Senior Medicare Advantage plan insurance in Greenwood, SC

Ask us Anything

843-991-2695

Free Consultation Request

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 Greenwood or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.

Service Areas

Guiding You Through The Confusion of Medicare!

Request a Consultation

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:

Senior Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Greenwood, SC

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 Greenwood

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 Greenwood 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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood. 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.

'We need that comfort': Family of Greenwood man looks for answers 2 months since disappearance

GREENWOOD, S.C. —It has almost been two months since 28-year-old Kenneth Hughes was last seen.However, no matter how bad the weather was Thursday, friends, family, and the Greenwood community came together to lift each other's spirits in hopes Hughes will come home.In a dark church in Greenwood County, the family and friends of Kenneth Hughes came together to pray for a miracle.Hughes was last seen off of Rush Road in Hodges, South Carolina, on Nov. 16. Since then, the family has dealt with ...

GREENWOOD, S.C. —

It has almost been two months since 28-year-old Kenneth Hughes was last seen.

However, no matter how bad the weather was Thursday, friends, family, and the Greenwood community came together to lift each other's spirits in hopes Hughes will come home.

In a dark church in Greenwood County, the family and friends of Kenneth Hughes came together to pray for a miracle.

Hughes was last seen off of Rush Road in Hodges, South Carolina, on Nov. 16. Since then, the family has dealt with the ups and downs of new leads and disappointment.

"I mean, we do get leads. Not every day but every so often and we get excited because we think we're going to find him. Then we hit a brick wall and then it's nothing. Then we get another lead and it's the same thing," Hughes' aunt, Rhonda Crenshaw, said.

Crenshaw said Hughes' son is also taking it hard as he waits for his dad to come home.

"He's been asking when his daddy is coming to see him. He's been crying wanting to know if he is going to see him again. It's just sad. He doesn't understand, he's 6," Crenshaw said.

"We appreciate the communities support and willingness to help in all of the searches that have been conducted to try and locate Hughes. Our investigators are continuing to track down leads and interview those willing to speak to us. We ask that anyone that may have any information to come forward or submit it anonymously by calling 1-888-crime-sc."

Tracking Coronavirus in Greenwood County, S.C.: Latest Map and Case Count

Latest trendsHigher test positivity rates are a sign that many infections are not reported — even if they are tested for at home. This results in a more severe undercount of cases. The number of hospitalized patients with Covid is a more reliable measure because testing is more consistent in hospitals. Read more about the data....

Latest trends

Higher test positivity rates are a sign that many infections are not reported — even if they are tested for at home. This results in a more severe undercount of cases. The number of hospitalized patients with Covid is a more reliable measure because testing is more consistent in hospitals. Read more about the data.

In data for South Carolina, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. The state releases new data once a week. It released new data daily until June 12, 2021, and new data all weekdays until March 15, 2022. The state reports cases and deaths based on a person’s permanent or usual residence.

The Times has identified reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data.

The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths.

Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments.

Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible. For agencies that do not report data every day, variation in the schedule on which cases or deaths are reported, such as around holidays, can also cause an irregular pattern in averages. The Times uses an adjustment method to vary the number of days included in an average to remove these irregularities.

FOX Carolina Investigates a deadly dinner in Greenwood

GREENWOOD, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - A new agency will soon be in charge of making sure your food is safe.So FOX Carolina Investigates is looking at how inspections can improve because -- as one Upstate family found out -- they can be the difference between life and death.Sept. 19, 2020On September 19, 2020, John Laughlin picked up food from International Café in Greenwood, according to a lawsuit. Laughlin ordered fried rice and chicken wings for him, his wife and sister-in-law to share.Hours later, all three...

GREENWOOD, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - A new agency will soon be in charge of making sure your food is safe.

So FOX Carolina Investigates is looking at how inspections can improve because -- as one Upstate family found out -- they can be the difference between life and death.

Sept. 19, 2020

On September 19, 2020, John Laughlin picked up food from International Café in Greenwood, according to a lawsuit. Laughlin ordered fried rice and chicken wings for him, his wife and sister-in-law to share.

Hours later, all three were sick.

The next day, Laughlin was dead.

We filed a Freedom of Information Act request and uncovered that 19 complaints were filed with the state about International Café and customers getting sick.

The first was filed on March 29, 2020, and another in August 2020.

Then, in September 2020, 15 were filed, including nine on September 19, the same day Laughlin ordered from the restaurant.

According to a lawsuit filed by Laughlin’s wife against International Café, the rice Laughlin ordered had “been left sitting at room temperature for far too long and was contaminated with a bacteria” that can cause food poisoning.

Earlier this year, International Café settled the lawsuit for $825,000.

“We hope no one else will lose a loved one due to the failure to follow basic food procedures,” said Tombo Hite and Heather Hite Stone, Laughlin’s attorneys, in a statement.

