I Know Medicare

I Know Medicare Medicare & Social Security Specialist serving Virginia & West Virginia. Helping with Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace plans & retirement benefits. Local support.

NABIP- West Virginia President-Elect

No dream has an expiration date. 🏔️
07/31/2026

No dream has an expiration date. 🏔️

🦷 A wise dentist once said: "You only have to take care of the teeth you want to keep." Dental care matters for more tha...
07/29/2026

🦷 A wise dentist once said: "You only have to take care of the teeth you want to keep." Dental care matters for more than just your smile. It's essential to your overall health.

Here's something a lot of people don't realize: most health insurance and Medicare plans don't include routine dental coverage, or they cover very little. A standalone dental plan can make preventive care like exams, cleanings, and x-rays more affordable, and depending on the plan, it may also help with fillings, crowns, root canals, dentures, and more. There are a few types to choose from, so the right fit depends on your budget and the care you expect to need.

Been meaning to look into dental coverage? We're happy to help you compare options or start a quote. Just reach out.

07/28/2026

Medigap or Medicare Advantage? They're not two versions of the same thing. They're two different structures.

Medigap (Medicare Supplement) works alongside Original Medicare. You keep Original Medicare, and the supplement helps with costs Original Medicare doesn't cover. Separate drug coverage is a separate decision.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces how you receive your Medicare benefits. It's an all-in-one plan through a private carrier, with its own network and its own rules.

Different premiums. Different networks. Different rules about switching later — and that last one catches people off guard.
There's no universally right answer. There's a right answer for you.

Let's talk it through. No cost, no pressure.
📞 540-440-5936
📅 iknowmedicare.net/contact

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Did you know your health insurance probably covers preventive care for $0? No copay, no coinsurance, and you don't even ...
07/27/2026

Did you know your health insurance probably covers preventive care for $0? No copay, no coinsurance, and you don't even have to meet your deductible first.

Most plans cover things like:
🩺 Annual checkups and well visits
💉 Flu shots and other vaccines
🩻 Some cancer screenings like mammograms
🩸 Blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings

The main catch: Be sure to see an in-network provider, and make sure your visit is billed as a screening and not a diagnosis. When in doubt, just ask before your appointment.

That yearly checkup you've been putting off might already be covered. Want to know what your plan includes? Send us a message and we'll help you find out.

Heads up to employers and HR teams: if your benefit plan runs on a calendar year, Form 5500 is due July 31. Form 5500 is...
07/24/2026

Heads up to employers and HR teams: if your benefit plan runs on a calendar year, Form 5500 is due July 31. Form 5500 is the annual report that many employee benefit plans must file with the Department of Labor. Whether you need to file depends on your plan type and size. For example, welfare plans with 100 or more participants at the start of the plan year generally have to file, while many smaller insured plans are exempt. Need more time? You can request an automatic extension with Form 5558, but it has to be filed by July 31 too. Not sure where you stand? Don't wait until the deadline. Reach out and we'll help you figure out your filing requirements.

Ever feel like some foods are just easier to overeat? Science backs that up. In a closely watched NIH study, 20 adults s...
07/22/2026

Ever feel like some foods are just easier to overeat? Science backs that up. In a closely watched NIH study, 20 adults spent two weeks eating mostly ultra-processed foods and two weeks eating mostly whole, minimally processed foods. Both diets offered the same calories and nutrients on paper. The result? People ate about 500 more calories a day during the processed phase and gained a small amount of weight, while the whole-foods phase had the opposite effect. Researchers think things like eating speed, texture, and how easy processed foods are to eat may play a role. The takeaway isn't to chase perfection. Small swaps, like more fruits and veggies or a simple home-cooked meal, can add up over time.

🎯 Challenge yourself: what's one whole-food swap you could try every day this week?

07/21/2026

Turning 65 but still working? Two questions decide almost everything.

1️⃣ How many people does your employer have?
20 or more — your employer plan usually pays first, and you can often delay Part B.
Fewer than 20 — Medicare usually becomes primary at 65. Skip it, and your employer plan may pay very little of your bills.

2️⃣ What are you actually paying?
Premiums, deductible, drug coverage, network. Sometimes staying on the employer plan wins. Sometimes it doesn't.
Most people never run the comparison. That's the mistake.

📞 540-440-5936
📅 iknowmedicare.net/contact/

If premiums, deductibles, and prescription costs feel like a lot on a fixed income, there are several federal and state ...
07/20/2026

If premiums, deductibles, and prescription costs feel like a lot on a fixed income, there are several federal and state programs that may help lower those expenses.

👉 Medicare Savings Programs are available in some areas, and can help cover Part A and Part B costs.
👉 Extra Help is a program that offers assistance to cover prescription drugs.
👉 State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) or can help pay for certain medications in some states. Check the Medicare.gov site for SPAP listings.
👉 Depending on your state and financial situation, Medicaid may help pay for long-term or nursing care.

Many people who qualify never apply, often because they assume they won’t be eligible or they don't know what's available in their state. Want help finding out what you might qualify for? Reach out and we'll walk you through your options. A little assistance can add up to real savings over the year.

Did you know Medicare handles skin cancer differently than other screenings? Skin cancer is the most common cancer in th...
07/17/2026

Did you know Medicare handles skin cancer differently than other screenings? Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., and the risk grows with age. But unlike mammograms or colonoscopies, Medicare generally doesn't cover routine skin cancer screenings if you have no symptoms.

The good news is that Medicare DOES cover the visit (and biopsy and treatment, if applicable) if you notice a change that warrants checking, like a new growth, a mole that's changing, or a sore that won't heal. That makes early detection something you can take into your own hands. Check your skin regularly, watch for the ABCDE warning signs (asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolving). And for heaven's sake, don't skip sun protection this summer!

👩‍⚕️ Notice something new or changing? Tell your doctor promptly.

Questions about your Medicare coverage? Reach out anytime and we'll help.

Help Your Employees Avoid the Most Common Enrollment MistakesMost employees spend less than 30 minutes choosing their he...
07/15/2026

Help Your Employees Avoid the Most Common Enrollment Mistakes

Most employees spend less than 30 minutes choosing their health insurance each year.

That decision affects their health and finances for the next 12 months.

Here's what tends to go wrong, and what employers can do about it:

1) Employees pick the lowest premium without looking at the deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.

2) They assume their doctors are in-network.

3) They don't check if their prescriptions are covered.

4) They have no idea an insurance advocate exists to help them.

None of this is their fault. Most employees just don't have the information they need to make a good decision.

That's where employers can make a real difference… Not by choosing for them, but by giving them the tools to choose well.

💡Show them a side-by-side plan comparison of plan options.
💡Walk them through a worst-case cost scenario for each plan type.
💡Tell them how to look up their doctors and their prescriptions before they enroll.
💡Make sure they know your broker or benefits team is available to help, not just during open enrollment, but all year long.

Employees who understand their benefits use them better, stress less, and trust their employer more.

Health benefit selection is a communications opportunity. We can help you use that opportunity well.

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