Sonia Hobbs Ashford

Sonia Ashford

Sonia Hobbs Ashford was first influenced to pursue a career in the insurance industry by a close family friend who was an agent working in the Medicare insurance field. She went to work for a Property & Casualty company for a brief time. Sonia was drawn back to the Medicare insurance field when her grandmother needed help with her Medicare insurance. She found it was a rewarding experience just how much she was able to help her grandmother with her healthcare. Sonia has since had the joy of helping many clients with their Medicare insurance healthcare needs and looks forward to being able to partner with you.

Sonia has been helping seniors in Texas with their Medicare Insurance since 2005. She has been married to John Ashford since 1982 and they reside in Bedford Texas. They belong to Gateway Churches’ Southlake Campus. They have six children together and nine grandchildren that they love to spoil. In Sonia’s limited spare time she enjoys quilting and crafting. 

Sonia Ashford is considered an Independent Insurance Agent, being able to offer Medicare insurance plans from multiple insurance carriers. She has delivered hundreds of speeches to senior citizens about turning 65, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans. Sonia has spoken at local small group meetings and to individual consumers in Tarrant, Dallas, and surrounding counties. She is a respected and trustworthy agent within the Medicare Insurance industry.

Sonia Ashford is a Founding Member of Ashford Insurance Services, LLC, "Your Local Independent Medicare Insurance Agency". They specialize in Texas Medicare Insurance for seniors including Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, (sometimes called Medigap or Med-Sup Plans) from some of the top carriers in Texas. They also offer Life, Cancer, Accident, Hospital Indemnity, Dental, Vision, and Final Expense, (Burial) Insurance plans. They are centrally located in Bedford Texas, Tarrant County in the heart of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex also known as the Mid Cities or HEB. Visit Sonia's agency website at http://ashfordinsuranceservices.com to learn more about how she can help you with your Medicare insurance decisions. She would love to visit with you.

Tip - How to Recognize Heat Stroke

Tip - How to Recognize Heat Stroke

It's almost July! Time for fun in the sun, however, it may not be fun for everyone. Older adults are more susceptible to heat stroke.

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Older adults are more prone to heat stroke because they are more likely to have a chronic medication condition that changes their body's response to heat and are more likely to be taking medications that impair the body's ability to regulate normal body temperature.

Heat stroke signs include:

• Sweating
• Paleness
• Cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea/vomiting
• Fainting
• Cool moist skin
• Fast or weak pulse and/or breath

So please take care of yourselves by drinking plenty of water, resting appropriately, remaining indoors during the heat of the day, and wearing lightweight clothing. As agents, we suggest carrying bottles of water with you for your more senior clients as well as being able to recognize the signs of heat stroke. If you are experiencing signs of heat stroke or see someone who is immediately get the person to a shady cool area and cool the person quickly by any means possible at your immediate disposal. 

Question: Why do I get so much mail when approaching age 65?

Good question. Medicare marketing rules do not allow insurance agents to make cold calls, go door to door, or to even approach you. So, the only way to get in touch with seniors turning 65 is by direct mail or advertising.

So, if you mail in a reply card from someone’s mailer, you might be bombarded with phone calls and mail. They may sell your information to agents call centers to set appointments.

Tips to avoid some of the overflow:

Request removal from the Direct Mail Association. Go to www.dmachoice.org to be removed.

Register for the “National Do Not Call List” to avoid unwanted phone calls. Go to www.donotcall.gov or call toll-free at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236).

Also, Register for Texas "No Call Lists" at www.texasnocall.com or by calling 1-866-TXNOCAL(L) (1-866-896-6225). 

You will need to call or give written permission for me to contact you. Remember, I charge you no fees, we are paid by the carrier you sign up with. Because I am an Independent Insurance Agent I can offer you many of the top carriers in Texas. 

So, call today! 817-689-3536.

Sonia Ashford is an independent insurance agent in the Medicare field, and has delivered hundreds of speeches about turning 65, Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement insurance to consumers in Tarrant County. A respected agent within the Medicare insurance industry, she is the owner of Ashford Insurance Services. Visit Sonia's agency website http://ashfordinsuranceservices.com to learn more about how she can help you with your Medicare decisions.

Question: Does Medicaid Help Medicare Enrollees?

Question: Does Medicaid Help Medicare Enrollees?

