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Medicare Basics update 11 22 2020

Turning 65?

Want to change Gap plans?

Need help navigating Medicare? 

Call me (530) 559-1214

marc cuniberti

 

Medicare time is upon me and as a licensed insurance agent I can write the policies myself. Although Medicare is part of my continuing education for my life and health certifications from the Department of Insurance, the brief material on Medicare was not enough for me to make an educated selection. I therefore joined up with an insurer who offers the supplements and I am now knee deep in materials.

Many people reach the qualifying age of 65 since I am approaching that age I ask folks what Medicare plans they have selected.

To my surprise, many don’t know what exact Medicare options they have selected. That being said, it makes me wonder why so many people don’t understand what they have.

Either they are not taking adequate time to learn Medicare or whoever they are asking for help from are not explaining the options very well. Whatever the case may be, understanding the basics and what is available is time well spent.

Medicare has gone through many changes. There are the government basic plans offered direct through the government and then the supplemental plans called Medi-Gap and Medi-Advantage.  These fill in the holes not offered by Plans A and B. Different plans and options can address individual situations.

To begin with., all plans are designated by alphabetical letters.

Medicare part A and part B are the government offered coverages and everyone starts with these.

Generally speaking, A is for hospitalization needs and generally covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care, hospice care, and limited home health-care services.  B is for Doctor needs and helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.  A is free for the most part but can have some payments required such as deductibles. B is not free but dependent on one’s income and like A, can also have required out of pocket expenses.

Then rest of the parts of Medicare you must procure through private insurers.

These insurers, of which there are many, must adhere to certain guidelines set by the government.

These insurers sell plans called “supplemental” plans commonly referred to as Medi-Gap plans. These gap plans cover things that Plans A and B do not. There is also is the hybrid Medicare part C, called Medi-Advantage, which stands alone on how it works.

In simple terms, once you get plans A and B, you either get a supplement plan(s), or Medi-Advantage part C, but not both.

Which plans and options one can choose is also dependent on where one lives.

If it sounds confusing, that’s what I thought. And truth be told, it’s probably why the many folks I talked to didn’t know exactly what it is they bought.

And although the government stipulated plan benefits must be identical no matter what insurer you buy it from, they authorities did not stipulate they all have to offer them to you at the same price. In other words, you could pay more for the exact same plan depending on the insurer you buy it from.

Depending upon how many ills one might have, how often you go to a doctor, how many prescriptions you may have, if you want to keep your current medical providers or not and balancing your monthly premium desires with your out of pocket expenses expectations, this will all lead you in the direction of selecting the best plan for your situation. To select the best and most affordable plan for your situation it will likely require some hours spent in front of the computerAlthough special circumstances will mean automatic enrollment and age exceptions for some, in general, there is an enrollment period that starts 3 months prior to your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after the month of that birthday.

Missing this enrollment period can lead to problems for some so don’t overlook it. You likely won’t have to be reminded as your mailbox will likely start to fill with offer after offer from Medicare providers as you approach your 65th birthday. As always watch for scams and double check everything before you buy as changing plans later can have restrictions. Newbies can start by visiting www.medicare.gov. . Finding a Medicare specialist insurance agent will also help in your final selections,

This article offers the opinions of Marc Cuniberti only and does not necessarily represent those of any news media, its staff, members or underwriters. Content or statements are not guaranteed. Mr. Cuniberti holds California Insurance License #0L34249. His website is moneymanagementradio.com. He can be reached at (530) 559-1214.

 

 

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Medicare Update Oct 28 2020

Medicare

A plethora of choices

 

Medicare time is upon me and as a licensed insurance agent I understand insurance nuances. Although Medicare is part of my continuing education for my life and health certifications from the Department of Insurance, the brief material on Medicare was not enough for me to make an educated selection. I therefore joined up with an insurer who offers the supplements and I am now knee deep in materials.

Many people reach the qualifying age of 65 since I am approaching that age I ask folks what Medicare plans they have selected.

To my surprise, many don’t know what exact Medicare options they have selected. That being said, it makes me wonder why so many people don’t understand what they have.

Either they are not taking adequate time to learn Medicare or whoever they are asking for help from are not explaining the options very well. Whatever the case may be, understanding the basics and what is available is time well spent.

Medicare has gone through many changes. There are the government basic plans offered direct through the government and then the supplemental plans called Medi-Gap and Medi-Advantage.  These fill in the holes not offered by Plans A and B. Different plans and options can address individual situations.

