Medicare Insurance Made Easy

With more than 25 years of experience, Agent Gayle Cushinberry provides personal one-on-one service to help simplify the sometimes complicated process of selecting a Medicare insurance plan.

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More About Gayle

Medicare Insurance Open Enrollment Will Start October 15th

Your Medicare Insurance Plan Options

Gayle Cushinberry is continually updating herself on new plan options and regulations as they emerge in the fast-changing Medicare system. She is committed to helping clients understand their options and guiding them to the right plan for their unique needs and budget.

Medicare Advantage Plans

Based on your unique healthcare needs and budget, an Advantage Plan may be a a Medicare solution that covers more of your out-of-pocket costs.

Doctor Checking Patient's Ear Using Electronic Otoscope

Medicare Supplement Plans

Fill in the major gaps of your original Medicare insurance (Parts A & B) with an affordable Medicare Supplment Plan to offset your out-of-pocket costs.

Medicare Part D

Gayle Cushinberry can help you take the worry out of selecting the wrong Medicare Prescription drug plan which can be costly and hard to change at a later date.

Health & Supplemental Plans

Affordable health insurance and other supplemental coverages you may need to help offset your out-of-pocket healthcare costs, paying for services that traditional health or Medicare does not cover.

Health Insurance

Traditional individual health policies offered by top carriers, both on/off the Marketplace and/or with qualifying subsidy tax credit.

Short-Term Health Plans

Health insurance for times of transition up to 90 days. Plans exclude pre-existing conditions, have low premiums/copays and no networks.

Dental & Vision Plans

Dental and Vision Plans help promote your overall health by providing a variety of diagnostic, preventative care and corrective services.

Life Insurance

In the event of an untimely death, life Insurance helps pay your final expenses, mortgage, taxes, and provides living expenses for your loved ones.

Health Insurance Education

How Does The Medicare Insurance Program Work?

Each year around October 1st, insurance companies release new plan options for Medicare. You should mark your calendar each year to ask Gayle about any new plans that may be better suited for your needs, especially if they have changed. It’s also a great time to review any significant changes in your existing coverage, premium or copays, including any prescription drug coverage of your plan. Following is a brief overview of the federal Medicare insurance program.

Medicare Parts A, B, C & D

The Medicare Insurance Program

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. The different parts of Medicare help cover specific services:

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.

Part B covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Most people will pay a standard Part B premium which varies depending on income.

Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) roll Part A & B into one plan and have several options that may provide more coverage than your original Medicare.

Medicare Supplements work together with your original Medicare to cover things like your deductible, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses.

Medicare Part D adds prescription drug coverage to your original Medicare.

When Are you Eligible for Medicare?

To sign up for original Medicare Parts A & B, along with Part D, most people will have an Initial Enrollment Period which is a 7 month period around the time they turn age 65. This period begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.

Once your Initial Enrollment Period is over, if you wish to change or purchase Advantage or Part D Plans, you must act during the open enrollment period.

NOTICE: Once you are eligible for Medicare, do not wait to enroll in a Medicare Part D Plan or you could end up paying a penalty every month.

Annual Open Enrollment

Annual Open Enrollment:

October 15th through December 7th.

During annual open enrollment, you may change your existing Medicare coverage by purchasing a new Medicare Advantage or Part D plan or by changing your existing Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.

Note that you must already be enrolled in Original Medicare to purchase Medicare Advantage Plans, Supplement Plans or Part Plan

Special Enrollment Period

Special Enrollment:

To purchase an Advantage Plan or a Part D Plan outside of the open enrollment period, you will need a qualifying event to be eligible.

Listed below are the qualifying events:

You are turning 65
You move to a new area that is not in your current plan’s service area
Recently moved back to the US
You lose your current coverage (either Group or Medicaid)
You now need a SNP (Special Needs Plan) or you no longer need a SNP

Healthcare Reform Highlights

The Affordable Care Act was passed to insure everyone has affordable healthcare. In fact, Employers are mandated to provide health insurance to employees. However, not everyone will have coverage through their work. If you are self-employed or need to purchase an individual major medical health policy for any reason, following are highlights of the ACA that you should be aware of.

