Mario Guajardo

Medicare Advantage assigns Part A/B to private insurers controlling provider access.
Medicare Advantage limits care: in-network doctors, prior authorizations, specialist referrals.
Switching later can be hard: Medigap may be denied outside 6 mo Part B window.
Autumn open enrollment lets people compare plans, but most don’t review yearly.
Income 2 yr earlier sets Part B/D premiums; Roth conversions can trigger IRMAA.

Avoid Medicare Enrollment Mistakes

Paid-Up Additions (PUAs) buy extra coverage using life insurance dividends, without raising premiums.
Available on dividend-paying whole life, typically participating policies from mutual companies.
Dividends aren’t guaranteed; some mutual insurers have long histories of yearly payouts.
Using dividends for PUAs skips new medical exams; pricing depends on age at issuance.
PUAs can speed cash value growth, but overfunding risks MEC tax treatment.