Lori Swanigan

We're "Asking the Expert" with the CEO Of The Benefits Solutios Group Lori Swanian on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio

Episode Transcript

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You're good Will and Good Time StationAm ten seventy w d I A Memphis
Live from the Reeves Law Firm nineone five o four forty four forty four.
Let us be your voice, Beyour voice dot com Memphis probably presents
The Ben Johnson Show. Let mesay bade game, let me feel She's

(00:34):
done dampkis game. No man theproblem. She can't have you, so
your mind ship to the head bychallenging you to just keep when I go,

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I'm picking up bisin Shoke because they'vegot here talking. I have here
every day from Udee. I ain'tto place my bill got me stalking h

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Good morning, good morning, goodmorning, and welcome in to w d
i A The Bev Johnson Show.It is indeed a pleasure to have you
with us once again on this Monday, May twenty second, twenty twenty three.

(02:20):
How you doing this day. Let'sget your chit chat. As we
began our first hour, our girlis back in the house, does CEO
of the Benefits Solutions A group,My girl, Laurie's wine again is in
the house. What what Laurie's hereto help you out today with all your

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benefits solutions. When at your turnto talk. You know you can.
All you need to do is dieoff these numbers five three five nine three
four two five three five nine threefour two. If you're listening to us
outside the Memphis area, how arey'all this day? What's up y'all?

(03:06):
How you feeling? You can callus toll free at one eight hundred five
zero three nine three four two.That's one eight hundred five zero three nine
three A four two. And ifthis day, this day, Monday,

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May twenty second, twenty twenty two, is your birthday. Happy birthday to
each and every one of y'all outthere who may be celebrating a birthday on
this day, we say God,y'all go out and sell great your life.
Yeah better, you've better. Whenwe come back, we'll talk with

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the CEO of the Benefits Solutions Group, Laurie Swan again and me Bev Johnson
on the Bev Johnson Show only onDouble d I. A good morning and

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welcome into w d I A TheBev Johnson Show. It is indeed a
pleasure to have you with us onceagain on this Monday, May twenty second,
twenty twenty three. Enjoy this fabulousday to day we will get to
starting this day. Our girl isin the house. We'll be talking with

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the CEO. Yeah you hear youhere, the CEO of the Benefits Solutions
Group. We will be talking withLaurie Swana gonna. Before we talk to
Laurie and I take this break,I just want to say thank you,
thank you, thank you, thankyou, thank you to all of you
all last night who came out tothe rocking chair. We were rocking.

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What we were rocking, y'all.Let me say that little chick Rogers.
I don't know what I'm gonna dowith chick Rogers. That's a bad sister.
If you have not seen chick Rogers. When you hear well chick Rogers,
you need to go. That's asinging little sister. And also my
other sister, Karen Wolf of Karentow it up in the house, we

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walked, we were rocking, y'all. I'm Kelly. We rocked in that
house last night. And continuing tocelebrate my birthday, we also celebrate the
old Bushman is Bobby oj would saybirthday in the house last night, Bob
win Bush, who is the managerof chick Rogers. We celebrated our birthdays

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last night and thank you, thankyou, thank you for gifts. Let
me say thank you the sweet ladyPete and my man Melvin, I mean
her man mel Thank y'all for thegift. I love it. I love
it. And her sisters is inthe house man. And when we had
folks in the house, my agentRon Kennedy, his beautiful wife Carolyn Kent,

(06:54):
my church Volte Willie Gregory was Iwent. Was in the house.
Yeah, don't let me start naming. I'll forget somebody. This shape of
Potts right was in the house.We had a ball. What's up Henry?
Henry said, don't forget me.I won't forget you, Henry.
You know I can't forget you,he said. Later for a sweet lady
pie mel But but we had aball at the rocking chair last night.

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And always thank you Al Parish andrun my Land for always having me to
host the rocking chair. Yeah werock. When when you here be at
the rocking chair, y'all rock thisThursday. It is LJ Echoes and mister
Terry Harris will be in the houseand coming y'all next month. June twenty

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third. It's cool in the game. What that's how we do it.
That's how we do it at theRocking Chair. But thank you, thank
you, thank you all who cameout. We had a ball. So
I'll see y'all next time at therocking Chair where we come back. My
girl is here. Get ready,Yeah, ask your questions about your benefits

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with Lori Swan again, the CEOof the Benefits Solutions Group with me Bev
Johnson on the Bev Johnson Show onlyon double d i A. You're listening

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to the Bev Johnson Show celebrating thirtysix years of good times and goodwill on
w d IA, the Heart andSoul of Memphis. People ask how did
we do it? It's you Memphisand the Mid South. It's our iHeartRadio

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app listeners from all over the world. Thank you for supporting seventy five years
of black radio with a Heart andSoul of Memphis. Ten seventy w d
IA our story working hard to bringyou Mondays, never savings off the difference.

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Monday, Good morning, and welcomein to w d i A The
Bev Johnson Show. It is abeautiful Monday morning in Memphis, Tennessee.

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It is May twenty second, twentytwenty three. I hoped you had a
fabulous weekend. Once again. She'sback in the house. Yes, CEO
of the Benefit Solutions Group. MySOA how you doing so? I am
well beam happy to be back inthe house. A. Yeah, I

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am so happy that you are here. Subs Yeah, so Suster, you've
been working hard. I'm the hardestworking woman and Memphis and us in the
Benefits Solutions ceter You work. Ilove it. I love it. I
love it, I love it.I love how you work. And I
love Laurie what you do to tryto make sure that our folks, the

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seniors, they know their benefits,they know what's going on because, as
you say, a lot of changesgoing on. Every every week, something
changes, doesn't it, Laura?Oh, absolutely bad. This is God's
work. What we do is God'swork. So when you go into every
single day, and I'm living apurpose driven life, so I'm walking into
every day knowing that I'm getting readyto help one of our babies, our

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seniors. You all are our babies. And I tell you what at the
Benefits Solutions Group list and we loveyou. Stop by that office anytime.
Call me. Hey, let's let'sget let's get our talk on because so
many changes are happening with Medicare andwith you know, the government for the