To begin with., all plans are designated by alphabetical letters.

Medicare part A and part B are the government offered coverages and everyone starts with these.

Generally speaking, A is for hospitalization needs and generally covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care, hospice care, and limited home health-care services.  B is for Doctor needs and helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.  A is free for the most part but can have some payments required such as deductibles. B is not free but dependent on one’s income and like A, can also have required out of pocket expenses.

Then rest of the parts of Medicare you must procure through private insurers.

These insurers, of which there are many, must adhere to certain guidelines set by the government.

These insurers sell plans called “supplemental” plans commonly referred to as Medi-Gap plans. These gap plans cover things that Plans A and B do not. There is also is the hybrid Medicare part C, called Medi-Advantage, which stands alone on how it works.

In simple terms, once you get plans A and B, you either get a supplement plan(s), or Medi-Advantage part C, but not both.

Which plans and options one can choose is also dependent on where one lives.

If it sounds confusing, that’s what I thought. And truth be told, it’s probably why the many folks I talked to didn’t know exactly what it is they bought.

And although the government stipulated plan benefits must be identical no matter what insurer you buy it from, they authorities did not stipulate they all have to offer them to you at the same price. In other words, you could pay more for the exact same plan depending on the insurer you buy it from.

Depending upon how many ills one might have, how often you go to a doctor, how many prescriptions you may have, if you want to keep your current medical providers or not and balancing your monthly premium desires with your out of pocket expenses expectations, this will all lead you in the direction of selecting the best plan for your situation. To select the best and most affordable plan for your situation, likely require some hours spent in front of the computer. Finding a Medicare specialist insurance agent will also help in your final determination.


Although special circumstances will mean automatic enrollment and age exceptions for some, in general, there is an enrollment period that starts 3 months prior to your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after the month of that birthday.

Missing this enrollment period can lead to problems for some so don’t overlook it. You likely won’t have to be reminded as your mailbox will likely start to fill with offer after offer from Medicare providers as you approach your 65th birthday. As always watch for scams and double check everything before you buy as changing plans later can have restrictions. Newbies can start by visiting www.medicare.gov.

 

This article offers the opinions of Marc Cuniberti only and does not necessarily represent those of any news media, its staff, members or underwriters. Content or statements are not guaranteed. Mr. Cuniberti holds California Insurance License #0L34249. His website is moneymanagementradio.com. He can be reached at (530) 559-1214.


 

Market Predictions November 2, 2020

 

My short term prediction

UP!

 

Although many people assume the stock markets will react the actual day of an event, in actuality the markets are said to look ahead up to six months or more.

For example, the CoVid-19 event has been a good example of how markets anticipate things way of ahead of time.

The first three weeks of March witnessed a brutal sell off in the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DOW/DJIA) dropping about 38% from an all-time high of 29,500 and change in a mere 21 days or so to the low 18,000’s.

From then on, the indexes turned up and plowed almost relentlessly higher, despite the fact that the world was just in the beginning stages of this now 8-month long event, and it’s not over yet.

That being said, what was it that persuaded investors to continually buy stocks from that third week in March, driving the Dow close to its previous high in the months that followed?

Even without a definitive end to the CoVid event, investors bought up stocks in this almost unbelievable and monumental rally.

Keeping in mind the event is still not over and no one can say when it will end, the markets rebound is indeed perplexing to many investors. In reality however, the snap back may have been anticipated.

Investors may have been simply assuming the inevitable: the virus will end at some point.

Whether a vaccine is found or CoVid simply exhausts itself through mutation or herd immunity, it will end.

At that point, the pent up demand from shut-in and stir crazy consumers will likely then pour out into the economy in rapid fashion, causing a similar yet surprising explosion in demand. This may translate to rapid bottom line growth and profits to the businesses that survived the event.

Wall Street loves its comparisons, and the rise in sales, compared to an anemic CoVid shut down economy, will no doubt set some records. This is what Wall Street has visualized since the shutdowns began, and is likely the reason the March sell off panic quickly turned into a buying frenzy. Once the panic subsided, Wall Street looked ahead to the recovery.

With the election upon us, another spot of weakness hit the markets in recent months, with bouts of wicked sell-offs followed by bipolar like rebounds.

The weeks leading up to election day may have been especially damaging to portfolio balances. This could lead however, to another example of the markets looking ahead further than occurrence of a specific event happening on a specific day like election day.