Tax Credits - Premium Subsidy

Individuals may be eligible for a tax credit under ACA healthcare reform laws. Thus, the credit is applied as a discount on your monthly insurance premium. Accordingly, to see if you are eligible for a tax credit, please use the Subsidy Calculator provided by the Health Insurance Marketplace. Note that you must purchase benefits through the Health Insurance Marketplace to secure your premium discount.

Tax Penalty

Following is information on the Individual Mandate of the ACA. However, note the tax penalty for individuals has been recently repealed for 2019 and beyond. The penalty, prior to 2019, affects individuals who fail to obtain qualifying health insurance. Individuals can have coverage through their employer, or through an individual policy to satisfy the requirement. Accordingly, if you do not have qualifying health insurance, the tax penalty will be $695 for adults. Additionally, the penalty is $347.50 for each child. However, the maximum family penalty is the greater of 2.5% of income, or three times the adult penalty, which is $2,085. Consequently, your penalty will be applied on your annual tax return.

Significant Underwriting Changes

There is no longer a pre-existing condition clause. In other words, insurance companies can not increase rates or deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
Your dependents can remain on you policy until they turn 26 years old.
Insurance companies can not consider gender when setting rates.

Essential Benefits

Available health plans, on and off the marketplace, contain at least 60% coverage of the following “essential benefits.”

Ambulatory patient services
Emergency services
Hospitalization
Maternity and newborn care
Prescription Drugs
Mental health and Substance Abuse disorder services
Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
Pediatric services, including oral and vision care
Preventive and wellness services, and chronic disease management

Annual Open Enrollment Dates

November 1st through December 15th

Individuals must purchase their health insurance during the annual open enrollment period. Failure to do so may result in your having no coverage for the following year and having to wait until the next year’s open enrollment to sign up for coverage. However, you may enroll in a health insurance plan outside of the annual open enrollment dates if you have a qualifying event.

You can still sign up for health insurance after the deadline if you meet any of the following qualifying events:

change in legal marital status
a change in the number of dependants
a change in place of residence and the current carrier is not available
significant cost or coverage change
a change in coverage of a spouse or dependant
a COBRA qualifying event
legal judgements, decrees and orders
entitlement to Medicare or Medicaid

About Gayle Cushinberry

Licensed Life, Health & Medicare Insurance Agent

30+

Years of Experience

Having worked for large, national insurance carriers and brokerage agencies, Gayle is familiar with all aspects of the industry, affording her a 360 degree advantage when matching clients with the best insurance products for their unique needs.

25+

Top-Rated Carriers

Over the past 30 years, Gayle has built strong relationships with multiple national carriers, affording her more options for each client’s unique needs, and allowing her to be completely unbiased in negotiating the best rates and services for clients.

500+

Satisfied Clients

Gayle attributes her great success to her commitment to providing prompt, personal one-on-one service, and her willingness to take the time to thoroughly understand each’s client’s unique needs, now and as those needs may change over time.

Only 2

Areas of Specialty

Unlike other competitors who may sell many, many different lines of insurance, Gayle focuses strictly on Medicare Insurance, in addition to Individual & Family Health, ensuring clients receive the best advice and guidance when seeking health coverage.

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Contact Information

MAILING ADDRESS ONLY*

755 S. Main Street, Suite 4-152
Cedar City, Utah 84720
Phone: Toll Free: 800.781.9381
Direct: 435.669.6566
Fax: 888.974.1292
Email: Gayle@cushinberryhealthinsurance.com

*Note: The above address is for mailing purposes only and is not a physical location where Gayle can meet with clients.

**For your convenience, Gayle Cushinberry can meet with you over the phone or in the comfort and security of your home to provide insurance guidance and advice on Medicare insurance plans and other health or supplemental coverage.

Get In Touch

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*Disclaimer: A sales agent may mail, call or email as a result of completing the information to discuss Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug Plans or Medicare Supplement Insurance.

Call Today – 435.669.6566