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first time, BEB is doing areview first time in three years. They
are doing a review of all Medicaidrecipients. Well, and Bev, you
know that's been heavy on my heart. Yes, So I'm just so happy
today that I'm able to come andkind of share some of that information of
those dynamics. So it started Aprilthe first, So you have already started

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receiving your renewal notices. Some folksthat you know, they're already being adjusted.
Your Social Security payments are already beingadjusted. Now why is that happening?
Because for example, if you areon Medicare Parts A and B,
and I want you to hear meclosely. If you're on parts A and

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B and you receive Medicaid, soyou have a Medicare advantage plan, right,
you receive Medicaid, you have adifferent plan. So there is a
regular Medicare advantage plan. So there'sjust an MA plan and it's going to
cover all those additional benefits that wetalked about, is going to covering in
your party and all of that goodstuff. But then when you qualify from

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Medicaid. Now you have no copaisin terms of your health. So when
you go see your PCP, therewould be zero you go and see especialist,
you would not have to pay onething. That's for a person who
has Medicare and Medicaid because Medicaid iscovering the rest of it, so you
don't have cost sharing. But soif you get kicked off of the plan,

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your regular your Medicare, your MedicareAdvantage plan that is a dual plan
which is for people who have Medicareand Medicaid, if you're no longer able
to receive that plan because something happenedwith your Medicaid or even your low income
subsident if you're you know, youmake too much money because your Medicaid is

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income driven regular Medicare Vandage plan.Hey, you can get a plan.
You got that red, white,and blue cards. You got parts A
and B. You are able toget a plan. But after getting the
plan, we can get you qualifiedfor Medicaid. So Medicare and Medicaid are

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two different things. Okay, peopleneed to understand that Medicaid and Medicare are
two different things. Yes, andpeople get those interchanged all the time.
Keep those two straight. So medicCare is the card that you have that's
red, white and blue. That'sMedicare. That's Medicare. Huh's it either

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has A only Part A only onit or Part B only, or it
has parts A and B. Nowhow do you tell if you have it?
Because it'll say only if you don'thave both parts. Now, you'll
also have on that Medicare card becausewe talk about BEV what those things mean,
but we never talk about the mechanicsof this card. So also on

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that card, you're gonna have dates. So you're you're gonna have a Part
A date, so that is whenyou actually are were able to start using
your Part A benefits. You're gonnahave a Part B date. Those two
dates may be different. Some singersmay ask, well, why are my
dates not the same, because maybeyou didn't get Part BE at the same

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time you did Part A, whichyou should, But there are some extenuating
circumstances meaning you you know, didn'tleave your job and you just got your
Part B. So there are lotsof things that may have had a cause
you to have different dates on yourMedicare card. So the Medicare card is
the red, white and blue cardwith your part A and B date.

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Now let's talk about Medicaid. Medicaidis a a state underwritten plan that the
that they the state underwrites and thatthey're gonna pay for it for you.
So Medicaid will kick in based onyour income. So if your income is

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a certain amount um, then youcan qualify for Medicaid. So not all
people will qualify for Medicaid, butin the case that you do, you
are being reviewed. So you're I'mtalking to that person that has some form
of Medicaid. Now let me tellyou what medicaid is. Okay, Medicaid
has some letters in front of it. It's gonna be You're gonna be a

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a F B F F as inFrank, B as in boy E,
as in Edward, D as inDavid A Full Benefits dual Eligible. So
that's an fb D. So you'regonna be that person that person doesn't pay
anything for anything in terms of theirhealth. Now, or you're gonna be
a q MB. That's the personthat's a qualified Medicare beneficiary. That person

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has a Pink card. They havea Pink Medicaid card. The person that's
FBDE, they're going to have acard from one of the Big three.
So those are the people who actuallyadminister and manage Tennessee's Medicaid. So that's
going to be United Healthcare. That'sgoing to be a mirror group, and

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that's going to be Blue Cross,Blue Shield. So if you are an
fb d E that's a full benefitsdual eligible person, you're gonna have one
of the Big Three's one of thosecards that I just mentioned. If you
are a Q m B, thequalified Medicare beneficiary, you're going to have
a Pink card. So here that'sthe difference. But either one of those

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people are not going to be responsiblefor any cost sharing as relates to their
health care. So then you're gonnahave a person that's right underbell, right
under that Q and B person,and that's going to be a slim bee.
We call those people slim bees.So that's a specified low Medicare beneficiary.

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So that person is not going tohave to pay their part be premium,
which is still great news. Sowe can get you qualified. That's
what's exciting. If you're below acertain amount of income, you can get
qualified to be a slim bee.So that person doesn't they won't have a

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car, but they're going to bea slim bey with medicaid. And how
do you know that? We cancheck that through the carriers, so they're
right under that slimby person is goingto be a Q one individual. That
person may or may not get theirpart be premium paid, but they're going
to get benefits that you also gethelp with your prescription drugs. So medicaid
also allows you to have help withthose prescription drugs. Some of the plans

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on the market Bell pays for theprescription drugs. So you just see,
I know that is confusing, whichis why. Yeah, because I'm saying,
because you're just confused to go like, yeah, Medicaid, medicare all
these other stuff. It's really confusingidiots. So that's why you know what
I say, bad, don't callthe TV? You right? I love

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that? No, I says,don't call the TV, call your local
agents, call the Benefits Solutions Groupand bath. Can I throw the phone
number? Ay? Well start now, let's get it going. It's nine
zero one four five three six threefour six. Again that's nine O one
four five three six three four sixcall now pick up the phone. You

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owe it to yourselves to call andat least check to see if your benefits
are good. Some of the plansbath have come on and off the market.
Some of the plans have been sanctioned. Some of the plans have some
dynamics going on. You need toknow where you stand. You don't need
to get to the just had acouple of these last week. Don't need

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to get to your doctor's office andfind out that you don't have insurance.
Right So, if you have MedicareParts A and B, you need to
be giving us a call. Ijust spoke with a lady who says,
oh, yeah, I'm fine withmy plan. I've had this plan for
nine years and you're not going tobelieve this. But the plan that she
mentioned doesn't exist anymore. Wow.And they actually were allowing people to transition

