Bilhartz Desert Insurance Segment - May 10, 2026

Listen to Seg 2

14:17

Hour 2 Seg 2 - Bilhartz Desert Insurance Segment

- LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE SHOW FOR HI-LIGHTS/DETAILS OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED IN THIS INTERVIEW.

BILHARTZ DESERT INSURANCE w/ Brian Bilhartz. HIS OFFICES; 75-410 Gerald Ford Dr., Ste., 102, Palm Desert, 92211. BRIAN IS A BROKER.

- REPORT that notice came from CMS, the governing body of Medicare about changes in 2026. Brian has to fill out a form that says he has permission to meet w/ a beneficiary BEFORE he meets w/ them. “Busy about the wrong thing”.

- QUESTIONS FROM “JOEY PALS”

1. What time frames are involved now? (Q4 (Oct., 14 – Dec., 7) and Q1 Medicare Advantage Open-Enrollment (Jan., 1 – Mar., 31) NOW WE ARE OUTSIDE of those. If something changes, someone moves, check enrollment)

- DISCUSSION that MEDICAL is financial based.

- CONVERSATION about $2,000. Limit for individual and $3,000. For a couple and IT WAS changed to $130,000. For individual and $195,000. Per couple. Lots more folks became eligible. NOW IT IS $0 asset tests. Jan., 1 re-introduced asset tests.

2. How do I find out if I qualify for Medicare or Medical? (Medicare is age related. Medical is strictly income based. Has been income and asset-based as well. Biggest changes on asset side.)

3. What changes in CA. rules should I worry about? (CA. raised the income levels and this made it easier on the State. CA. completely illuminated the asset test. Added 150,000 folks to Medical.)

- REPORT that Part D plans premiums are going up.

- REPORT that the annual election period WAS OVER Dec., 7. Challenge is there are plans that are terminating. You’ll get notices in the mail if yours is cancelled. Plans are changing left and right. REVIEW YOUR PLANS.

- DISCUSSION of the changes to MEDICARE PART D – the most utilized component of your Medicare because you take your medications EVERY DAY.

- REPORT on Medicare Part D. For drugs. Most Medicare Advantage Plans have this. Medicare is going to put a cap in 2025 on the out-of-pocket maximum of $2000. for Part D. GREAT.

- DISCUSSION of your FLEX card and that there are different types. Going up to $99./month in 2026.

- REPORT that Brian will serve his clients in their home, in his office, on the phone. REMEMBER HE WILL COME TO YOUR HOME. He has all the special classification to do all of this. The rules are different in other states. He studies in July, Aug., and Sept. each year for the changes coming.

- ANNOUNCEMENT that now there is a PERSON JUST TO RESPOND TO CALLS/TEXTS. Ashley is @ (760) 848-7171.

- (contact info; www.bilhartzinsurance.com and (760) 848-7171).

Brian