HealthMarkets Insurance Agency in Parma reveals what's happening with Medicare, right now

By Beth Newcomb

Fear of change, information overload and complacency are just some of the reasons people on Medicare stay put in their plans when the annual enrollment period comes around.

“It can be difficult to know what to do,” says Bernard Davidson, a licensed insurance agent with HealthMarkets Insurance Agency.

“Many people do nothing, and miss out on benefits they could be taking advantage of. Others stick with a plan that no longer meets their needs, but don’t realize it until that first doctor or pharmacy visit of the year.”

This year, the annual enrollment period for Medicare is Monday, October 15, through Friday, December 7. This is the time, says George Halle, who also is licensed, to evaluate your current plan to see if it’s still the best fit for you in the coming year. It’s also the time to learn about benefits that may make switching to a new plan more advantageous.

Marisella Rios-Weible and Laura Weible round out the team of top agents in the office.

Beginning in 2019 and annually thereafter, a Medicare Advantage (MA) open enrollment period (OEP) will take place from January 1 through March 31. The new OEP allows individuals enrolled in an MA plan, including newly MA-eligible individuals, to make a one-time election to go to another MA plan or Original Medicare.

“You don’t want to be stuck in a plan that doesn’t work for you,” George suggests.

“Obviously the goal is to get it right the first time,” Marisella inserts.

“That’s where one of us comes in. We’ve done the legwork, combing through the details of the plans offered by all the major carriers. So when you schedule a time to sit down with one of us, we’re in a position to present a number of different options to you and let you decide which one best meets your needs.”

That’s one of the greatest benefits of working with Bernard, George, Marisella or Laura Weible who recently became a licensed insurance agent. Because HealthMarkets represents nearly all of the major carriers in Ohio, your Medicare review can be a one and done.

“It saves people a lot of time and energy to only have to meet with one insurance agent,” Bernard explains. “Plus, we’ll come to your home to do a review of your current health situation. It only takes about 45 minutes.”

George, Marisella, George and Laura work out of the HealthMarkets Parma office.

“We’re here to learn about your particular situation. That’s how we base our recommendations,” George notes.

“And because we’re not beholden to one particular company, we can really dive into how you use your plan, who your doctors are, what medications you’re taking and what your budget is.”

Medicare is highly personal, and what works for your spouse may not work for you, and what worked for you last year may not work for you this year. During this year’s annual enrollment period, that may be particularly true.

“Just about all of the carriers have gotten more aggressive with the benefits they offer in an effort to attract more business,” Marisella reveals.

“You’ve got drawers full of stuff, a house full of stuff and a garage full of stuff, why not have a Medicare plan full of stuff? By making a change this year, you might be able to get additional benefits that you could find very useful, without having to pay more money. All you have to do is schedule a review.”

In fact, tapping into Bernard, George Marisella or Laura’s knowledge base won’t cost a thing. Your review, their service and their guidance are all free of charge.

Meet the Team

• Bernard - Bernard has lived in Bratenahl with his wife, Leslie, for the last 11 years. Together they have three grown boys, Alec, Tyler and Jamie. In his spare time, he likes to run and says he’s actively trying to get back into competitive running. Bernard has been a HealthMarkets agent for seven years and, as a man of 72, feels a warm connection to clients on Medicare.
• George - George has been married for 42 years and lives with his wife, Marcie, in North Royalton. Together they have two kids: Liana, 36, and Dane, 34. A self-proclaimed golf nut, George has a putting green in his basement for when there’s snow on the ground. Otherwise you’ll find him on the course year-round.
• Marisella - Marisella was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is the bilingual member of the team. In fact, she serves most of the Spanish-speaking, over 65 community. She moved to Ohio in 1982 and, along with her husband, raised three children in Northeast Ohio. An accountant by trade, number crunching comes natural to her. In her spare time, Marisella likes to spend time with her family.
• Laura - New to the HealthMarkets Parma team, Laura Weible is a freshly minted licensed insurance agent. Laura is thrilled to follow in her mother’s footsteps and looks forward to creating long-lasting relationships with her clients. She lives in Broadview Heights and recently graduated from Cleveland State with a degree in health science.

HealthMarkets is located 5925 Ridge Road, Suite 2, in Parma. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or by appointment. To contact a licensed insurance agent, see the sidebar accompanying this story. As the Medicare annual enrollment period is already heating up, the time to schedule your free review is right now.

HealthMarkets Insurance Agency, Inc. is licensed as an insurance agency in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Not all agents are licensed to sell all products. Service and product availability varies by state. No cost or obligation to enroll. Agents may be compensated based on enrollment. HMIA006095