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off of this plan and they hadgiven them six months. So she had
no idea. And I even triedto share the information, she wouldn't believe
it. So listen, seniors,do me a favor, have an open
mind, yes about your healthcare.So I definitely would not be coming on
the Bay of show to share informationthat was incorrect and you know, I

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may miss it every now and them, but I doubt it very seriously because
I study this bell like I'm astudent of this industry. And why am
I student? Because I've seen somany seniors hurt. I've seen so many
seniors hurting. I'm telling you,I went to the doctor's office myself one
day and could not find my cards, and I panicked almost, so I

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know how it feels to get tothe doctor's office. And it's not what
you thought. So because because onceyou make it to the doctor's office,
the charges are already starting when youwalk through the door. So you need
to make sure that you have whatyou think you have. So do yourself
so favor call that number nine Oone four or five three six three four

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six when you talk about and Iwant to go back when you were explaining
LORI between Medicaid and medicare. Medicareis that card red white and blue.
Yes, So if you have thered, white and blue card, it's
most likely that you're gonna have Aand B. Most likely some people may

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have an A only. Why wouldthey have If you have Part A only
on your card, it may meanthat you're still on your employee Okay,
you're still on your job, you'restill working, or you're on your spouses.
Okay, okay, okay. Vets. So I know because a vetic
call it a VET, may willnot have BE. He doesn't have to
have They are with the federal government, So a veteran does not necessarily have

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to have Part B. Now,the reason that you would get Part B
because if you get Part BE itopens you up to so many more benefits.
And there are plans for you,mister missus VET that will pay your
part BE premium down. So youreally yes, and you get a second

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opinion, because I know that thereis a list, the waiting list,
and there's some time that you knowto get into there because there's so many
events that need the sort. Uh. But if you get a Medicare advantage
playing, hey, you get additionalbenefits, you get a second opinion,
and you get the best of bothworlds. Okay. I know in the
past you've talked about the other plans. You know, we have A B,

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C, D, we have allthose. So again, where where
does that come in. Is thatstill on Medicare or is that Medicaid?
Good? Good job as a goodquestions, good questions. Okay, so
medicare has four parts, four partsA, B, C, and D.

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So when you get a A asfor those people who work the forty
quarters, you know, that's howyou're able to get a Right if you
if you don't agent to A andyou didn't work your forty quarters, guess
what, the Social Security Office willallow you to buy a Part AS.
It's pretty expensive, but they willallow you to buy into Part A.

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Yes, social Security, Yes,yeah, Medicare, so they will.
So there they're wait a minute,lawd's so that's so when you say social
Security, so they're gonna take outyour little check. Yeah, yeah,
it's gonna be coming out of yourcheck. But you can opt into Part
A. Oh, and you canpurchase it if you didn't qualify, like
if you did not work your tenyears, got your forty quarters, you're

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still able to have Part A.Now, why would somebody want to get
Part A? Because Part A coversa lot of good stuff that remember we
talked about this, the room andboard in the hospital, long term care,
the three pints of blood. Thereare some things that you're gonna need
as you age that Part A covers. You're gonna need it. So it's

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definitely worth a discussion. A lotof people, uh, you know,
they're opting out because of the cost. Okay, you and not afford to
not have this, and that soundslike an oxymoron, but you can't afford
not to have it. You're gonnaget older, you got you gotta age,
and you're gonna need some support.You know, there are very few

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people in this world that's never gonnaneed a doctor in their entire life.
So you want to be you knowwhy, you know you want to have
it and not need it versus meedianand I have it, and and and
and so it I've never asked thisquestion that I don't know if you know
if you know the answer to this. Lord. So, if you are

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still working and have medicare the A, can you use that with your with
your you say, if you haveemployees, your your employer's insurance, can
you use your A? Well,it's just there, it's there. It's
just if you need it. Ittakes a part in kind of the way

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that the insurance works. Uh,okay, and that's what bill. So
they already know that you have partA, but the primary is going to
be your employers insurance. How youall need it because it's it's the governing
body, like the primary is goingto govern what they're gonna build. Okay,
So yeah, Part A is notnecessarily okay a factor. Okay.

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So so for people who are working, if you have your employers insurance,
you're you're, you're, you're Okay, it's it's number one, it's your
primary. Now, if you've retired, that's when your concern comes in for
A and B. That's right,bad so, and that's good because I
have a lot of retirees calling in, so I would I would admonish you

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to make sure that when you're exiting, you do an exit interview. So
if they don't do that at yourjob, hey, just go to HR
and ask them for your Part Bapplication. So because TEP typically they're gonna
give you, you know, yourseparation paperwork, and in that paperwork it's
going to have your Part B appand then we can actually help you through

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that. We can help you applyfor Part being all that good stuff.
Some corporations they'll help you do that. But if you need assistance with that,
we'll help you with that. Now, then you'll need to decide then
you really want to get a copyof your employer's coverage, because then what
we will do is sit down,look at your employer's coverage and compare it

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to a Medicare advantage plan or hey, bath, some people may want a
Medicare supplement. We don't just wedon't steer any of our clients towards any
situation. It's what's best for them, okay. And so once we do
the comparison, Hey, we're gonnaadmonish that. We're gonna, I'm sorry,

(26:47):
advise you to call your benefits administratoror before you leave, tell them
you know, I'm interested in aMedicare advantage plan. What are the steps?
You know, what do I needto do? And then you'll have
that information. Once you get tous, we can sit down with you
and do a comparison, and thenyou'll make an informed decision. You know,
we don't. We don't steer youtowards making a decision or anything.

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We actually sit down, look atthe plan and in most instances bay off.
The Medicare vantage side or the Medicaresupplement side is just a little bit
better. But well, I can'tnecessarily say better, but it's going to
definitely meet your needs. So definitelystop by your HR offense, do that

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exit interview, get that that partof the paperwork if you are retiring,
because I know that is a scarything. Yeah, and even if you
want to keep your employer coverage,let's let's do a review. Let's do
a review. Let me tell youwhat you're carrying in your hand. That
red, white and blue card iscritical when once you exit, you know,
corporate America, so many things cancome against you as a retiree.

