Medicare Plans Made Simple

Finding the Medicare that's RIGHT for YOU.

About Your Medicare Guide

Why I Do This: Medicare isn't just a policy; it’s a major life milestone. But for many, the path to the right coverage feels like trekking through a dense fog of mailers and complex plans.

At Seattle Medicare Plan Experts, I believe you shouldn't have to navigate this trail alone.

Joining Medicare is at first about learning a foreign language—MEDICARE. It is a journey best completed with a partner who knows the language AND the terrain.

For this reason, our meetings are face-to-face, either in home or at a coffee shop, somewhere in the Seattle Metro area.

My mission is to journey together with you, clearing the path until we find the best and brightest options for your future.

Your Guide on the Journey to a Bright Healthcare Future

Meet Jim Yragui: Your Healthcare Strategist

• Clinical Pharmacy Foundations: My years of pharmacy practice provide a deep, firsthand understanding of the "science" of medicine and how to explain it in plain english to the average person.

• Medical Sales Leadership: I managed medical sales teams for a division of Merck for 12 years, gaining an insider’s view of the healthcare landscape.

• Business & Finance: With an MBA and a background in financial planning, I help you avoid hidden costs and protect your retirement.

A Legacy of Guidance My perspective on guidance is deeply personal and professionally rooted. My father grew up near the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a path world-renowned for those seeking a meaningful journey. To honor that heritage, I lived in Spain 4 years after working as a pharmacist.

During my four years in Spain, I became fully bilingual, taught English to medical professionals, and completed my MBA. Having navigated parts of the Camino myself, I understand that in Medicare—as in travel—having a guide who speaks the language and understands the terrain makes the difference between anxiety, and ADVENTURE!

Start Your Journey to a Brighter Medicare

The First Step: Common Questions . . . ANSWERED

Q&A Medicare Advantage

You cannot choose your own Doctor?

2026 Reality In Metro Seattle:

This is hardly ever true. If you already have a primary doctor, and they accept Medicare, its highly likely they accept at least a couple Medicare Advantage plans. In the Seattle metro area, there are even some plans have a contract with every major doctor's group. WE ALWAYS VERIFY THE NETWORK STATUS OF YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE ENROLLING.

Referrals are hard to get?

2026 Reality in Metro Seattle:

For a particular specialist in your Doctors network, simply call the specialist. The specialist easily confirms with your primary electronically through the Epic system. Doctors groups, not plans, now drive the referral process, and will usually first refer to a specialist inside their group if there is one. Plans allow a second opinion at another Doctors group.

You have to fight for prior authorizations?

2026 Reality in Metro Seattle:

Prior authorizations can help limit fraud, waste and abuse, but some Medicare Advantage plans overused this tactic in recent years. Now, CMS increasingly monitors and limits its use. Still, it's such an important tactic that CMS is now testing it on select treatments under Original Medicare itself. Appealing a denial is easier than it seems and very often successful, but it is usually overlooked by patients. We can also help with that.

Q&A Medicare Supplement

Is it hard to find a doctor?

Medicare pays Doctors and Hospitals much less than what they can charge on the open market, so it is true a few doctors may not participate. But Medicare is where the patients are - 60 billion. In the Seattle metro market every major Doctors group accepts Medicare rates in order to serve this population. While Original Medicare doesn't do this, Medicare Advantage plans routinely list the thousands of Doctors taking their plans in searchable PDF files.

Does it cover dental or vision?

Original Medicare's top concern is preventing MEDICAL BANKRUPTCY. MEDICAL is strictly defined as anything taught in MEDICAL SCHOOL. This means Opthalmology and Dental Surgery are covered, but not Optomology, eyewear, or filling cavities. To cover these, people usually buy supplemental insurance for dental and/or vision. By comparison, Medicare Part C Advantage plans may sometimes bundle these in at no (or for a small) extra premium.

Why is it so expensive?

Monthly premiums of $250 in addition to $202 for basic Medicare B (per person) puts this cost of insurance close to what someone pays to insure a fancy car or truck. For some folks, this is not a problem. For the rest, Medicare Advantage is usually a better option.

Do I have to pay for a seperate part D plan too?

Yes. Congress legislated prescription insurance for people over 65. Participation is required so that everyone pays into the pool. Even if they do not currently take any medication, most agree that SOMEDAY they WILL PROBABLY EVENTUALLY want to tap into that pool to cover their prescription costs when they are older. Plans are only available through private insurance, and average $30/month. Medicare Advantage plans often include Part D coverage at no extra premium.

NOTE: The Medicare Advantage experience is not the same from county to county. People living in larger population centers and counties often have more robust plans with more "extras" and lower copays.

More Questions? Call Me