I am of the opinion that the markets latest hissy fit was not so much concern about who will be elected, but the uncertainty of the event itself. Wall Street has pretty much prepared itself for the election of either candidate, knowing it will be either one or the other, and unlike a Bernie Sanders White House, which the markets DID fear, a Biden presidency no longer scares Wall Street much.

After all, the “talk” that is rumored to take place when a new President is sworn in covers nuclear footballs, dead alien invasions, secret bunkers and other clandestine and lurid facts that the public best not be made aware of. Among the discussions will also be what can and cannot be done when it comes to the big money centers of the world, put forth in way that may be much more than mere suggestion.

My conjecture of course.

I predict the current markets nervousness may be like the Gulf War stock markets of Operation Desert Storm. The markets feared the coming war action and sold off in the days and weeks preceding it, but when the shooting actually started, the markets took off, as the uncertainty of war gave way to the certainty of it.

I suspect it will be same with the election.

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, are opinion only, and not those of any bank, investment advisory firm or news media company. Nothing stated is meant to insure a guarantee of any kind, or to be construed as individual investment advice. Neither Money Management Radio (“Money Matters”) nor Bay Area Process receive, control, access or monitor client funds, accounts, or portfolios. For a full list of the services Marc Cuniberti provides, please contact him directly. California Insurance License #0L34249. Insurance services offered independently through Marc Cuniberti and not affiliated with any RIA firm or entity. (530)559-1214

 


 

Medicare Update Oct 28 2020

 

Staying healthy and prepared.

 

Medicare:

Medicare time is upon me and as a licensed insurance agent I can write the policies myself. Although Medicare is part of my continuing education for my life and health certifications from the Department of Insurance, the brief material on Medicare was not enough for me to make an educated selection. I therefore joined up with an insurer who offers the supplements and I am now knee deep in materials.

Many people reach the qualifying age of 65 since I am approaching that age I ask folks what Medicare plans they have selected.

To my surprise, many don’t know what exact Medicare options they have selected. That being said, it makes me wonder why so many people don’t understand what they have.

Either they are not taking adequate time to learn Medicare or whoever they are asking for help from are not explaining the options very well. Whatever the case may be, understanding the basics and what is available is time well spent.

Medicare has gone through many changes. There are the government basic plans offered direct through the government and then the supplemental plans called Medi-Gap and Medi-Advantage.  These fill in the holes not offered by Plans A and B. Different plans and options can address individual situations.

To begin with., all plans are designated by alphabetical letters.

Medicare part A and part B are the government offered coverages and everyone starts with these.

Generally speaking, A is for hospitalization needs and generally covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care, hospice care, and limited home health-care services.  B is for Doctor needs and helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.  A is free for the most part but can have some payments required such as deductibles. B is not free but dependent on one’s income and like A, can also have required out of pocket expenses.

Then rest of the parts of Medicare you must procure through private insurers.

These insurers, of which there are many, must adhere to certain guidelines set by the government.

These insurers sell plans called “supplemental” plans commonly referred to as Medi-Gap plans. These gap plans cover things that Plans A and B do not. There is also is the hybrid Medicare part C, called Medi-Advantage, which stands alone on how it works.

In simple terms, once you get plans A and B, you either get a supplement plan(s), or Medi-Advantage part C, but not both.

Which plans and options one can choose is also dependent on where one lives.

If it sounds confusing, that’s what I thought. And truth be told, it’s probably why the many folks I talked to didn’t know exactly what it is they bought.

And although the government stipulated plan benefits must be identical no matter what insurer you buy it from, they authorities did not stipulate they all have to offer them to you at the same price. In other words, you could pay more for the exact same plan depending on the insurer you buy it from.

Depending upon how many ills one might have, how often you go to a doctor, how many prescriptions you may have, if you want to keep your current medical providers or not and balancing your monthly premium desires with your out of pocket expenses expectations, this will all lead you in the direction of selecting the best plan for your situation. To select the best and most affordable plan for your situation,  likely require some hours spent in front of the computer. Finding a Medicare specialist insurance agent will also help in your final determination.


Although special circumstances will mean automatic enrollment and age exceptions for some, in general, there is an enrollment period that starts 3 months prior to your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after the month of that birthday.

Missing this enrollment period can lead to problems for some so don’t overlook it. You likely won’t have to be reminded as your mailbox will likely start to fill with offer after offer from Medicare providers as you approach your 65th birthday. As always watch for scams and double check everything before you buy as changing plans later can have restrictions. Newbies can start by visiting www.medicare.gov.