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So you definitely need to at leasthave an understanding of what's up next for
your healthcare. And so if you'relistening out there, and if you are
confused, because as Laurie always saysthat a lot of seniors are confused.
They don't know and people who areretiring or people who may be on disability,

(28:17):
we have to talk about that,and we'll talk about that that you
don't know what's going on and you'reconfused, because when you hear all these
things, and especially when you hearthe things that Laura always says, don't
call the TV, call your folksright here in the city. That you
need to know, you need tounderstand what you have because no one wants

(28:38):
to get sick. No one wantsto be ill. But in case you
have to go to the doctor orto the hospital, what is going to
be paid for? And Lauria hasalways says that what will come out of
your pocket? That's right. Youneed to know, very critical, very
critical. So if you have aquestion this day about your benefits, or

(29:03):
you're confused, or you even Laurid, there's some folks who haven't even started
it, that's right. A lotof folks haven't even started that, So
you need to know what to do. Laurie is here to tell us.
And Laurie while we're talking once again, while people are listening, and they
can call the office at what's thatnumber again, nine zero one four or

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five three six three four six nineone four or five three six three four
six. Now when we're talking aboutLaurie, you mentioned Medicare advantage plan,
and that's where I get confused alot. I've heard you say it,
but I still get confused because I'mwondering, Okay, so what's the Medicare

(29:49):
advantage plan? So the Medicare advantageplanning, great question, man. That
Medicare advantage plan is the PARC.So that's C that's seeing is lord re
remember? Yes? I remember?Okay, So let me go back.
Medicare has A, B, C, and D four parts, so then

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you get the C if you're theC Medicare advantage plan. So what qualifies
you for Medicare advantage and what isthat? Okay? So your C can
either be So let's talk about well, I guess to make it make sense,
man, let's go to AMB two. Okay, okay, So let's
start with Part A. So yourpart A it's on your Medicare car and

(30:37):
it's gonna cover hospital. Your partA has hospital on your car. But
what's what does that really mean?Man? It means essentially room and board.
That that's what it's covering. It'sgonna actually come in, you know,
kick in with a little long termcare. It'll cover three pints of
blood and they're a couple of otherthings, some labs the next raised that

(31:00):
your part A is going to cover. But bab, it's gonna come with
a sixteen hundred dollars deductible. Nowwhat is a deductible? Right? A
deductible is something that you're going topay out of pocket before anything kicks in.
So I've got a lot of seniorsout there that have been convinced that

(31:21):
they need to stay just with theirmedicare. I'm gonna just do my medicare,
right, Well, I want totell you what you're up against for
those of you who just want todo medicare. So now you've got sixteen
hundred. Now let's go to PartB. Part BBV is that thing that
pays eighty percent of your healthcare.So the question is always asked, why

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have I worked so hard and Istill have to pay this Part B premium?
Why? Here's the answer. Okay, because it's the thing that covers
eighty percent of your healthcare. Andso if you're bill, it's almost like
a stop loss on the market.If your bill is a million dollars,
bar that Part B is going tokick in and cover eighty percent of that

(32:08):
million dollars. It's going to covereight hundred thousand dollars of a million dollars.
And I'm gonna tell you this,and I say this all the time,
but my mother's last hospital bill wasone hundred and twenty five thousand dollars,
So it's not unrealistic to think thatyour hospital bill could be a million

(32:30):
dollars, So that B Part Bit's going to cover eighty percent of that.
Now Part b's premium is one sixtyfour ninety one hundred and sixty four
dollars and ninety cents. That's becauseit's covering eighty percent of everything. So

(32:51):
you've got a blessing there. Butnow Part B comes and gives you a
deductible of two hundred and twenty sixdollars. So now let's go back to
A. If you're already paying outof your pocket for A sixteen hundred and
then you got a Part B deductibleof two twenty six, you're already out

(33:12):
of eighteen hundred and twenty six dollars, and then you got to pay your
hundred and sixty four dollars and ninetycents a premium for your Part B.
So you see what you're putting yourselvesup against if you don't take Part C.
So your Part C and D comesas a combo. Parts C and

(33:35):
D is loriy. That's me.So you call me for C and D.
So now Part CBEV is not necessarilya Medicare advantage plan. You've got
a call. Yes, you gottwo options. There, got a couple
options you get. You got medicabwhich is a med's up, or you've
got a Medicare advantage plan. Sowe always talk about Medicare advantage plans because

(34:00):
typically they are at no cost,that the premium is zero. So that's
kind of what I talk about becauseI just think singers at this point,
you know you've worked long enough,you know something ought to be at no
cost. But then you got amad's up. Now, so that Medicare
supplement is going to start you atabout one hundred and fifty dollars per month.

(34:23):
You're going to pay it whether yougo to the doctor or not.
But it does allow you a littlebit more flexibility to go to any provided
it you'd like to go to,in a specialists that you'd like to go
to. But I want to saythis to our people who who talk about
their med's ups. The provider stilldoesn't have to take the med's up.

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So you get a mads up becauseyou want to go anywhere you want to
go, but the provider still hasto agree to accept it. So that's
that's one of the caveats of havinga med's up. But then the other
thing to having a man's up isyou still have to purchase a Part D
is in David, you have topurchase a prescription drug plan. So now

(35:08):
look bad. So you got witha man's up, this is your C.
Now we're still talking about your Cand D. Okay, So with
a man's up, you still haveto purchase your man's up and you're still
gonna have to purchase a Part Dplan for your prescription drugs, so you're
still out of more money there.So your Part D may cost your forty

(35:29):
dollars. So if you're already lookingat one fifty or two hundred dollars,
look at what you're out of everysingle month, whether you go or not.
So that's a man's up now.And then for those people with a
Mad's up who say, you know, I just want to go wherever I
want to go, well, I'vehad some really really different experiences with that
because you have the autonomy to choosewhere you want to go. You go

(35:52):
to doctor X, and he drawsblood because really you know they're practicing mad's
now. Then you go over hereto doctor why, and he's gonna draw
blood? How many times you wantto draw blood before you decide you know
what? Let me go to theone I trust my PCP. So you

(36:13):
want to go to your doctor anywayand allow them to give you a it's
not a referral because Medicare advantage plansdon't require you necessarily to have a referral
anymore. So just to go,you know, and see a doctor.
It used to be there, butthat's different. So with a Medicare advantage

(36:35):
plan, they're typically at no cost. Med's up is gonna cost you something
every month Medicare advantage plan to gosee your PCP with most plans. With
most plans, it's zero. Witha med's up is zero, but you're
paying every single month. With amed's up, you're gonna actually add a
prescription drug plan that you have topay for. And listen to this.

