SAN ANTONIO – (Sept. 7, 2024) – To learn about upcoming changes to Medicare, Fred Brock American Legion Post 828, in cooperation with VFBA, hosted a free Medicare Information Luncheon for persons 64 and older at the post’s event center.
According to medicare.gov, Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. Some people get Medicare automatically, others must actively sign up - it depends on if a person starts getting retirement or disability benefits from Social Security before they turn 65.
“The reason we want folks who are 64 to attend the information luncheon is because most of the time, they know nothing about Medicare and don’t know they can actually enroll three months prior to their 65th birthday,” said Brian Piacentini, a principal with VFBA. “Seniors in deep rural areas and the inner cities have little to no representation when it comes to obtaining quality advisers.”
According to Piacentini, an Army veteran, the VFBA only contacted four American Legion posts in San Antonio and surrounding areas to run a test based upon location, population and geography.
“Post 828 was one of those posts selected because we believed it was located in the right part of the city and that the genuine energy and excitement from the post’s leadership would create a perfect proving ground,” said Piacentini.
Providing detailed information during the luncheon were Michael Wilhelm, owner/CEO of Trusted Senior Specialists (TSS), an Integrity Partner, and Jeremy Johnson, TSS national training manager.
“Right now, we live in confusing and costly times. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor or somewhere in between, our seniors can use some extra money,” said Piacentini. “Knowing all the plans available can not only enhance the Medicare plan a person enrolls in but can possibly save that person thousands of dollars each year.”
Veterans are perfectly suited for the advantage plans offered by VFBA because they could receive a buyback option in certain cases, Piacentini said.
The guest of honor of the luncheon was Medal of Honor recipient Ret. Col. Donald “Doc” Ballard, Army National Guard, who earned the military’s highest honor as a Navy corpsman with the Marines in Vietnam.
It is important to note that the VFBA does not create Medicare plans for seniors to enroll in. They simply assess what’s important to the individual and then find all the plans that best fit that individual’s needs and wants.
