Your Local Licensed Insurance Agent

Do you have questions about your Medicare options? We specialize in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements. We help you review plans from many top carriers and ensure you find the perfect coverage that fits your budget and needs. It costs you nothing to get clear answers to your questions before you sign up.

About Andrew, Your Local Licensed Insurance Agent

I am proud to be a local resource. Based here in Northeast Los Angeles, I have always called Los Angeles my home.

After graduating from UC Irvine with a degree in Business Economics, I spent 15+ years in marketing, taking complex information and making it easy to understand.

I am committed to not just presenting you with the right options, but also making sure the advice you receive is knowledgeable, personalized, and easy to understand.

By providing the information above, I grant permission for Andrew Lum, a licensed insurance agent to contact me regarding my Medicare options, including Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Prescription Drug Plans.

Home

Contact

Get Your Personalized Medicare Plan Review

Schedule a complimentary, no-obligation 1-on-1 conversation with Andrew.

Medicare Explained

As an independent licensed insurance agent, Andrew works with multiple carriers and can help you shop around to find coverage that fits your specific needs.

Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C)

The all-in-one choice. Get your medical and prescription drug bundled in one plan.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.

The Key Benefits:

Cost Protection: All plans include a Maximum Out-of-Pocket limit (MOOP). Once you reach this limit for the year, the plan pays 100% of your medical costs, eliminating unexpected high bills.
Drug Coverage: Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D (prescription drugs).

Important Considerations: These plans require you to select and stay within a network based on where you live. For HMO plans, your primary care physician (PCP) refers you to specialists.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

Provider Access: Are my doctors and preferred hospitals in the plan's network?
Drug Costs: Which prescription drugs do I take? Prices can differ between each plan.
Flexibility vs. Budget: Am I willing to accept potential changes to plan and network coverage in exchange for lower out of pocket costs?

Let's review the plans that include your doctors and cover your prescriptions while meeting your needs and budget.

Home

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

The predictable approach to managing your healthcare costs. Gain freedom to see any doctor, nationwide.

Medicare Supplement plans (also called Med Supp or Medigap) work alongside Original Medicare (Parts A & B). They are designed to cover the 'gaps' left by Original Medicare such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles.

The Key Benefits:

Freedom of Choice: You can see any doctor, specialist, or hospital nationwide that accepts Original Medicare. No networks to worry about and no referrals are required.
Predictable Costs: You pay a fixed monthly premium for the Medigap plan. In return, your out-of-pocket costs for care is often very low, or even $0, once your plan's deductible is met.
Simplified Decision Between Carriers: Supplement plans are standardized. Plans offer the same core benefits, regardless of insurance carrier.
Travel Flexibility: Plans travel with you across the U.S. and many plans offer emergency coverage when you travel outside the country.

Important Considerations: Med Supp plans do not include Part D (prescription drug coverage) or extra benefits like vision or dental. You must enroll in a separate Part D plan to cover your medications.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

Higher Costs: Am I willing to pay a higher monthly premium for flexible coverage?
Provider Freedom: Do I need the freedom to see any doctor or specialist, even if they are outside a local network?
Mobility: Do I travel frequently within the U.S. or internationally?

Need the freedom to see any doctor, at any time? Let's identify the best plan and value for you.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)

Essential drug coverage that helps pay for your medications and protect you from high annual costs.

Medicare Part D is offered by private insurance companies. This coverage is required if you have Original Medicare and/or a Medicare Supplement plan, but is often included in a Medicare Advantage plan.

Important Considerations:

Formulary is Crucial: Always check to see if your medication is on the plan's formulary before signing up. If it appears in the formulary, some or all costs are covered, depending on its classification (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, etc.).
Costs Fluctuate: Your costs are capped but can change throughout the year as you move from the three coverage stages:
- Deductible: You pay 100% of costs until you meet your deductible (it can range from $0 to a maximum of $615).
- Initial Coverage: You pay your plan's copays and coinsurance until you meet the $2,100 maximum out-of-pocket.
- Catastrophic Coverage: You pay $0 for the rest of the year.

