PUBLISHED SEPT. 15, 2016
Payant Insurance Solutions to offer free Medicare seminars, consultations
By LOIS KINDLE
If you’re about to sign up for Medicare, navigating its maze of information on Part A, Part B and Part D can be difficult enough. But then there’s the decision on whether to purchase a supplemental insurance plan to cover all or part of the 20 percent of medical expenses Medicare doesn’t pay, or Part C, a no- or low-cost advantage plan with co-pays, deductibles and coverage limitations.
The complicated process can be frustrating and result in decisions that leave a person without the coverage they want or need.
During Medicare’s free look period, Oct. 1 through 14, and during its annual open enrollment, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, Payant Insurance Solutions is offering free, informational seminars to ensure no one has to go it alone. Starting Oct. 15, it will also offer free consultations to assist folks in signing up for whatever supplemental or Part C coverage they need.
The idea is to help residents understand exactly what various plans include, the costs involved and whether or not a supplement or advantage plan is better for them, based on each individual’s situation.
“We started Payant Insurance Solutions when Tom turned 65,” said Robyn Payant, who co-owns the company with her husband (Tom). “Medicare was so confusing that we initially enrolled in the wrong plan. We found it so difficult to navigate the system that we decided we’d start a company to help others through it.”
To provide the best resources, the Payants brought in Marcie Maisonet, a licensed insurance broker and Medicare specialist, to work with them.
“In three years, we’ve helped thousands of people, and we’re looking forward to helping thousands more,” Payant said.
The information supplied in the seminars affects both new and existing Medicare recipients.
“They provide an overview of original Medicare basics and what supplements and advantage plans are so that residents can choose the best plan for their needs,” Maisonet said.
“And even if you’ve been to one before, it’s important to come back and be updated on changes in Medicare,” Payant added.
Maisonet agrees.
“Every year Medicare plan coverage changes, and we make sure people understand how those changes will affect them,” she said. “Staying informed protects seniors from unforeseen financial losses because they didn’t have the coverage they thought they had.”
The Payants’ public seminar schedule is as follows:
• Oct. 3 and 26, Nov. 2 and 28, 10 a.m., at Payant Financial Plaza, 1653 Sun City Center Plaza, Sun City Center. Free admission and refreshments. RSVP at 813-634-7001.
• Nov. 14, 1 p.m., Community Church College, 1501 La Jolla Ave., Sun City Center. $6 per person admission. RSVP at 813-634-1304.
Private seminars for residents of Valencia Lakes will also be offered.
During the open enrollment period, residents can schedule one-on-one appointments at Payant Financial Plaza for free consultations, as well. Call 813-634-7001 to schedule an appointment.
Additionally, the Payants offer one-stop shopping at Payant Financial Plaza for wealth management services, including investment management, financial planning and retirement income planning; homeowners, auto, golf cart, boat insurance and more through RTI, a licensed insurance broker selling coverage through Liberty Mutual, Auto Owners, Mercury Insurance Group and more than 20 other companies; and tax preparation and e-filing through Payant Tax Services. Encore Bank is a longtime tenant in the building.
The Payants have served the South Shore area for 33 years. For additional information, call 813-633-7333.