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Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Florence or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
Service Areas
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Florence
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Florence is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance in Florence, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer senior Medicare Advantage Plan insurance in Florence. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Latest News in Florence, SC
Organization plans a Thanksgiving meal for all of Florence
Seth Taylorhttps://www.postandcourier.com/pee-dee/news/organization-plans-a-thanksgiving-meal-for-all-of-florence/article_25b23d9c-690e-11ee-b490-fb5d4a8136b2.html
FLORENCE – Jody and Bryan Ransom have a vision: hundreds of people gathered around a Thanksgiving table in the middle of Florence — friends, families, neighbors and even strangers enjoying a meal together, striking up conversations and building community.The Ransoms are the driving force behind a Thanksgiving community meal dubbed One Table Florence. The idea, taken from a similar event in Aiken, is to bring together people from across the city for a day of gratitude.Jody Ransom described the goal of the event as &l...
FLORENCE – Jody and Bryan Ransom have a vision: hundreds of people gathered around a Thanksgiving table in the middle of Florence — friends, families, neighbors and even strangers enjoying a meal together, striking up conversations and building community.
The Ransoms are the driving force behind a Thanksgiving community meal dubbed One Table Florence. The idea, taken from a similar event in Aiken, is to bring together people from across the city for a day of gratitude.
Jody Ransom described the goal of the event as “bringing the community together to strengthen our bonds, and restoring a sense of gratitude to Thanksgiving.”
The event is set to be held this Thanksgiving Day in Timrod Park. It will be free to all, and all are encouraged to attend, the Ransoms said.
‘I owe it all to the incubator:’ Gould, Kelley Centers support small business in Florence area
The Ransoms, who recently moved to Florence, attended One Table Aiken when they lived in the city. When they knew they were leaving, Jody Ransom shadowed the organizers in hopes of bringing the concept to their new home.
In August, the couple decided now was the time. They’ve been meeting with community organizations, local churches and elected officials to get the ball rolling.
Without donations, the event would cost an estimated $30,000, Bryan Ransom said. He expects to need about 200 volunteers. However, various organizations have already committed volunteers, funding, tableware and help cooking, he said.
The introduction of the event to Florence comes as One Table Aiken shuts down, at least temporarily.
The event’s organizers told the Aiken Standard that inadequate facilities forced the meal to be canceled and said future iterations, if they occur, may have to be restructured.
In past years, Aiken’s events have hosted more than a thousand people, and the Ransoms are shooting for a lofty goal in the first iteration in Florence: 2,500 attendees.
Those attendees will meet at Timrod Park, where they’ll jump in line with other Florence residents from different backgrounds. As they move through, selecting from sides made by local community organizations and the obligatory turkey, the attendees will strike up conversations with someone they may not have met otherwise. Maybe they’ll continue their conversation at the table, or maybe they’ll find someone else to sit with, creating yet another connection.
That’s the idea, at least.
The Ransoms hope to reach people in Florence who don’t have Thanksgiving plans, such as young adults who live away from family or older adults who live alone. However, they encourage everyone to come.
The Ransoms also emphasized the meal shouldn’t be thought of as a charity event. Instead, they want it to be thought of as a community event in the same way that Florence After 5 or the South Carolina Pecan Festival is.
“You want Thanksgiving to have this joy to it, and that’s what we’re trying to infuse in this,” he said. “... We don’t want people feeling like they’re coming out of need. They’re coming out of literally thanks and gratitude.”
In Aiken, the Ransoms said, they saw people working together and helping each other on the street during the event. Different communities that wouldn’t normally have interacted shared a meal and got to know each other better. They build connections they wouldn’t have otherwise.
Even people who you know – coworkers or fellow church goers – can take on a different light when you share a meal with them, the Ransoms said.
“We were overwhelmed by the atmosphere of community, the love and acceptance that was brought through the community gathering together, seeing how people from different walks of life, different backgrounds were all networking and intermingling,” Jody said.
More volunteers and donations are needed ahead of the Nov. 23 meal. More information is available at onetableflorence.com.
Judge orders Florence charter school to cease and desist from operating
Tonya Brownhttps://wpde.com/news/local/judge-orders-florence-charter-school-to-cease-and-desist-from-operating-palmetto-youth-academy-education-students-investigate
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — S.C. Administrative Law Court Judge Sebastien Phillip Lenski has ordered a Florence charter school to cease and desist from operating following a hearing last week in Columbia.Florence 1 Schools revoked Palmetto Youth Academy’s (PYA) charter on June 30 and the S.C. Department of Education closed the...
FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — S.C. Administrative Law Court Judge Sebastien Phillip Lenski has ordered a Florence charter school to cease and desist from operating following a hearing last week in Columbia.
