Cepero Senior Advocates

01/15/2026

Are you turning 65 and still working? Here is a break down of how coverage works if you decide to keep your employer based coverage.

Are you turning 65 and covered by an employer health plan based on your active work or your spouses work? If the employer has 20 employees or more, the primary coverage will be the employer health plan and the secondary Will be Medicare. If the employer has less than 20 employees, the primary coverage will be Medicare (you need both A AND B ), and the secondary will be the employer health plan.

Are you on Social Security disability prior to age 65 and covered by an employer health based plan on your active work or your spouses work? ( YOU MUST HAVE MEDICARE PART A IN THIS SITUATION), if the employer has 100 or more employees then the employer based plan is primary and Medicare A (part b is optional) would be secondary. If the employer has less than 100 employees, MEDICARE (will need both A and B in this situation) will be primary and the employer based plan will be secondary.

Will you be covered by COBRA after separating service from your employer or your spouses employer (not based on active work), then any size employer, Medicare (need both A and B ) will be primary, secondary will be COBRA.

Are you 65 and covered by a retiree employer based health plan ( not based on active work), retiree plan coordinates with Medicare and Medicare A and B will be primary, then secondary will be the retiree plan.
If the retiree plan is a Medicare Advantage plan, then the retiree plan will be primary and the secondary is Not applicable in this situation.

Again, as always, if you or anyone you know needs help, call me @ 239-223-4863 Laura Cepero with Cepero Senior Advocates!

11/12/2025

One of the things that is really hard being a broker is when you get those calls from people who have been on Medicare already for 20 years at least and we’re sold a supplement plan, but we’re never told about about part D,and now they call me wanting me to put them on a part D plan and I have to explain to them about the late penalty. They want to blame their previous employer, but the truth of it is, it is down to yourself to get yourself educated about how Medicare works.

I implore everybody to educate themselves before you find yourself in a similar situation. The late penalty is 1 % of the National base, beneficial premium. The NBPP is set for each year. For 2025, it is $36.78. For example : If you had 14 full months without coverage, your penalty would be 14 % of the NBPP. 14 % × $36.78 = $5.15 (rounded to the nearest $0.10 → $5.20) added monthly to your monthly part D premium. So it’s on TOP of your monthly premium for as long as you have drug coverage.

If you don’t enroll in a part B plan, the late penalty is even more. The late penalty for part B is 10% for each full 12 month period you go without it. It too is added to your part B premium once you enroll. So if you go 24 months without enrolling, your penalty would be 10%x’s 2=20%. 20% x’s $185= $37 added monthly, for life.

Ways to avoid penalty’s. If you have credible coverage through an employer or a spouse who is still working. Once you lose credible coverage through an employer group, you have eight months to enroll.

If the above example isn’t plausible, then you have three months before you turn 65, your birthday month, and then three months after you turn 65, to enroll. I always advise my clients to enroll on the front end to allow yourself time to explore your options and really figure out what type of plan fits YOUR needs.

Please don’t wait. Ask any and all questions. And please don’t say you want what your great aunt Betty has. Because we can’t guarantee that same plan is even around anymore, let alone will cover all of YOUR providers and prescriptions you may take. There are so many variables. Find a good broker that YOU feel comfortable with. Even I’ve had people refer me to doctors they love but I don’t like them for one reason or another(not necessarily always a doctor but just using that as an example).

Thank you. This is my free service announcement for the day!

11/10/2025

I love what I do. Helping the senior community, networking, talking to people and making those connections. I don’t look at potential clients as paychecks. I look at them as human beings. We are all trying to figure this life out together. And if I can help someone out, then that makes my day, week, year! If I can’put someone in a better plan, they still made a friend. All people want is for you to talk to them as humans. Some need you to be direct, and some just need an ear to listen…a friend.

Despite the heat, today was an amazing day in Pine Island. Thankful for my husband, for helping me and being with me for not just today’s event, but yesterday’s as well! His continuous support as I basically start my Medicare path all over again when I became an independent broker. And thank you Vicky Garden and Kip for coming out and sitting with us.

God bless our Veterans! Especially my son, Carson Winquist. I love you!

11/06/2025

🌟📣 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period🌟…ends December 7th! I am busy busy but will always make time for every single person who calls or needs my help! 💕

There are a lot of changes happening this year, and I don’t want you to miss out. 💬 Many plans are ending December 31st, and that honestly scares me for the older population who are just comfortable where they are!

Please call or message me soon so we can review your options, make sure you’re not losing important benefits, and see if you qualify for extra savings or Medicaid.

💊 The Medicare Part B premium is increasing to $206 in 2026, but maybe I can help you save that amount and lower your prescription costs! 💰

⭐️ And if you’re turning 65 soon, let’s connect 3–4 months ahead of time so you’re ready when the time comes!

😄….side-note if you’re my family or my friend on Medicare…..why haven’t you called me yet?!! I’m pretty sure your other friends and family already have!!! 😉😂 I’m here to help……you can trust me to do what’s best for you.🩷💗

Medicare Insurance Broker❤️💙

10/29/2025

When you put in the work and a carrier recognizes that! They put you as the agent of contact in their mailers they send out. Thank you, WellCare!

10/26/2025

I want to express this again. Now that AEP has started, I want to remind everyone. Clients and agents. We cannot stress enough that even if your favorite auntie or your bestie from back in the days of being on the womb, a good agent will NOT put you on the same plan as them just because they tell you it is the best. It’s the best for THEM! We do not know their medications, providers, etc. and we cannot take that info from you just because you know or have an idea. A responsible agent will “triage” you and get a thorough list of providers you see, medications you take with dosages so we can find YOU the best plan for YOU! Stop looking at the “extras” like the OTC, and the freebies. Priority should always be your personal healthcare which always should include good dental benefits(bad teeth can lead to other medical issues)! Then we can look for extras! Be prudent with your healthcare!

10/26/2025

It’s been a long, but productive past two weeks since the start of AEP! One Oktoberfest over and it’s time to relax! (For today anyways).

God is oh so good! Had some amazing conversations with new clients/leads!

10/18/2025

It’s that time of year!

10/04/2025