We reached out to the attorneys who represented International Café in the lawsuit. Richard Simmons II, who worked the case, said they are pleased a settlement was reached.

“This settlement is fair for all the parties involved and satisfactorily resolves this matter,” Simmons said. “We wish the Laughlin Family all the best in the future.”

However, inspections from the Department of Health and Environmental Control show there were more issues at International Café.

In June 2022, another person reported getting sick after eating there. The following day DHEC inspected and found handwashing violations. Still, the restaurant got an A grade.

In April this year, another person reported getting sick, DHEC inspected and found managers lacked proper certification for handling food. They also noted issues with handwashing, citing it as a repeated violation.

Again, the restaurant got an A that stayed in place until they permanently closed in September, according to business filings.

On July 1, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture will take over food safety, which includes restaurant inspections.

“There’s a lot policies and practices and standard operating procedures that we’re going to address to try to make some of the decision making at the frontline level as opposed to having to go up the chain so to speak,” said Derek Underwood, the assistant commissioner for consumer protection with SCDA.

We asked Underwood if the department would be changing grading guidelines and implementing stricter penalties.

Underwood said they can’t comment on that yet but told us they’ll be taking a look at giving inspectors more power in the field.

“We’ll have a lot of policies and procedures in place that will assist our food safety officers in the field to be able to make determinations and take actions that now it might take a little bit longer to go through the chain of command of the process,” Underwood said.

Crews respond to reported wildfire in Greenwood Co.

GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina Forestry Commission said crews are on the scene of an active wildfire in Greenwood County.Officials said the wildfire was reported around 4:56 a.m. at the 8300 block of McCormick Highway.As of 6 a.m., crews remain on the scene to extinguish the fir...

GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina Forestry Commission said crews are on the scene of an active wildfire in Greenwood County.

Officials said the wildfire was reported around 4:56 a.m. at the 8300 block of McCormick Highway.

As of 6 a.m., crews remain on the scene to extinguish the fire.

7NEWS will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

Which grocery stores will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2023?

Best glitter eyeshadow palette for the perfect New …

Holiday / 3 hours ago

Here are the best glittery eyeshadow palettes to give you the perfect New Year’s Eve look.

Top-rated blenders, smoothie makers and accessories …

Holiday / 2 days ago

We’ve compiled a list of top blenders and accessories to make the best smoothies and help you reach your New Year’s goals.

Drew Barrymore’s Hero Pan makes elegant, trendy cookware …

Cookware / 3 days ago

Drew Barrymore’s Hero Pan can replace four other tools and be used to boil, strain, sauté, simmer, pan fry, sear, braise, steam, stir fry and serve food.

View All BestReviews

World News

View All World News

WSPA Videos

Family, lawmaker call for release of Greenwood woman in prison for manslaughter

GREENWOOD, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Family, friends, and supporters of Tiffany Carroll are coming together to call for the release of the mother of five.The Greenwood native is serving a 15-year sentence in the 2017 death of her abusive boyfriend.“We’re calling for the release and exoneration of Tiffany Carroll,” said Rep. John McCravy.For three and a half years, Carroll’s family has been hoping she can come home.“My family grieves every day. We are in pain and sorrow,” said her si...

GREENWOOD, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Family, friends, and supporters of Tiffany Carroll are coming together to call for the release of the mother of five.

The Greenwood native is serving a 15-year sentence in the 2017 death of her abusive boyfriend.

“We’re calling for the release and exoneration of Tiffany Carroll,” said Rep. John McCravy.

For three and a half years, Carroll’s family has been hoping she can come home.

“My family grieves every day. We are in pain and sorrow,” said her sister Brenda McCullough.

In 2019, Carroll pleaded guilty but mentally ill to manslaughter in the death of William Jamal Johnson.

Carroll stabbed Johnson while the two were fighting.

After her arrest, a licensed clinical psychologist reported Carroll was in a “cycle of violence” and diagnosed her with Battered Woman Syndrome.

“We can’t say enough times that Tiffany was a victim of domestic violence,” said Meg’s House Executive Director Alice Hodges.

Carroll’s former second-grade teacher Mary Ann Wingard reconnected in recent years with Carroll and brought her case to the attention of Rep. McCravy.

“I noticed she looked very sad and very tired, but she was the same sweet person that I had known as a student,” said Wingard.

“The more I looked at it, the more I became convinced that the only way justice could be served is to free Tiffany from prison,” added McCravy.

McCravy is applying for a pardon for Carroll and says he has spoken with the eighth circuit solicitor, who reportedly told him he has no objections to a pardon and would even write a letter of support.

“She was not herself, she was not the (Tiffany) that we know, and we want her home, and she should be home with her family,” said McCullough.

McCravy says he could file the pardon paperwork as soon as next week. According to the SCDPPPS, it typically takes 7-9 months after pardon applications are submitted for a hearing date to be scheduled.

Carroll is also eligible for parole, and McCravy says she will have a hearing later this year.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.