Staying local: Insurance broker warns against over the phone Medicare enrollment

The annual open enrollment period for Medicare, a federal health insurance program is between Oct. 15-Dec. 7.

During this period, people enrolled on Medicare can make changes to their plans, according to insurance broker Howard Fryman. He said while the typical period to make changes to your plan is happening currently, he has been able to help clients make changes to their accounts during other windows.

"I'm a broker. A broker doesn't work for a company. I work for my clients, I represent them," he said. "An agent normally is a person with a specific company … by law, they can't talk about that other company. They can only present what their company has."

The vast majority of people enrolled on Medicare are 65 or older, according to Fryman, but the insurance can cover other specified individuals such as those with disabilities. If someone has been enrolled on social security for two years, they are put on Medicare.

Medicare plans offer parts A and B. Medicare part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care, according to medicare.gov. Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.

Fryman said there is no premium for part A, and the premium for part B has increased by $10 this year, up to $175.

"When you get on medicare, there are gaps in the coverage," he said. "Medicare was never designed to pay for everything, and there is no maximum out of pocket, the sky is the limit."

Fryman warned against taking a Medicare plan from agents who contact you on the phone. He said knowing the qualifications of the agent on the other end of the line should be the first priority for anyone who receives these calls. He said around 95% of agents aren't in the business one year after receiving their license.

Personally, Fryman has over 17 years of experience with Medicare, being enrolled on a plan himself.

Comparison, according to Fryman, is the key to finding the right plan. He said a large part of his job as a broker is to compare different plans his clients can enroll in to find the one which best fills his clients needs.

Recently, Fryman has encountered clients affected by the change in insurance network acceptance. He said these issues can be addressed by diligent plan comparison.

"There are legitimate agents that come in from Lexington and Louisville and Northern Kentucky and other places, but they don't know the local market," Fryman said. "All they're doing is taking money out of Harrison County."