 

This article offers the opinions of Marc Cuniberti only and does not necessarily represent those of any news media, its staff, members or underwriters. Content or statements are not guaranteed. Mr. Cuniberti holds California Insurance License #0L34249. His website is moneymanagementradio.com. He can be reached at (530) 559-1214. Contact me for Medicare policies 

Link for services here

https://www.vantageauburn.com/marc-s-services

 


 

Market Update October 4 2020 READ !

 

Can it get any weirder?

Hello Money Matters Fans,

Pretty good question eh? 

What is next is anyone's guess. For us? We are more nuetral than long in our management. Feel free to call me to explain. Meanwhile keep reading todays articles and ideas below:

-------------------------

I have always said if printing money solves economic problems how come we still have economic problems?

Our money supply, basically our currency the U.S. dollar, is handled by the Federal Reserve (Fed). One of their missions is to assist in the financial stability of the `system` any way it can. It has limits on what it can do, yet some argue it has exceeded those limits in recent decades.

The savings and loan bailout in the 80’s, the 1997 Long Term Capital Management rescue, the dot com crash combined with the Y2K scare, then 9/11, the 08 real estate crash and now CoVid 19, the reasons for Fed intervention can be argued on each occasion.  Interestingly, each subsequent crisis has been bigger than the last, and therefore each intervention by the Fed has encompassed more and more money.

The Fed has a handful of tools it can use to try and juice the economy from what ails it. Those tools include lowering overnight interest rates (Fed Funds Rate) so financial institutions can borrow money cheaply. Lower overnight rates bleed over to consumer credit rates making overall borrowing costs cheaper. The Fed can also add funds to the Repurchase Agreement mechanism (REPO) which lubricates the conduit for corporate credit. The REPO market can and has frozen up during times of severe market stress. The Fed can buy Treasury and agency debt (called Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is often mentioned in the news as a major tool of the Fed. Increasing QE increases the U.S. government deficit. It is seldom argued the tools mentioned are outside of the Feds permitted actions.

Where the Feds cross into the proverbial grey area is in the purchasing of private debt (corporate bonds and bond funds) or outright loaning money to private for-profit companies. They may also, in conjunction with the treasury department or related government entity, be buying individual company stock or stock funds outright. Most analysts agree this would definitely be outside their scope of permitted actions.

Much of the money created by the Federal Reserve is funneled to the U.S. government directly for stimulus payments and programs, infrastructure and other projects and direct assistance to consumers.

Each time questions have been raised about the legality of Fed intervention, the reasoning trumps the discussion. In other words, many in Congress may be hesitant to voice concerns over reining in the Fed’s actions when Americans are in dire need of assistance.

It is interesting to note that the Feds obviously feels the tools it explicitly has is not enough if it is tip toeing around in the grey areas of its mandate.

The Fed could be said to have ventured off course in the recent bailouts starting even before the 08 housing crisis without much objection. The Fed governors may be of the opinion as long as the economic needs are great enough, the rules it operates under should and will be relaxed. After all, it has repeatedly dipped its proverbial toe into other areas of influence without much fanfare throughout the many economic crisis that have occurred in recent decades.

The real question may be does the main tool of the Fed, which is manufacturing paper currency (the U.S. dollar) to throw wherever needed, really solve a crisis or is it just “papering over a symptom” of a much greater problem?

Since the bailouts are getting larger and larger with each crisis, are they using permanent solutions or are they just pushing the day of reckoning (if there is one) further out into the future?

If the next crisis is even larger, when it comes, can the same tools be used again and again without ramifications?

Experts disagree on the answer to this question but a major concern is inflation raising its ugly head sometime in the near or far future due to the massive increase in the money supply from all the bailouts.

Other countries throughout civilization who have tried monetary creation to permanently solve economic crisis have not come out unscathed. The ramifications have run the gamut to moderate inflation, creeping stagflation (economic stagnation coupled with inflation) or a complete currency collapse.

 

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, investment advisory firm, news media company, or broker dealer. Nothing stated on this site is meant to insure a guarantee of any kind, or to be construed as individual advice. Neither Money Management Radio (“Money Matters”) nor Bay Area Process receive, control, access or monitor client funds, accounts, or portfolios. For a full list of the services Marc Cuniberti provides, please contact him directly. California Insurance License #0L34249. Insurance services offered independently through Marc Cuniberti and not affiliated with any RIA firm or entity. (530)559-1214

 

 

Our insurance professionals are at your service for home, auto, life, health, accident and income products

Call me directly (530)559-1214

Marc 

 


 
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