(36:57):
It comes with no additional benefits.So if you're the one that wants a
Medicare supplement, you're not gonna getthe eyeglasses, the dental because I was
gonna ask you, who can youget those? What comes comes with that?
I have to pay for everything.It's all a cart. Your mad
subplan is gonna be all a cart. A Medicare advantage plan is typically at
no cost. The premium is ithas some cost sharing if we don't get

(37:22):
you qualified from Medicare. But forthe most part, you know it's a
reasonable amount. So that's the differencein a Medicare supplement and a Medicare advantage
plan. That's your C. Witha Medicare advantage plan, it comes with
your D for no additional cost.With a mad SUP you have to purchase
D. So Ben, we talkabout a Medicare advantage plan a whole lot.

(37:45):
But you do have an option.You can do a Medicare supplement,
and we do those as well.But the thing that I have to advise
you to do, you've gotta getsomething that covers your C and D because
by law, Band you have tohave a prescription drug plan by law,
or you're gonna get a lifetime penaltyby law. Now they will give you

(38:07):
an option to take Part BE onand then penalize you if you don't.
So you're gonna get a lifetime penaltywith your Part B if you don't take
it, and then you're gonna geta lifetime penalty with your Part D if
you don't take it. So thenC is accounting in the middle. You
can choose not to have it ifyou don't want, but then you got

(38:30):
this twenty percent because remember bad,I'm telling you that, I just told
you that your B covers the eightypercent. So then there's that C and
you're twenty percent that's hanging out therethat can be covered through a Medicare advantage
plan or a Med's up and allof those things that we just talked about.

(38:51):
And so Medicare has four parts A, B, C and D.
It's the C in D that getto little Harry a little tricky, Yeah,
but I talk about the Medicare advantageplans because they come with your part
D. It's a combination of Cand D. And typically a Medicare Advantage

(39:13):
plan is at no cost per monththe premium, but then you're gonna add
it has those additional benefits your eyeglassas your dental groceries, utility assistance.
It's got so many wonderful things thatyou need, hey, and almost extend
your life, you know, Andthat's that's me saying that because typically you

(39:34):
know, really really can't say thatextends your life. But you know,
by using those things, going tothe gym every day, you know,
it can help you a fitness yeah, take a break, laurd we're gonna
talk about close and I want alsoagain because you keep saying the word penalties
and I want to know more aboutthat. If you're listening this day,
we are talking to Laurie Swanagan,the CEO of the Benefits Solutions Group.

(39:58):
Are you confused, Well, it'syour turn to ask some questions. Five
three five nine to three four twofive three five nine three four two one
eight hundred and five zero three ninethree four two other numbers to w d
i A. The BEB Johnson showedthe heart and soul of Memphis for thirty

(40:25):
six years and she still has Memphistalking on w d i A. No
one know your mind to the headby telling you to just keep the three

(41:00):
show because and we're talking with Laurie. It's one again, the CEO of
the Benefits Solutions Group, helping youto understand. I think they're listening to
lord. I hope, I hopethey're listening so they can understand. But

(41:22):
if they're not listening to you,they can always call the office. Yes,
nine O one four five three sixtythree four six. They're standing by
call us now and Laura, wewere talking about because because I love how
you. I love how Laurie explainedthings. And people will say, well,
Laurd's been on, Yeah, butthey're sometimes we have first time listeners

(41:44):
for the first time who are hearingthis fabulous information because people don't know.
And I was and I was thinking, you know, Laurie, I was
thinking about my mother and on others, some other people that are going on.
If they had known this information beforehand. Oh yes, but it wasn't

(42:06):
out there people, you know,so secure. The government wasn't telling folks
what they were doing. That's right, that's right. I don't understand the
secrecy or the lack of information.But you do receive a book every year.
Yeah, it's called Medicare and youyeah, and you know, and
I think people get that book.They don't look in it, Laurie,

(42:28):
Right, Laurie, they don't lookin that book. Come on, Laurie,
now, you know a lot ofus we don't like to read.
Anyway, we'll we'll get that bookand put it aside or throw it in
the trash. Yeah, yeah,I do, because because I think some
people will say, well, I'mnot ready for Medicaid or Medicare. I'm
not I'm not ready for that andthey throw it away. They do.

(42:49):
Man, And I know, butyou're saying in that book it has the
information, but a lot of timesyou may not understand it right right,
So even you know, I wantto invite you to come on down to
the office at five twenty five NorthMaine, stop in with your book.
Let us talk about that book.What's what's contained in that book because there

(43:13):
is some valuable information at the backof that book. Bev it has all
the Medicare advantage plans in it.Oh yes, it has the ratings from
the federal government. A lot offolks that we work will say, you
know, the seniors don't care aboutthe the star ratings. They just care
about, you know, the benefitsthey want exactly. Well, the ratings

(43:34):
are important as well, because whenthe federal government gives a plan and f
so they we have a plan that'son the market. I won't call his
name, but the plan on themarket has a two and a half out
of five stars. Okay, Iwouldn't put my mom in it. So
you know, when when I'm outin the field or our agents are out
in the field, you know,you know where even the federal government will

(43:58):
allow you to get out of theplan anytime during the year. I know,
Beb, you asked me, isthis a year round thing? Right?
Right? Because because I was wondering, I was thinking, I said,
I thought, Laurie, you alljust did it in the fall,
going up to the Christmas time orThanksgiving, and then you start back in
January. October is open enrollments,okay. So okay, October fifteenth through

(44:23):
December the seventh, okay, sothat's actually open enrollment, okay. So
during that time, be of anybody, there has to be no special circumstances.
Anyone with a Medicare card that's thatred, white, and blue card,
they can get a plan. Sothat's when all of these agents will
jump out there and they will juststarted ringing, you know, to start

