Finding the right Medicare plan can be a confusing, time-consuming and stressful experience. However,
Allsup Medicare Advisor® makes it easy to choose the best, most affordable Medicare option based on an individual’s healthcare needs and preferences. Frank Trafton is a successful businessman whose expertise in accounting and tax matters is sought after by clients, friends and family. When the busy baby boomer turned 65, he had difficulty selecting the right
Medicare plan. He decided to turn to Allsup—the experts on Medicare. Read about what Mr. Trafton learned from Allsup when selecting Medicare coverage.
*This is a true story as told to Allsup.
He’d built a successful business because he was expert at what he did. Needing help choosing a Medicare plan, he found the solution through other experts:
‘I Turned to Allsup’
By Douglas J. Gillert
Alamo, California—Sixty-five can creep up on busy-as-ever baby boomers.
Case in point: Frank Trafton, who began receiving an array of Medicare offers nearly a year before his 65th birthday in September. Before the offers began arriving, Mr. Trafton was unaware of how reaching Medicare-eligible age would affect not only him, but also his wife and son. He also had no idea how difficult his choices would be.
An accountant since the 1970s, Mr. Trafton built a successful business with more than 300 current clients. His wife, Beth, was a successful Realtor. In the current housing market, however, they rely more heavily on his income, particularly to ensure their 16-year-old son Jordan, enjoys high school sports unfettered by financial concerns.
Realizing how difficult it is to select a
Medicare plan and prescription drug coverage, Mr. Trafton knew he needed help. His clients had always turned to him for expertise with their accounting and tax needs; he sought similar expertise with his healthcare decisions. He first learned about the help available from Allsup in a newspaper article.
“The article addressed the difficulty of finding a solution to medical coverage once you become eligible for Medicare,” Mr. Trafton said. “I thought this was frustrating. I had received at least a four-feet deep stack of booklets from different insurance companies. How do you choose from this many?” The article cited Allsup as a source for help. He gave them a call.
Allsup is a nationwide provider of
Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 700 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis.
“With Medicare, you’ve got the ability to change plans from year to year, and Allsup helps you do this,” Mr. Trafton said. “I really liked what they had to say. Not only are they easy and helpful to work with, but they keep you informed throughout the process.”
Medicare specialist Noel Taylor walked Mr. Trafton through the Allsup Medicare Advisor® service, making him aware of certain choices he would have to make. For example, Mr. Trafton wasn’t aware his passage into Medicare coverage required him to find different healthcare solutions for his wife and son. Ms. Taylor explained this to him and helped him reach a solution.
“Noel was just as great as can be,” Mr. Trafton said. Allsup mails customers a comprehensive report that explains all the options available, based on their research of the customer’s needs. Allsup representatives are available to answer any questions. “Noel made it all understandable to me,” he said.
“Allsup listed all my doctors and medications and sent me an evaluation of 20 plans for medical coverage and another 20 plans for drug coverage. They also recommended the three best health maintenance organizations, private health plans and drug plans, based on their assessment of my needs. And then Noel got on the phone and explained them to me.”
Mr. Trafton was happy with his current doctors and didn’t want Medicare to steer him to new providers. Allsup recommended three plans that would meet his desires, and from the shortened list, he made his choice. Based on Allsup’s advice, his wife enrolled in a separate health plan offered through her real estate firm, and they even enrolled Jordan in his own plan.
“It turned out to be the most cost-effective solution for my family and me,” he said. “And my wife was able to continue on with the same insurance carrier we’d had jointly with a plan that fits her needs.”
Mr. Trafton also liked the assistance Allsup provided in selecting a prescription drug plan. “It’s going to be a cost-effective plan for me,” he said.
“Allsup did a great job and I am recommending them to my business associates and golf buddies. I am also going to share what I learned with my clients who are turning 65. My employees have a ways to go, but their parents and other acquaintances can use this information too.
“My clients come to me because of my accounting and tax expertise. I turned to Allsup for the same reasons. They’re the experts on Medicare.”