About Braden Medicare Insurance

Michael T. Braden August 28, 2024 ABOUT BRADEN MEDICARE INSURANCE

A Photograph of Michael Braden's Business Card. Michael Is The Founder and Owner of Braden Medicare Insurance

My wife Tami and I relocated to Scottsdale in 1985. We have lived in Chandler for the past 16 years, and I started my business in 2015 with the simple goal of becoming the best Medicare Insurance Agency you can find anywhere in America.  Where you can speak freely, express your concerns, confusions, and goals, and know that not only is someone listening, but they take your information to heart and do everything they can to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.  We believe that being honest, approachable, knowledgeable, courteous, and respectful to others goes a long way.  

Medicare has often been described as confusing, difficult to understand,  and overwhelming for many people.  It is not Rocket Science, but it is different than what we have been accustomed to during our working careers.  We are here to help. We strive to simplify Medicare in plain, easy-to-understand, common-sense terms, and we never charge our clients a penny for our services or our expertise. 

At Braden Medicare, we are a little bit different.  Different, how you might ask?  First and foremost, we learn about our clients by listening to them.  We like to empower them by asking them to describe what they want to achieve with their Healthcare. What do they like and what things are most important to them, and not just them, we also like to pass along information about Medicare to the rest of their family, whenever it is appropriate. And we speak Medicare fluently. 

I would describe myself as relaxed. Prepared, easy to speak with, well-read, an excellent communicator, courteous, respectful, down to earth, and genuine.  I am about as far away from pretentious as you can get. I go the extra mile for people because that is what providing a service is all about to me. I love turning over every stone to help someone.  Going above and beyond is part of our everyday life at Braden Medicare Insurance. We may be many things, but the one thing we will never be is outworked! Our goal every day we wake up is to exceed our clients' expectations.

When you work with Braden Medicare Insurance, you're not just getting a quote or help with one individual policy; you're getting a friend for life who will always be committed to putting your needs first and someone whom you and your family can count on and trust to look out for you and your best interests and help you in any way we can.

We like to begin by asking questions, listening to you, and learning what you want your Healthcare in retirement to do for you and your family.  What are the most important things to you regarding your Medicare coverage and healthcare? Would you like predictable costs? Do you want a plan with a limited network of Doctors?  Do you want to have a Primary Care Physician?  Do you prefer paying out of pocket for Hospital stays, limited Physical Therapy, X-rays, and MRIs, Doctor's Office Visits, or paying only to receive a referral so you can see a specialist? Do you want to navigate a lot of fine print, or would you rather be in control of your healthcare so you can go to any doctor or hospital you want?  Where you pay a manageable monthly premium, and the only other out-of-pocket cost is. It is a $240 Deductible, which applies to the entire year.  We want to empower you to take control of your healthcare decisions.  We will present your options, then, based on your preferences, we will get to work on the options that fit them.  At Braden Medicare, Outpatient, you will always be in control. We are committed to working with you and your family so you can enjoy the rest of your life with peace of mind, knowing your friends at Braden Medicare have set you up for success and that we will always be here for you and your family whenever you or your family have questions in the future.

I grew up in the Midwest, and I am proud of my roots and my commonsense Midwestern work ethic. Everyone goes through life either doing what they love or doing something they are very good at. I have always been very hands-on and have a genuine affinity for serving others.  I was taught at an early age to respect my elders.  That is why I decided to focus on Medicare and working with seniors. I saw far too many seniors being dismissed, discounted, and/or taken advantage of because of their age, and, even though I just turned 60, I wanted to change that narrative.

Our goal at Braden Medicare and www.bradenmedicare.com is to position Braden Medicare and Braden Medicare Insurance as a beacon of light in a storm.  Someone you can identify with, someone you can grow with, someone you can understand, and trust, and most importantly, someone you enjoy working with, someone who genuinely cares about you, your family, and will do whatever they can to make you feel educated, informed,  valued, and empowered. We believe you can never have too many friends; we strive to make everyone we meet comfortable and respected.  We treat clients like friends, and we have always treated friends like family! 

I'm confident you will come to know us as good people who care about others and are authentic and genuine. We are sincere and honest.  We shoot straight, and we look people in the eye when we shake their hand. We care, we treat everyone like family, and we will always do everything in our power to ensure our family is protected. Let us do the heavy lifting and remove all the rocks from your knapsack so you can move forward with the most critical time of your life.  A time when retirement means living, taking the time to do whatever you want to do.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT MEDICARE THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW

• Medicare is the national health insurance program for all Americans over age 65.

• Medicare is not free.  Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient care at a Hospital, is what we paid for through our Medicare and Social Security Taxes during our working careers.

• You enroll in Medicare through the Social Security Administration.

• Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays.

• Medicare Part B covers all of your Out-Patient services, including Imaging, Lab Tests, Bloodwork, Preventive Screenings, and Medical Equipment. Everyone with Medicare must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A & Medicare Part B.