(44:45):
ringing your doorbell, ringing your phone. But the smart agents and the agents
who are walking in a purpose drivinglife. Bear, we stick around,
right because I know they may say, well, why do you have her
on the show every month? Here'sthe reason why ten thousand new Medicare recipients

(45:07):
aging every single day, not everyweek, not every month, every day.
So there are ten thousand of ourbabies out there who has no idea
what the next step is with Medicare. And I can tell you this here
in the Mid South, I haverun into so many seniors who are completely

(45:30):
confused on the wrong plan. Thisperson may be on a plan for people
who just have regular Medicare, andthey qualify for a plan with people who
have Medicare and Medicaid. So youknow how much good news we're able to
deliver when I find out, youknow, is your income this, And

(45:52):
they'll say, oh, yeah,my income is way below that. Oh
my god. Be I shout intheir homes because I can take the burden
off of them. Beb this isabout information. Yes, this is because
if you I hear people say allthe time that knowledge is power, and
here's the caveat to that. Ifyou don't apply it, it's not powerful.

(46:16):
So the application of knowledge is power. So when I am able to
go out and apply what I've learned, I'm able to really help these singers
get over the hump. Seniors,bev are between purchasing their prescription drugs and
paying their utility bills. Yes,when I can give you a plan that's

(46:37):
going to take those prescription drugs awayfrom you, most of them if you
qualify for full medicaid. We haveplans that are going to pay for your
prescription drugs and give you groceries.So when we can do that, be
for people who have worked so hardand deserve it so much. That's my
heart. That's why I'm on hereevery single month. I can answer the

(47:00):
question for Bev. I'm here becauseI love you. I'm here because I
care. I'm here because I hada mom who was in the same situation
that thrusted me into this industry.Because I want the right information out,
Bev. I want the right informationout, and I have a passion to
get the right information out. Now. Is this confusing, Yes, it's

(47:23):
confusing. It confuses some of myagents. A Every single day we are
learning something new. We have plansthat are being taken off the market.
We have plans that are getting kickedout of the Krogers. I mean plans
that are kicked out. I mean, so we have so many movie pieces.
Listen, ma'am, listen, sir. You have to know that,

(47:45):
you have to know what happens monthto month. So that's why I'm here.
Okay, I love it. We'regoing to our phone line. Laurie
hopefully they have some questions for you. WD I a good morning caller.
High. Hello, Hello this brotherOmar. Hey, brother Omar, you're

(48:07):
on the air. I'd like tothank the sister Lourie for being there and
thank you jping us out Now.I got a red, white and blue
card? How much do that?BENNI shit me, missus LORI. It
benefits you a great deal. ThatA and B is that if you have
parts of A and B that's there, the BE is gonna cover eighty percent.
So you got twenty percent hanging outthere that we need to deal with.

(48:29):
If you don't have a plan already. But if you have a plan,
you may be in good shape.But I would all I would actually
recommend you calling the office. Callthat four or five three six three four
six, so we can at leastreview what you have and make sure you're
good to go. Brother Omar,Do you know what? Do you know
what you have? M? Doyou know what you have? Brother?

(48:50):
Okay? Good? But I wantto ask one question while I'm on you.
It's due to be It's directed tomissus Bevila Johnson. Let's be jail.
You know I've been We've been radiofriends for about twenty years and more
happening with Yes if you say so, brother, Oh my, hey,
I'm gonna go with you. AndI've all I've always been that Rick.

(49:13):
I've never used profanity. I'm neveractive or food. Who do you have
to do to get dad? Becausethe talks your guy in the morning.
I'm not asking him for no time, but he he liked that with me.
He's almost like a basketball player lookingat the clock for a few bears.
He'll take it all in and likehe's giving the ball. And you

(49:36):
see, I'm on there and theshow us all the shows office, nobody
owns the air, nobody's calling himand he I'm not begging you a bell
for your time, but I justwon't let you know that I'm a gentleman.
I've never used profanity on this andI've never talked negative about the station.
Mister Bell, I know what you'redoing. Some black people, just

(50:00):
some niggros just don't like black people. I hope you're listening, man.
Thank you. Brother Omar w DI a high caller. Hello, you're
on the air. Good morning,Good morning, how are you, Good
morning, Laura, Good morning toyou. Thanks for calling Lara time.

(50:22):
I had lard time I call you, I've been I've been had to read
and white blue car note hook.What well, Humanita, What I got
to ask? What I want toneed to ask? You? Do I
have to do? I need totry to get a B, C and
D hood you do you have it? You have it? When you have
a plan, you have it.You've got A and B because that allows

(50:45):
you to get a Humana plan orUnited or a Merry Group or any of
those. See y'all already already y'alla Humana plan. Okay, that's awesome,
awesome. So Lauria saying you so, Laura saying you're good to go.
So you you understand stand it?You understand it? Caller, you
understand what you have? Yes?Oh good, Well, Laurie says,

(51:06):
you're good to go. Well,that's that's that's what I want to know.
Called. I didn't know, didI had? I ain't knew.
I didn't had to get anything else. No, sir, I want I
want to make you a cover thatwhen I had to go to the doc
and go take my fish and allthat stuff, you are covered. Okay,
thank you, You're very welcome.Thank you, thank you, Bill.
You welcome, thank you said,if he had he has all that

(51:30):
he said, he meant it.He's covered good to go, all right,
w D I a high caller,Bill John, Yes, man,
Look I got, of course forthe Laurie. Okay, okay, my
of course I got uh you manit l plane. But I'm sixty three

(51:52):
years old, and I do yousomethbody just stop me up with mine?
You I got. I got upwith uhould work for Menston School for years,
not that I hadn't got in thatage bracket. I'm a shifty shod
and I need to get my money, and I don't want my money to
be up up there forever and denseman's I put it up that what can

(52:15):
I do about getting my money?And uh, like I said, I'm
sixty three and I got in shootbill, but then it is I want
to real any white blue card togo. Two facts. I knew it's
a good thing for people and age. Right, well, let me tell
me. Okay, little daddy,you be listening, We're gonna tell you

(52:37):
because you you're just sixty two,right, No, I just turned sixty
six. It's sixty three, that'sright, you're sixty three, Okay,
so we're gonna tell you what's gonnahappen, little daddy. Okay, and
when you when you are down inthe downtown, just players, we get
bill with with with it. Well, I was there Wednesday, Wednesday,

(53:00):
little daddy. But you know what, I'll be trying to play with any
time you be uh trying to beGeorge my way, I'll be trying to
plan you and chucked out of wayI get. I think I'll be on
the wrong end of main street?Yeah, what what you need to find
Laura? She's on She's on theend down there with whether where the where
the bus station is? The busplayers? I walked, I walked down

(53:23):
there all the time. But youknow, just mu okay, but Laurie's
on that. Lauri's on that.You want to get really blue guard.
Okay. So we're gonna decide,but I leave. I need what I
need, Okay, So a littledad, we're gonna tell you, and
we're gonna and we're gonna give youLaurie's address, so you'll know the address.