Yes, Medicare has four basic forms of coverage:

• Part A: Pays for hospitalization costs
• Part B: Pays for physician services, lab and x-ray services, durable medical equipment, and outpatient and other services
• Part C: Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) offered by private companies approved by Medicare
• Part D: Assists with the cost of prescription drugs

Medicare enrollees who have limited income and resources may get help paying for their premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses from Medicaid (e.g. MSPs, QMBs, SLBs, and QIs). Medicaid also covers additional services beyond those provided under Medicare, including nursing facility care beyond the 100-day limit or skilled nursing facility care that Medicare covers, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, and hearing aids. Services covered by both programs are first paid by Medicare with Medicaid filling in the difference up to the state's payment limit.

How to Apply: https://www.medicaid.gov/apply-for-coverage/apply-for-coverage.html

Sonia Ashford

817-689-3536

seniorhealthtx@gmail.com

http://ashfordinsuranceservices.com/

Source: Medicaid.gov

Attn: Millennials!!!

Attn: Gen X'ers!!

Attention Baby Boomers!!

Things to Consider While Shopping for a Medigap Plan

If you are shopping for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, your Ashford Insurance Agent will be able to share the key differences between the insurance companies offering these plans.

 

Some of the things to compare between Insurance Companies are:

How long the company has been in the Medigap business?

How long the company has been offering plans in your state of residence?

What is the current financial rating (AM Best) for the company?

What does the 3-year history of the company’s Medical loss ratio look like and how does it compare to the national average?

How many enrollees does the company’s Medigap plan(s) have?

What is the history of rate increases for the past 3 years look like?

How is the company’s history of customer complaints?

Do they offer additional non-Medicare covered benefits like a Gym Membership, out of country travel benefits or the ability to change inside the company’s plans from one plan to another without going through Underwriting?

Note: You must still continue to pay for your Medicare Part B premium

As you can see there is more to think about when it comes to Medigap Plans than initial cost or whether you want a Plan F or a Plan G.

For more information click on the image below:

For personalized assistance in choosing which insurance company and plan, please call:

Sonia Ashford
(817) 689-3536

senioerhealthx@gmail.com

What to look for in a Medicare Advantage Plan

If you are shopping for a Medicare Advantage plan, your Ashford Insurance Agent will take the time to review the key differences between each plan available to you so YOU can make an informed decision. 

Here are some of the key differences to look for between plans:

Does your current Doctor and Specialists accept the plan?

The number of Doctors and Hospitals and which ones that are ‘In-Network.’

Do the Doctors have their own Networks within the plans Network?

Will you be required to have a referral from your Primary Physician to see a Specialist?

What are the co-pays for Doctors and Specialist visits?

Is the plan an HMO or PPO and how will that affect how you can get service?

The rules and extra cost you may incur for using providers out of network.

The plan’s premium for both the health and prescription drug part of the plan?

What will the out of pocket costs be for the specific prescription medications you take?

What is the Maximum Out Of Pocket limit for both in-network and in/out of Network services?

What is the daily cost of an Inpatient Hospital stay?

What will the costs be for Skilled Nursing Care?

What is your co-insurance for Durable Medical Equipment?

What is the plan’s Star rating for health and for prescription drug coverage?

Are there any Travel benefits?

Does the plan have any vision or dental benefits?

How hard is it to find an Urgent Care provider?

Check the out of pocket costs for any other key service you may use more than once per plan year.

Do the plans have any non-Medicare covered benefits like a gym membership?

Note: You must still continue to pay for your Medicare Part B premium

These are some of the things to look at when comparing Medicare Advantage plans.

For more information please click the image below to visit:

Sonia Ashford

(817) 689-3536

seniorhealthtx@gmail.com

Sonia Ashford's Medicare Insurance Broker Biography

I'm Sonia Ashford, I was first influenced to pursue a career in insurance by a close family friend who was an agent working in the Medicare field. Unfortunately, he passed away soon after I was licensed. I then went to work for a Property & Casualty company for a short 3-year period. I was drawn back to the Medicare field when my grandmother needed help with her Medicare insurance. It was so rewarding to experience how much I was able to help her with her healthcare. I have since had the joy of helping many clients with their insurance healthcare needs. I look forward to being able to partner with you.

I have been in the Texas Insurance business since 2005. I've been married to John Ashford since 1982. We have six children and nine grandchildren we love to spoil. In my spare time, I enjoy quilting and crafting. 

I can be reached at: 

817-952-3153

sonia@ashfordinsurancegroup.com