Florence 1 Schools revoked Palmetto Youth Academy’s (PYA) charter on June 30 and the S.C. Department of Education closed the school on August 1.
Florence 1 Schools filed a motion for an injunctive relief asking a judge to issue a restraining order, appoint a receiver and issue a Writ of Mandamus demanding PYA close.
Lenski’s order said the “District has met its of burden of showing that preliminary relief is appropriate and necessary in this matter.”
He ordered the following:
“Palmetto Youth Academy (PYA), Palmetto Youth Services (PYS), Yvonne Brown-Burgess, and anyone acting on it or their behalf, including any officers, directors, administrators, board members, consultants, accountants or other professionals. SHALL CEASE AND DESIST from operating Palmetto Youth Academy Charter School as a charter school or holding Palmetto Youth Academy out as a charter school.”
The district said in court last week that PYA has between $800,000 to $1.2 million that doesn't belong to them, but to the taxpayers of Florence because their charter has been revoked.
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The judge appointed a receiver to investigate how much money has been spent and on what.
Lenski’s order further states the following:
“PYA, PYS, Yvonne Brown-Burgess, and anyone acting on it or their behalf, including any officers, directors, administrators, board members, consultants, accountants or other professionals, SHALL BE ENJOINED from engaging in any of the following acts:
(3) John Edward Haas, of 12 AshWorth Lane, Columbia, South Carolina 29206, SHALL BE APPOINTED AS RECEIVERS to manage and operate any property, funds, and other assets held or controlled by the PYA, PYS, and any affiliated entities, including but not limited to the balance in excess of $1,200,000 in Palmetto Youth Academy's fund account. The scope of the receivership, and the powers and limitations thereof, are set forth below:
Florence One Schools’ lawyer, Michael Montgomery released the following statement:
We are pleased that the Court has issued an order giving everyone an opportunity to learn the facts about PYA’s use of public funds and property. Florence School District One has two interests in this matter, ensuring that every child in the district has all possible educational opportunities and being accountable to its taxpayers for the expenditure of public funds. We believe that the actions the district has taken in the Administrative Law Court are geared entirely to those ends. As this matter is still actively being litigated, we will not comment further.
See below for previous coverage of Palmetto Youth Academy:
South Carolina 400 results from Florence Motor Speedway
Staff Reporthttps://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/11/19/south-carolina-400-results-florence-motor-speedway/
Pos No. Name Laps Diff 1 23 Kade Brown 250 — 2 10 Kaden Honeycutt 250 1.819 3 8 Carson Kvapil 250 2.001 4 62 Josh Berry 250 2.116 5 03 B...
| Pos | No. | Name | Laps | Diff |
| 1 | 23 | Kade Brown | 250 | — |
| 2 | 10 | Kaden Honeycutt | 250 | 1.819 |
| 3 | 8 | Carson Kvapil | 250 | 2.001 |
| 4 | 62 | Josh Berry | 250 | 2.116 |
| 5 | 03 | Brenden Queen | 250 | 2.526 |
| 6 | 28H | Landon S. Huffman | 250 | 2.969 |
| 7 | 57H | Jacob Heafner | 250 | 3.151 |
| 8 | 3 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 250 | 3.314 |
| 9 | 57Z | Connor Zilisch | 250 | 4.185 |
| 10 | 5L | Carter Langley | 250 | 4.288 |
| 11 | 51N | Stephen Nasse | 250 | 4.522 |
| 12 | 16K | Casey Kelley | 250 | 4.673 |
| 13 | 21B | Lanie Buice | 250 | 5.348 |
| 14 | 1 | Trent Barnes | 250 | 5.396 |
| 15 | 95 | Sam Yarbrough | 250 | 6.090 |
| 16 | 04 | Ronnie Bassett Jr. | 250 | 6.127 |
| 17 | 13 | Cody Kelley | 250 | 6.696 |
| 18 | 71 | Katie Hettinger | 250 | 6.778 |
| 19 | 09 | Riley Gentry | 250 | 7.633 |
| 20 | 30 | Paul Owens | 250 | 8.242 |
| 21 | 29 | Casey Wyatt | 250 | 8.408 |
| 22 | 18A | Anthony Adams | 250 | 9.742 |
| 23 | 88 | Doug Barnes Jr. | 243 | 7 Laps |
| 24 | 18R | David Roberts | 239 | 11 Laps |
| 25 | 75H | Landon Huffman | 222 | 28 Laps |
| 26 | 5B | Bryant Barnhill | 216 | 34 Laps |
| 27 | 11 | Josh Williams | 216 | 34 Laps |
| 28 | 18M | Truett Miranda | 214 | 36 Laps |
| 29 | 51 | Matt Cox | 212 | 38 Laps |
| 30 | 02 | Justin Milliken | 212 | 38 Laps |
| 31 | 43 | William Sawalich | 212 | 38 Laps |
| 32 | 7 | Tristan McKee | 194 | 56 Laps |
| 33 | 20 | Josh Dickens | 77 | 173 Laps |
| 34 | 16M | Adam McCumbee | 77 | 173 Laps |
| 35 | 2 | Brandon Pierce | 77 | 173 Laps |
| 36 | 32 | Zack Miracle | 77 | 173 Laps |
| 37 | 70 | Stuart Ricks | 77 | 173 Laps |