(53:43):
When you walk back down their mainstreet again, you'll you'll be in
her office. I'm gonna put meLaura in that black house cab because you
see, like a real real player. And she you know, had I
didn't get down with the haydens.I wanted to get all about paying the
news. Little daddy being about peopleday all day. You got day,

(54:07):
I go answer anybody day ask aboutlittle Dad, no local win you?
All right? All right, thankyou, little Daddy. You two little
Dad have a good one. Allright, all right, be listening.
So lord, little daddy, Lord, so little Daddy is he said,

(54:27):
sixty three? Yeah, so youhe can't get that red, white and
blue card until what not yet sixtyfour and a half. So you're gonna
get it at sixty four and ahalf, little dadda. So here's the
thing. Now, if you havebeen on disability for twenty four months,
then you you qualify as well.So you may need to check that out.

(54:47):
And you've been working and you yougot disability, and you've had it
for twenty four months, you mayqualify. Or sixty four and a half,
they're gonna send it three months beforeyour birthday, right three months before,
So be looking looking out for it. So again, and so Laurie
for so little Daddy said, hewalked down that way, he couldn't find
your place. Give the address forlittle Daddy and other people who can come

(55:12):
to the office. Yes, Bev, it's five twenty five North Main Street,
five to five North Main Street.I'd like to say it's on the
end of Bass Pro coming all theway down Main streets. Yes, on
that end, on the slow endof Main Street, Little Daddy if you
live in that area, so walkon down there to see LORI. Yes,

(55:32):
that's right, looking forward to havingyou. We'll have a little gift
for you. W d I ahi caller. Hello, you're on the
air. Hey, hey, Igot that. I got that duel from
covered all the way you're covered.That's the plan we've been talking about,

(55:53):
that duel plan. Yes, youought to have a good one. You
got some good Thank you. Ilike your shoe than well, thank you,
thank you, thank you for listening. Thank you, bye bye.
All right. So, Lauria,those folks who calling in who say they
have all that the duel, solisten to So, yeah, talk about

(56:14):
the duel. When they say dual, dual is two the number two.
So when you say dual, itmeans medicare and medicaid. So just think
remember that. Now, write thisdown when you hear duel. I have
the dual plan that means I havetwo I'm Medicare and Medicaid qualified. Yeah,

(56:35):
okay, that's the and the dualplan is that the plan that we've
been talking about that pays pretty mucheverything is covered. Your prescription drugs for
most plans are covered your uh.You know. It's the plan that you
know a lot of people are askingabout utilities. Are They're gonna give me
some utility, utilities, groceries.Okay, you know it is the Cadillac

(56:57):
Plan. That's that duel. Butnow that duel when we talk about medicaid,
BEV, don't forget the callers.Listen to me. When we talk
about Medicaid, it is income based, so your income has to be at
a certain level for you to receiveMedicaid. Everybody in the world is not

(57:17):
going to get Medicaid, but you'llget Medicare. If you've just got Medicare
you make too much. Those arethe people that we see October through December.
Okay, now, Lord, Iwant you to talk before you get
out of here, because when youalways talk about getting those penalties, what

(57:37):
does that mean? Oh god,yeah, So with your Part B premium,
you got two things that's gonna getyou a penalty if you don't get
it. If you don't get PartB when you age into medicare or when
you qualify for it. As longas you're on your employer coverage, if
you are a VEB, no worries, you're on your spouse's coverage, no

(57:59):
worries. But if you age inas a single person, as a person
who doesn't meet any of the othercriteria, you age in, you don't
get Part B. They give youan option to have it, you send
it back and you say, Idon't want it because most people don't want
to pay for it. This iswhen the penalty ensues, and it is

(58:20):
a life time penalty. It's alife so for the rest of your life.
I've had clients that will come downthere and say, why am I
being charged this little twenty one dollarsa month? It's extra thirty or whatever
the penalty is. It's because thatpenalty also builds up. You know every
year that penalty is going to getyou. So if once you age into

(58:44):
medicare, you absolutely if you don'thave any of the other stuff that I
mentioned, you have to get PartBE. And I have run across a
whole God, Bill, it isscary. The number of seniors that doesn't
have Part BE in this city.It's scary. But now we can help
you get it. We can helpyou get Part B. So that's definitely

(59:05):
something that you need to call theoffice with nine one four five three six
three four six w D I ahigh caller? Yes? Is this the
Mail Johnson Show? Yes it is. You're on the air. Okay,
I'm talking to miss Lauren. Andmy concern is I had Medicare advantage and

(59:31):
I got it through a trust throughthe UAW before I had ethno Medicare advantage,
and they arbitrarily canceled me out withouteven notifying me, and they start
sending me the Blue Cross card.And what happened. I had my wife

(59:52):
on there with the Part B.So she's still working. I'm retired,
all right, And so they toldme that she had to be she had
to come off of the plan.And so when she came off of the
plan, I called Medicare and askedwhy, and they said, because she

(01:00:15):
does not have Part B. Andso now she's going to purchase Part B.
But now they're telling her that shecan't purchase it. Until the first
of the year. Oh wow,that's true. It's been a very confusing
thing about that, because number one, they should have informed me that as

(01:00:38):
the Medicare advantage was going out andUnited Healthcare was coming in. Wow.
So I know what do I do? Is that? Is that the truth?
Can she get Part B now atany time? I just you know,
I had an agent that just askedme that there is a Part B

(01:01:00):
special election period. So that windowis January the first through March the thirty
first, sir. Unfortunately it isJanuary the first through March thirty first.
You cannot get Part B unless youget it after now here. Now,
let me clarify something. After youhave aged in and you missed the window,

(01:01:25):
so you have you have to havemissed the window. You know you're
coming, you're coming off an employer'scoverage. You got sixty four days to
get your Part B, got oversixty days to get it. So when
you don't get it within that window, then you have to get it during
the window the enrollment period, andit's January first through March thirty first.