The formulary and/or pharmacy network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.

Home

Serving Our Neighbors: Local Licensed Agent You Can Trust

I am licensed in California and I specialize in the plans available right here in Los Angeles county and the surrounding areas including Orange County, Inland Empire, Antelope Valley and Ventura.

Benefits of Working With a Local Licensed Insurance Agent:

Doctor Networks: I know and can find out which medical groups and hospitals are in-network, and with which plans.
Plan Familiarity: I specialize in the plans offered in your area. There are plans tailored to Medi-Cal users (D-SNP) and those with qualifying chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disorders diabetes, etc. (C-SNP).
In-person, Local Familiarity: I am here to meet and answer your questions year round. No need to dial into a national call center to get answers.

Going Beyond the Basics With Localized Knowledge:

Did you know that in California we are sometimes subject to FEMA disaster declarations (e.g. wildfires and earthquakes)? Many residents are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which allows you to switch plans outside of the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), a flexibility many agents overlook.

Did you know that contract terminations between your medical group and carriers can trigger an SEP for impacted members? You can switch to a Medicare Advantage plan that covers your doctors.

Confused about your eligibility? Let us assess your personal situation.

Home

When to Enroll for Medicare

Signing up can be confusing, but we can make it easier to understand.

When can you enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and B)?

Enrolling on time is key to avoiding lifelong penalties. Original Medicare is managed federally by Social Security, and revolves around two key questions: Are you turning 65? Or are you still working past 65?

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) For Those Turning 65:

You have a 7 month window: 3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and 3 months after your birth month.

If your birthday is in August, your IEP runs from May 1st through November 30th.

You Can Delay Your Enrollment:

If you (or your spouse) are still working, and have creditable insurance from an employer, you can delay Part B without penalty.

You have 8 months after the employment or coverage ends to sign up without further penalty.

Missed the windows above? There may be enrollment penalties, but don't hesitate to sign up immediately!

Home

When can you enroll in or change your Medicare Advantage plan?

You must have Original Medicare (both Part A and B) before you can enroll in Medicare Advantage (Part C).

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare Advantage provides a 7-month sign up window when you turn 65, similar to Original Medicare: 3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and 3 months after your birth month.

If your birthday is in August, your IEP runs from May 1st through November 30th.

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) allows all beneficiaries to review and change their coverage. Coverage begins January 1st of the following year.

When: October 15th - December 7th every year

You can:

Switch from Original Medicare to an Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

You should review your plan during AEP every year as benefits, costs, and doctor networks can change.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) offers a second chance to change your Medicare Advantage plan. Coverage begins the 1st day of the month after you enroll.

When: January 1st - March 31st every year

You can:

Switch from your current Medicare Advantage plan to a different one.
Switch from your Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) allow you to make changes outside of the standard window; examples include:

Moving
Retiring
Qualifying for additional help (e.g. Medi-Cal)
Plan or medical group changes
FEMA disaster designation (e.g. wildfire)

Don't guess. If you experience a life change, we can help you confirm if you qualify for an SEP.

Home

When can you enroll or change your Med Supp plan?

Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) is different from Medicare Advantage.

The best time to enroll is your initial/open enrollment.

When: 6-month period that starts the first day of the month your Medicare Part B is effective.

During this 6-month window you have guaranteed acceptance. Companies must sell you any policy they offer, and there is no need for underwriting. In other words they cannot look into your health history or current medications, and they cannot deny you for pre-existing conditions.

After the IEP/OEP ends, you can still apply, but medical underwriting is necessary.

The insurance company can look into your health history, current health, and pre-existing conditions to decide whether or not to accept your application.

You may also apply for Guaranteed Issue under special circumstances.

These are limited windows where you can switch plans after your OEP has passed without medical underwriting. There are around 13 scenarios.

Common scenarios include: