Insurance Solutions with Nicole Benner

08/28/2026

🌴☀️ FUN FRIDAY! ☀️🌴

Okay, Florida friends… let's see where everybody came from! 👀

👇 Were you BORN in Florida, or did you MOVE here?

If you're a Florida transplant, tell me:
📍 Where did you move from?
🌴 What year did you make Florida home?

And if you're one of the elusive native Floridians, you definitely need to check in. 😂🙋‍♀️

BONUS QUESTION:
What made you choose Southwest Florida? ❤️
The beaches? 🏖️
The weather? ☀️
Family? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Retirement? 🌴

Or did you come on vacation one year and decide you were NEVER leaving? 😂
👇 Florida roll call starts now!

08/27/2026

👯‍♀️ “My neighbor LOVES her Medicare plan… so I should get the same one!”

Not so fast, Barbara. 😂

Your neighbor might absolutely LOVE her plan and it might be a great plan!..For her. ❤️

When it comes to Medicare, there really isn't one “best” plan for everyone.

Your neighbor may have:
👩‍⚕️ Different doctors
💊 Different prescriptions
🏥 Different healthcare needs
💰 Different priorities when it comes to costs
🦷 Different benefits that matter to her

That's why I don't recommend choosing a Medicare plan just because your friend, neighbor, spouse or sister loves theirs.

We look at YOU — your doctors, your medications, your healthcare needs and what's important to you.

Because the best Medicare plan isn't necessarily the one your neighbor loves…

🌴 It's the one that fits YOU.

08/26/2026

🚨 IMPORTANT LOCAL INSURANCE UPDATE

I’ve already had questions about the announcement that Lee Health will be leaving UnitedHealthcare’s network beginning January 1, 2027.

This is NOT just a Medicare issue.

The change affects certain UnitedHealthcare:

🔹 Employer health plans
🔹 Individual health plans
🔹 Medicare Advantage plans

One important exception: If you have Original Medicare with a UnitedHealthcare/AARP Medicare Supplement (Medigap), this network change does not affect your supplement.

❤️ Most importantly — don’t panic and don’t make changes based on a headline.

Different types of insurance have different enrollment rules and options, and what this means for you depends on the coverage you actually have.

If you’re one of my clients and aren’t sure whether you’re affected, call or message me.

If you’re not currently a client but have UnitedHealthcare and use Lee Health, you’re welcome to reach out too. I’m happy to help you figure out what type of coverage you have and what your options may be.

We have time. Let’s make informed decisions instead of rushed ones. ❤️

Lee Health announced on Wednesday that beginning in 2027, Lee Health hospitals and physicians will be out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare customers.

08/26/2026

💰 Have you had the same Medicare Supplement for YEARS? You may be paying more than you need to.

I've been seeing this a lot lately especially with people who have Plan F.
Their supplement premium has increased year after year, but they never thought to shop it.

Why?

Because many people assume:
“I like my supplement. I don't want to change my coverage.”

Here's what a lot of people don't realize:
👉 Medicare Supplements are standardized.

That means a Plan G is a Plan G regardless of which insurance company is providing it. The benefits are standardized but the PRICE can be very different from one company to another.

So sometimes we can shop another company and find the same letter plan at a lower premium. 💰

And if you currently have Plan F, there's another comparison worth making.
Plan F and Plan G have very similar standardized benefits.

The big difference?
🔹 Plan F: Covers the Medicare Part B deductible.
🔹 Plan G: You pay the Part B deductible yourself.

For 2026, that deductible is $283 for the YEAR.

So here's the question I want my Plan F clients asking:
🤔 “How much extra am I paying in premiums each year just to have that $283 deductible covered?”

For example, if switching to a Plan G could hypothetically save you $70 per month:
$70 × 12 = $840 in annual premium savings

Pay the $283 Part B deductible yourself…
And you're still potentially $557 ahead for the year. 👀

That doesn't mean everyone with Plan F should switch to Plan G.

Your rate, health, eligibility and ability to change policies all need to be considered.
But if you haven't compared your Medicare Supplement rates in years?

❤️ It's worth taking a look.

You don't necessarily have to give up the freedom and coverage you love about having a Medicare Supplement just to see whether you're paying too much for it.
Sometimes the best Medicare review isn't about changing how you're insured.
It's simply making sure you're not overpaying for it.

08/25/2026

📞 “I think someone changed my Medicare plan…”

I got a call from a client earlier this year who was really upset.
She had answered a call from an insurance agent she didn't know.
During the conversation, she agreed to enroll in a different Medicare plan.

The problem?
She didn't fully understand what she was changing or what she was giving up.
It wasn't until later she realized her new plan didn't include some of the benefits she had been receiving before, including $30 a month that had been helping her with groceries.

That's $360 over the course of a year.

She called me hoping we could just switch her back.
And unfortunately, I had to give her an answer I HATE giving:
“Right now, we can't.” 💔

At that point, we didn't have an enrollment period available that would allow us to simply change her plan again. We would have to wait until October.

She had no idea that saying “yes” on that phone call could leave her locked into a plan she didn't want.