• Medicare Part C is the part of Medicare more commonly known as Medicare Advantage.  Private, for-profit Insurance companies sell Medicare Advantage plans, and there are over 4,000 Part C Plans across the United States.

THERE ARE THREE WAYS YOU CAN CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE IN MEDICARE

1.) Original Medicare, which is a traditional 80/20 Health Plan where the government pays 80% and you pay 20%. There are no networks with Original Medicare.  You can see any Doctor and go to any hospital in America that accepts Medicare.

2.) Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement Plan.  A Medicare Supplement /Medigap Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N will pay for all of your 20% share that the Government does not cover. Both the Mayo Clinic and Barrow Neurological Center in Phoenix accept Original Medicare, but they do not accept any Medicare Advantage plans.

3.) Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage.  This is insurance typically offered as an HMO or PPO plan.  Private insurance companies offer them and are not part of the United States Government, unlike Original Medicare. These Plans have Networks you must use. Most HMO plans include Prescription Drug Coverage, but most PPO plans do not.  You are responsible for paying Co-Pays and Co-Insurance.  Each plan has a Maximum Out-of-Pocket Expense (MOOP).  This ranges from $2,800 - $7,500.  MA/MAPD plans will cover everything only after you reach your MOOP.  Additionally, you must choose a new plan every year. For anyone considering the Advantage plan, please take the time to read and reread both the Summary of Benefits and the Explanation of Benefits sections. We encourage you to review the Summary of Benefits and the Explanation of Benefits sections of the Advantage plan. They’re packed with valuable information for you! We encourage you to review the Summary of Benefits and the Explanation of Benefits sections of the Advantage plan. They’re packed with valuable information for you, for every Medicare plan you are considering. 

WHY WE ARE BETTER THAN OTHER MEDICARE AGENTS AND MEDICARE BROKERS

So, what makes Braden Medicare special?  Well, for starters, we have more plan options than just about any other Medicare Broker you will find. We work hard to maintain our relationships with all of the Insurance carriers we are fortunate to represent. Most brokers have 4-6 carriers, and most agents are associated with only two insurance companies. We offer Medicare products from 34 of the best and most trusted Insurance Companies in the United States that offer Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Medigap, and Medicare Prescription Drug plans. We believe that by providing more plans from more highly rated insurance companies, our clients benefit most from greater choice. At Braden Medicare Insurance, we know you will spend less on premiums because you are in charge and can choose the company you want to partner with.

• We are licensed to Market and sell every Medicare Part D Plan in Arizona. That is 28 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.

  
  

• We are contracted to Market and sell every Medicare Advantage Plan from AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Amerigroup, Banner Health, BCBS of Arizona, Cigna, Devoted Health, Humana, Gold Kidney Health, Lasso, and WellCare. Again, having the most options gives you the best opportunity to find the plan that fits you like a glove.

  
  

• As an Independent Medicare Broker, we are licensed and contracted to market and sell Medicare Supplement/Medigap plans from AARP, Ace Medicare Supplements, Aetna, Aflac, Allstate, Bankers Fidelity, Banner, BCBS of Arizona, Capital Life, Cigna, Globe Life Insurance, 'Humana, Manhattan Life Insurance, Medico, Mutual of Omaha, Nassau, Philadelphia Life Insurance, Royal Arcanum Insurance, United Healthcare, Royal Arcanum. All told, we are contracted with over 30 of the Top-Rated Medicare Supplement/Medigap Insurance companies in America.

  
  

MORE THINGS THAT SET US APART AND MAKE US UNIQUE

From assisting clients with getting enrolled in Medicare to educating them on the Four Parts that make up Medicare.  We work tirelessly every day to help our clients achieve Peace of Mind by taking care of them and making sure they are happy with their healthcare. We plan on being a resource for them for the rest of their lives.

We only represent companies with an S&P, Fitch, or Moody's Rating of B+ or higher. 

We include GoodRx pricing for our clients in all Part D Drug Plan Comparisons, and we also check whether Cost Plus Drugs or Marley Drug offers lower prices than your Part D Plan.

In addition to our Medicare Insurance offerings, we offer an outstanding selection of ancillary insurance products, including Dental, Vision, LTC (Long-Term Care), Final Expense, Life Insurance, Cancer Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Under-65 Health Insurance, and Short-Term Health Plans. 

We complete a Patient Information Cover Letter for every new client. It is easy to update and can be emailed or taken with you to your doctor and dentist. It contains pertinent information about the type of Medicare Plan you have. This information includes your Medicare ID, Your Address, Telephone Number, email, the name of your Part D Plan, Your Preferred Pharmacies, and the name of your Medicare Advantage/Medicare Supplement or Medigap carrier, along with Emergency Contact.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT  

"To deliver unequaled service to our clients and develop and nurture long-lasting relationships by always interacting with our clients in a genuine, caring, and respectful manner".