| 38 | T2 | Travis Truett | 71 | 179 Laps |
| 39 | 99 | Stacy Puryear | 71 | 179 Laps |
| 40 | 50 | BooBoo Dalton | 49 | 201 Laps |
| 41 | 55 | Mark Wertz | 3 | 247 Laps |
Crown Cork and Seal, USA Inc. coming to Florence County
Tyler Fedor tfedor@postandcourier.comhttps://www.postandcourier.com/pee-dee/business/crown-cork-and-seal-usa-inc-coming-to-florence-county/article_636cb4f6-3884-11ee-ab74-73124d6bba37.html
FLORENCE — Florence County will see a new manufacturer come in the form of Crown Cork and Seal USA Inc.The company makes metal cans for beverages, food and aerosol packaging and has operations worldwide. It also provides transportation packaging.The company plans to create 29 full-time jobs and invest more than $20 million, according to documents from Florence County Council.The company was formerly known as Project Mimosa. Its identity was disclosed was disclosed on the agenda for the Aug. 17 council meeting....
FLORENCE — Florence County will see a new manufacturer come in the form of Crown Cork and Seal USA Inc.
The company makes metal cans for beverages, food and aerosol packaging and has operations worldwide. It also provides transportation packaging.
The company plans to create 29 full-time jobs and invest more than $20 million, according to documents from Florence County Council.
The company was formerly known as Project Mimosa. Its identity was disclosed was disclosed on the agenda for the Aug. 17 council meeting.
Crown has locations in Darlington, Spartanburg, Greer, Cheraw and Latta. It did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Crown Cork’s parent company is Tampa, Fla.-based Crown Holdings, which reported $12.9 billion in sales last year. It has 200 other locations in 40 countries.
The company most recently expanded in Germany with the acquisition of a beverage can and end manufacturing plant, according to statement on the company’s website.
Crown Cork and Seal Company, Inc. is among defendants “in a substantial number of lawsuits filed throughout the U.S. by persons alleging bodily injury as a result of exposure to asbestos,” according to the quarterly filing. The claims are related to a U.S. company Crown purchased a majority share of stocks in, and merged with in 1963.
Gregg Robinson, chief executive officer of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership, would not comment Aug. 11 about the company coming to Florence and the lawsuits.
Multiple states, including South Carolina, have laws that limit asbestos-related liabilities of companies that have merged with other companies.
The law in South Carolina is called the Successor Asbestos-Related Liability Fairness Act passed in 2006.
The law limits liabilities to the fair market value of the total gross assets of the company that originally incurred the liabilities before merging with another company. The limit is determined at the time of the merger or consolidation. Companies are not responsible for any liabilities that go over this limit.
FLORENCE — Florence County Council is putting another $5 million into the AESC battery factory.
The money approved at the Dec. 14 meeting will be used for infrastructure improvements at the site. The funding goes toward the biggest investment in the county’s history, which was doubled dollar-wise Dec. 12.
“These commitments are going where they know they can have the strongest return on investment for the company,” Florence County Economic Development Partnership CEO Gregg Robinson said. “And in turn, we do as well.”
The county’s action comes following AESC announcing this week it will invest another $810 million into its battery operations in the county. Robinson said the size of the factory would be increased by 20 percent.
AESC’s initial investment, announced in December 2022, of $810 million would have created 1,170 jobs. The total employment count is now 1,620.
“It’s unreal what it can do for us,” said Willard Dorriety Jr., chairman of county council.
Earlier this month, the S.C. Joint Bond Review Committee on Dec. 5 approved an additional $50 million in incentives for AESC to help pay for roads, a $22 million training center, water and sewer infrastructure, and underground building-support structures.
“In order for us to hire the 1,600-plus employees, that is going to be a critical next step,” Robinson said of the training center.
The company also received a $135 million state grant to help pay for the project. Construction of the factory will start in the first quarter of 2024, and will require a concrete batching facility to be set up at the site.
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