their future.

Upon completing a tour in the US Air Force (1966-1970) and a career in the Railroad Industry as a Switchman, Brakeman, Conductor, Fireman, and Locomotive Engineer (1971-2006) I felt the desire to follow in my father’s footsteps and enter the Texas Medicare insurance industry.

Starting my professional life as a secondary teacher offered me the opportunity and experience to develop a knack for explaining things so others can understand. It is one thing to know the information but to be able to clearly relay it is quite another!

Originally licensed in Texas in 2005, John Ashford is considered a Bedford Texas Independent Insurance Agent, being able to offer Medicare supplements and Part D Prescription Drug plans from multiple Texas insurance carriers.

Cassandra Ashford grew up on a farm in Grapevine Texas with her family. She married her high school sweetheart in 2012 and had a beautiful daughter, Serenity, in 2014.