Medina's HealthMarkets Insurance Agency team make it easier to get your Medicare review done in one appointment

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 Patrick Althof, 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 Mark Odabashian, who, along with Travis Woods, also is a licensed HealthMarkets agent, 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.

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,” Travis suggests.

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

“That’s where we come in. We’ve done the legwork, combing through the details of the plans offered by all the major carriers. So when we schedule a time to sit down together, 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 Travis, Mark and Patrick. Because HealthMarkets represents nearly all of the major carriers in Ohio, including Medical Mutual, 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,” Patrick explains. “Plus, either Travis, Mark or I will come to your home to do a review of your current health situation. We’re able to quickly boil all of the information down for you in about 45 minutes.”

Travis says some agents host group informational meetings and typically share the details of just one plan. An in-home visit puts people more at ease, he notes, and they feel more comfortable asking questions.

“When we sit down with you, we’re there to learn about your particular situation. That’s how we base our recommendations,” Travis shares.

“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,” Mark 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 Travis, Mark and Patrick’s knowledge base won’t cost a thing. Your review, their service and their guidance are all free of charge.

Meet Patrick, Travis and Mark

• Patrick Althof - Married for six years, Patrick met his wife, Sandra, at a Browns game. “She walked by and I wasted no time going up to her to introduce myself,” he smiles. “We flirted for a little while and the rest is history.” That history now includes two children, ages four and two. A little further back, before the family began, Patrick left home in Erie, PA to attend John Carroll University. “I liked it here so much I decided not to leave,” he says.
• Mark Odabashian - Mark has resisted the lure of the quaint suburbs for the excitement of living in downtown Cleveland. “There’s so much to do here and so much is changing,” he says. “It’s thrilling to call downtown home.” But he’s not alone in his love affair with the city. Mark shares his home with Ryder, his pit bull/Labrador rescue dog. When not helping people understand the intricacies of Medicare, Mark likes to kayak and paddleboard in the summer and snowboard in the winter.
• Travis Woods - Travis and his wife, Tiffany, were high school sweethearts who met at the mall. “She worked at the store across from mine and I just stared at her every day,” he smiles. “Sixteen years later she’s still the girl I dream of.” Tiffany and Travis share five children together, Amber, 15, Roman, 12, Brock, 10, Annabell, 9 and Xavier, 8. When not doting on his brood, Travis likes to stay in shape by doing mixed martial arts.

HealthMarkets Medina is located at 3705 Medina Road, Suite B. Hours are by appointment. To schedule a free review, call 330-241-4208. To find out more, visit HealthMarkets.com/PAlthof, HealthMarkets.com/Travis.Woods, or HealthMarkets.com/MOdabashian.

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