Madison, Wisconsin—Jamie Puffer was always hyper-curious. Her mother was a nurse, so she prided herself on having a good understanding of medical programs.
That knowledge came in handy when Ms. Puffer was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis in her late 20s. She applied and received Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. But her next step was to apply for Medicare, which would help pay for her MS medications costing $2,500 per month.
Suddenly, her wealth of medical know-how came up short. “I had a solid understanding of medicine,” she said. “But trying to figure out how Medicare works is a different ball of wax. It was frustrating because I like to think of myself as a really smart person.”
The problem was not a lack of choices but a glut of options. How, she wondered, could she select the best plan for her needs? Ms. Puffer expected that choosing the right plan would be a long, complicated process—time she could not afford as her medical costs mounted. So, she went online for help.
“I was researching advocacy groups and came across Allsup,” she said. “Their ad said they could help people select the
Medicare plan that’s right for them. So, I called them in January and asked about the details of their process.”
“Allsup” turned out to be Allsup Inc., the nation’s leading Social Security disability representation, financial and healthcare-related services company.
The company, founded in 1984, offers Allsup Medicare Advisor® to guide people such as Jamie Puffer. Allsup experts work with clients to sort through a maze of options as they select the Medicare plan most suited to their needs.
“This is an absolute necessity for anyone who is facing Medicare,” said Ms. Puffer. “You get to talk to a person who gets to know your unique situation and helps you identify the best plans for you. Then that same person talks to you about how each of the plans meet your needs and helps you weigh the pros and cons of each.”
Allsup Provides Expert, Driven Assistance with Medicare
Many people rely upon Allsup’s SSDI expertise to get their disability benefits, but then they face another decision—choosing their Medicare coverage.
Individuals are eligible to receive Medicare coverage 24 months after the Social Security Administration determines they have a disability.
“We saw this need, so we have begun offering Allsup Medicare Advisor,” said Jim Allsup, CEO and founder, who started his company in 1984 after working for the Social Security Administration (SSA). “It’s similar to the complexities of the SSDI program—in that people have to be well-informed and prepared to make this important decision, which can impact their pocketbooks and their health.”
Thousands of Medicare plans nationally and dozens locally are available in most areas.
“Many people wait a long time to qualify for Medicare benefits, and then they find out they can’t afford them,” said Jennifer Arnold, an Allsup Medicare Advisor specialist.
She’s part of a team of professionals who provide an objective, custom-designed evaluation to help people with disabilities select the Medicare option that best fits their needs. The first step in the Allsup Medicare Advisor process is an in-depth conversation between the client and an experienced Allsup specialist. The goal is to identify the client’s needs. The Allsup representative collects information such as the client’s location, health history, prescriptions, medical provider preferences and financial situation.
Having a grasp of such methodical detail illustrates one of the company’s core values, said the company’s CEO. “As those who developed the industry,” Jim Allsup said, “we are the experts. We understand what it takes to serve our customers and create a unique environment, so we can deliver on our brand promise every day.”
A nationwide company with headquarters in Belleville, Ill., the company is so highly regarded that the Better Business Bureau has presented Allsup its prestigious Torch Award for excellence in customer service. Since 1984,
Allsup has secured disability benefits for more than 120,000 deserving clients and obtained nearly $10.3 billion in SSDI and Medicare benefits.
Allsup expertise certainly comes into play when helping people through the naturally intimidating complexities of competing Medicare plans, Ms. Arnold said.
“Most clients come to us without a solid basis of understanding Medicare,” Ms. Arnold said. “Jamie had a solid basis, and we could still help her.”
With the Allsup Medicare Advisor services, customers receive a report that compiles and explains the many Medicare plans available to them in their specific locations, no matter where they are located nationwide.
Getting Detailed, Customized Help Through Allsup Medicare Advisor
In many cases, Medicare Advantage plans can appear very similar. The report then also narrows the plan options to the top three that best meet the client’s needs.
In Ms. Puffer’s case, the two most important factors were doctor co-pays and prescription drug coverage. “Physical therapy four times a week at $16 a pop adds up very quickly,” Ms. Puffer said.
But MS medication coverage proved to be the greater challenge. The correct plan needed to cover Ms. Puffer’s regular treatments with Avonex at the doctor’s office and through self-medication.
“As we were going through the plans,” Ms. Puffer said, “I wondered how people deal with this stuff. But Jennifer reassured me that there are ways to get through the process, and Allsup knows the intricacies.”
Ultimately, and with Allsup’s guidance, Ms. Puffer decided on a plan that would best fit her circumstances. In its final form, the proposed coverage offered the best hope for covering most of the costs for her medical needs. The time from initial Allsup contact to final decision turned out to be surprisingly short.
“Two and a half weeks tops,” Ms. Puffer said. “I was very impressed with their efficiency. I liked working with a person who helped me dig through the benefits information. My situation was complex, and she stuck with me and dug deep to find answers.”
By mid-February, Ms. Puffer had received enrollment forms from her insurance company, and she was well on her way to using a plan she understood with Allsup’s assistance.
“I got a lot of good tools to work with through Allsup,” she added. “Now I can make sure when my plan is set up that I’ll have the coverage I need.”