So please remember this:
📞 You do NOT have to make a Medicare decision because someone calls you.
If an agent calls and starts telling you about another plan, it's perfectly okay to say:
“Thank you. I already have an agent. I'll talk to her before I make any changes.”
Then hang up and call me. ❤️

Maybe the other plan really does offer something worth considering. If it does, we'll look at it together.

We'll compare your doctors. 👩‍⚕️
Your prescriptions. 💊
Your costs. 💰
Your benefits. 🦷
And what you may be giving up.

Then YOU can make an informed decision.

I'd much rather spend 20 minutes helping you review something before you change your coverage than have you call me afterward and discover there isn't an enrollment period available to change it back.

📌 When it comes to Medicare, never be afraid to say: “Let me call my agent first.”
That's what I'm here for. ❤️

Shared with identifying details omitted to protect my client's privacy.

08/24/2026

👩‍⚕️ “My doctor takes Medicare, so I'm good… right?”

Maybe, but there's an important distinction! 👀

A doctor's office can tell you they “take Medicare” without necessarily participating in your specific Medicare Advantage plan's network.

And that's something you definitely want to find out before you need an appointment. 😬

When I'm helping someone compare Medicare plans, I don't just look at benefits. We also look at the things that actually matter to THEIR healthcare:

👩‍⚕️ Are your doctors in network?
🏥 What about your preferred hospitals?
💊 Are your prescriptions covered?
💰 What will your healthcare actually cost?

Because a plan can look fantastic on paper…but it isn't a great plan for you if it doesn't work with the doctors and healthcare you actually use.

🌴 Medicare tip: Don't just ask, “Do you take Medicare?”

Ask whether they accept your specific Medicare plan. ❤️

08/22/2026

🌴 I’ll be at the 2026 Englewood Health & Wellness Fair! ❤️

Come out and say hi on Saturday, September 12th from 10 AM–3 PM at Tringali Park in Englewood!

I’ll be there representing Insurance Solutions with Nicole Benner and answering questions about:

❤️ Medicare
🌿 Individual & family health insurance
🛡️ Life insurance & supplemental coverage
💬 And all those insurance questions you’ve been meaning to ask someone!

One of my favorite parts of what I do is helping people understand their options without all the insurance jargon — so if you have a question, bring it with you!

There will also be other local health and wellness vendors and resources to check out throughout the day.

📍 Tringali Park
3460 N. Access Rd., Englewood
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM–3:00 PM

Whether you’re already a client, have a question, or just happen to be at the fair…

Stop by my table and say hi! 👋🌴 I’d love to see you.

08/21/2026

🌴☀️ FUN FRIDAY! ☀️🌴
Okay, Southwest Florida… this one should be EASY. 😂
📸 SHOW ME YOUR SUNSET! 🌅
We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world for sunsets, and I know I'm not the only one with approximately 4,372 sunset pictures on my phone. 😂
👇 Drop your favorite sunset photo in the comments!
Bonus points if you tell us where you took it. 📍
Englewood Beach? Boca Grande? Venice? Your own backyard? Somewhere completely different?
I'll go first! ❤️🌴

08/20/2026

❤️ “But I LOVE my Medicare plan!”

I love hearing that! And if your plan is working well for you, that's a GOOD thing. 🙌
But here's something that's really important to remember:

📅 Medicare plans can change from year to year.

Even if you've been happy with your plan, things like these may look different for the upcoming year:
💊 Prescription coverage and costs
👩‍⚕️ Provider networks
🏥 Copays and other out-of-pocket costs
🦷 Dental, vision and other extra benefits
💰 Deductibles and plan costs

That doesn't mean you need to change plans every year! In fact, after reviewing everything, staying exactly where you are may still be the best choice. ❤️
The important part is simply checking.

Your healthcare needs can change. Your plan can change. And a quick annual review can make sure the two still fit.

🌴 Love your plan. Just don't put your Medicare coverage on autopilot.

08/19/2026

🚨 LOCAL MEDICARE HEADS UP — PLEASE READ! 🚨

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan in Port Charlotte, Englewood, North Port, Venice or the surrounding area, I want you to pay especially close attention to your mail and any notices you're receiving from your doctors right now.

We are seeing a LOT of movement with local provider networks, and I've already started getting calls from people concerned about doctors they've been seeing for years no longer participating with their Medicare Advantage plan.

This is going to be a BIG thing I'm watching as we head into Medicare Annual Enrollment this fall. 👀

If you receive a letter saying that your:
👩‍⚕️ Primary care doctor
🩺 Specialist
🏥 Medical group
🏥 Hospital or facility

may no longer be participating with your plan, PLEASE DON'T IGNORE IT.

But also — don't panic and don't immediately change your coverage.
Keep the letter and reach out to me.

There can be a lot more to consider than simply whether one doctor's name appears on a list, and I want to look at the WHOLE picture before we decide what makes sense.

And for my current clients — this is exactly the kind of thing I'll be watching as we prepare for annual reviews. ❤️

This year, checking your provider network is going to be especially important in our area.

📬 So please, please read those letters!

And if you aren't sure what something means, send it to me. That's what I'm here for.

🌴 Nicole Benner Insurance
📍 Port Charlotte • Englewood • North Port • Venice & surrounding areas