About Me: Your Insurance Partner
Who am I?
My name is Andrea Smith, and I am a licensed Medicare Insurance Broker based in California’s Central Valley. I work with clients throughout the state of California, helping them navigate their Medicare options with confidence and ease.
My Mission
Medicare can be confusing, but I strive to help to make it clear. I provide personalized guidance and support to help you understand your options and feel confident in your coverage decisions.
The Process
The Process
- Explore: Schedule an appointment and complete a thorough needs assessment to review your situation, preferences, and budget
- Research: I’ll do the heavy lifting and identify which plans may work best based on what we discussed
- Decide: We will meet to go over one or two options that best meet your needs. If you choose to enroll, I can help with that too
Get to know your options
Original Medicare, Medicare AdvantagE, Medicare Supplement
Original Medicare
- Federal program that includes Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical)
- Helps cover hospital care, doctor visits, preventive services, and other medically necessary care
- Does not include prescription drug coverage (Part D), which can be added separately
Medicare Advantage
- Offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare
- Includes Part A and Part B, and many plans also include Part D (prescription drugs)
- Some plans may offer extra benefits such as dental, vision, or hearing
- Costs, coverage, and provider networks vary by plan and location
Medicare Supplement
- Helps pay Medicare copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles
- Works only with Original Medicare (not Medicare Advantage)
- Accepted nationwide by providers who take Medicare
- Does not include prescription drug coverage (Part D sold separately)
Medicaid, Prescription Drug, Dental/Vision/Hearing
Medi-Cal
- Provides healthcare coverage for people with limited income and resources
- May cover extra services that Medicare does not, like long-term care
- Can work together with Medicare if you qualify for both
- Helps reduce or eliminate certain healthcare costs, such as premiums or copayments
Prescription Drug
- Can be added to Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement plan (not needed with most Medicare Advantage plans)
- Each plan has its own list of covered drugs (formulary)
- Monthly premiums, deductibles, and copayments vary by plan
-You need to have creditable prescription drug coverage, or you may pay a late enrollment penalty
Dental, Vision and Hearing
- Stand-alone plans that help cover dental, vision, and hearing services
- Not included in Original Medicare or Medicare Supplement plans
- Can be added alongside Original Medicare and/or a Medicare Supplement
- Benefits, providers, and costs vary by plan