(01:01:49):
A lot of people think they canjust get Part B whenever you cannot,
and that is just unfortunate because thatpiece of information right there. Oh god,
because now you're looking at another yearwithout Part ME and that's critical.
Oh my god, that's critical.But I tell you what, Call the
office and let's talk about that.We may be able to offer some additional

(01:02:12):
support there. Uh and if not, we can at least keep you on
track and get you to JAY one. So call the office the four or
five three sixty three four six number. They'll be waiting on you to call
and then let's talk. Let's talkabout that. Okay, And now on
the ABC D and I live inOklahoma City, and I didn't catch all

(01:02:37):
of C coverage. What does Ccoverage? So C is that other twenty
percent that your Part B doesn't cover. So Part buh covers eighty percent.
Then you have an option with PartC now, so you can either go
the Medicare advantage route or you cango the med up route, and it

(01:02:58):
is going to cover the other onepercent that your Part B does not cover.
Now through a Medicare advantage plan,it's the thing that's going to come
and offer you all those additional benefitslike the eyeglass is the dental, the
utility assistance, the transportation all ofthat good stuff through a med's up,
which is still in your parts.Through a med's up, you know,

(01:03:21):
you have to pay for all ofthat stuff. So that's the difference.
And then your C is actually gonnacome with your D. If you do
a Medicare advantage plan, it willinclude your part D, so you have
a C and D together and yourpremium typically for a Medicare advantage plan is
zero. So that's the thing thatwe Yeah, we definitely need to talk
about that. Yeah, give usa call, okay, I show.

(01:03:46):
My last comment is I like tosay that I am so glad to be
able to get w D I Ain here in Oklahoma City and I just
start getting it because my brother inlaw's from Mississippi and he told me,
said, you can get that onhula or live stream or whatever all that.

(01:04:08):
Yeah, I'm made two years oldand WOA Memphis and I love that
music in Memphis. So and Ithank her for having this kind of talk
on the show instead of a lotof nunthings. Who loves Sam and house
Mary loves Jack and all that.So I just appreciate that show. It's

(01:04:30):
instrumental and everything and everyone's need totell the truth about it, but especially
in an African American community. Thankyou a lot. Thank you sir,
and thank you for listening in Oklahoma. We appreciate you. All right,
bye bye. Oh that was nice, very nice, very nice my day.
That's why we do this. Bellthat's why you do it. And
see, hey, I love it, Laura kind of wrap up things this

(01:04:53):
day. If people are confused,and I love the gentleman from Oklahoma.
You know you don't know, yeah, so tell them. So here's some
good news, Okay, the goodnews for the mid South. We are
having a red White and Blues festival. Bab I'm trying to pull you on

(01:05:13):
in there. Verna needs to tellme if you can be there, like
I know, I'll let you know. It's supposed to be out of town
a weekend, but I'll let youknow. Laura, Okay, okay.
So we're having a red, Whiteand Blues festival. It's at the ed
Rice Community Center. It's on Junethe tenth. I need everyone to take
a note because all of the fourteenmillion people that's going to be impacted,

(01:05:39):
I wish they could be there thatday because we're going to have a full
support team there assisting you with thoserenewal notices. So you've got to get
that back in if you receive yourrenewal notice. They actually came out starting
April the first, and I knowthat you have it. Some singers may

(01:05:59):
not realize it, but I wantyou to meet me. You beat me
there, Beat me to the edRice Center on June the tenth from ten
to two p m. We arefeaturing Jay buck And and DJ Solo.
They're gonna be on the ones andthe two's and they're going to be turning
the house out. So we're gonnahave a live band. Guess what,

(01:06:20):
y'all. We're gonna have CSA onsite, okay, assisting with utility bills
Memphis like gas and water, Walgreens. And we do have a few sponsors
that I'm gonna call their names bevUnited Healthcare, Caramax is our goal sponsor,
Humana, and a mirror group.So I want to talk about I

(01:06:41):
want to make sure that we getthose sponsors names out there. Caramax it's
a value based care center here andthey do healthcare through their hearts. They're
located one of their locations is offof Summer Revenue, So I told them
I was going to really talk aboutthem today. So please please can Center
Care Max for our seniors. It'sa local, value based care center here

(01:07:04):
in Memphis. That John Smith Iknow he's listening. And Tiffany, thank
you for being our goal sponsor,a Marrigroup Humanity and nineted thanks for being
our silver sponsors. So Bev,I want them to come out to the
Red, White and Blues Festival onJune tenth from ten am to two pm.
Ten am to two pm where it'sa festival for singers. It's a

(01:07:27):
live band and we are helping singersfill out that renewal packet. Bev,
I've got to help you. Ineed to see every singer in the house.
Hey, these senior communities, getthose vans, gas them up,
bring them on out ten to twoJune tenth at the Ed Rights Community Center.
Bell I love it. I loveit. And one more time.
The number at the Benefit Solutions Groupand your address, Lorry, it is

(01:07:51):
nine oh one four five three sixthree four six nine O one four five
three three four six and the addressis five to five North Main Street.
Beth, thank you for having metoday. It's been wonderful. You are
so welcome, Lorie. Always appreciate, appreciate the information system. Yes,

(01:08:13):
be safe out there. I havea good day. Thank you, bye
bye bye. When we come back, MarchIt chat more information will share with
you next on The Bev Johnson Showas we go to the other side,
right here on w d i A. Whether you're in Arkansas, Tennessee,

(01:08:35):
or Mississippi on Facebook, Twitter,or Instagram, thank you for listening to
The Bev Johnson Show on w di A, Memphis,