Free Medicare seminars available

BY NICOLE ZEMA

Virginia Farm Bureau’s health insurance representatives can help clarify complexities of Medicare. And virtual Medicare seminars scheduled through summer will enable members to prepare for sign-up—from the comfort of their homes.

Seminars are open to anyone interested in learning more about Medicare and its timelines, and comparing Medicare Advantage to Medicare Supplements plans, as well as Part D prescription drug coverage. All are welcome to tune in.

Turning 65 is not a prerequisite.

“Learn what your options are in advance of turning age 65, before you retire or if you have become disabled,” said Tracy Cornatzer, Health Care Consultants sales manager. “You want to do your due diligence ahead of time, and a year is not too early!

“Start educating yourself now, because when it’s time to enroll, you want to make sure that you’re making the best choice for you, without feeling rushed or pressured to make a product decision.”

The virtual seminars are about an hour long. Materials are presented in a conversational style that simplifies dense information. Guests are encouraged to interact with presenters and ask questions on behalf of themselves or loved ones.

“We find that many adult children are coming alongside their parents, helping do the research of plan options and enrollment deadlines,” noted Brett

Denton, vice president of HCC and Custom Health Care Inc. “There’s a Medicare book that’s about 125 pages long, and it’s a great resource. But in the seminars, we break a lot of that information down so it’s easier to understand.”

Staff also want to debunk Medicare misconceptions in the seminars.

“Automatically ‘getting coverage when I want it’ is an assumption people make,” Cornatzer continued. “There are strict timelines in place. Our goal is for you to have the right information. Come to the seminar with questions. If you need more personalized help, we can help set that up.”

Many Farm Bureau offices are staffed with licensed agents who can discuss Medicare options. It’s all about personalized service, Denton concluded. “And, when a client is ready to enroll, we can help with that too.”

Register for free virtual Medicare seminars by contacting your local Farm Bureau office, or register online at vafb.com/health/ medicare-seminars