Jimmie Walker Medicare TV Commercial Review

Jimmie “JJ” Walker’s Medicare Advantage commercial is running on the airwaves, causing a lot of confusion among seniors.

Consumers say this ad makes many misleading claims about their Medicare Advantage plans, which could lead seniors to believe that these plans are better than they really are.

In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the claims made in the commercial and debunk their misleading claims.

What Are The Drawbacks Of The Jimmie Walker Medicare Commercial?

• The company running the commercial Medicare Helpline*, which later becomes Benefits Helpline, is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program. It is a marketing company that collects leads to sell them to insurance companies.
• A call center agent, not a licensed insurance agent, will answer your call. Their fine print says: “Your call will be directed to a licensed insurance agent or a third-party partner of Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings, LLC.” These call center agents are not Medicare specialists who can help you determine the best plan.
• The testimonials shown in the commercial are not given by actual callers they help but are made by paid endorsers who may not have a Medicare Advantage Plan.
• They claim to provide extra benefits like dental coverage, including dentures, extractions, fillings, prescriptions, transportation, and meals. They are saying these benefits are available in every state. When in truth, the availability of these benefits varies by region and state.
• They claim you can eliminate co-pays, but their fine print says you need to qualify for low-income subsidies to qualify for this benefit (you must be near the poverty level to eliminate co-pays in most cases). They claim you will have $0 premiums, but their fine print says this is only available in some states and not all.
• They claim you can add money to your Social Security check, and make it sound like everybody can qualify for this benefit when it is unavailable in all 50 states.
• The company running the television ads is a lead generation company that sells the information they collect to insurance companies.
• Many agents will try to upsell you expensive final expense life insurance with a 2-year waiting period after they sell you a Medicare Advantage plan. 1st-day coverage insurance and lower pricing are available through companies like Funeral Funds of America in all 50 states.

What Is Medicare Helpline?

Medicare Helpline, which later becomes Benefits Helpline, is not an insurance company selling Medicare Advantage Plans. They are a marketing company that partners with Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings, LLC.

They are in the business of selling your information to insurance companies. They are not Medicare specialists who can help you determine the best plan for your needs.

The company is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program.

By calling their helpline, you will be connected to a call center agent who is not a licensed insurance agent. The company’s fine print says: “Your call will be directed to a licensed insurance agent or a third-party partner of Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings, LLC.”

Medicare Helpline Commercial Review

Medicare Helpline commercial starring Good Times actor Jimmie “JJ” Walker convinces people on Medicare who have questions to call the helpline and get free help.

Let’s examine their commercial to help seniors understand the misinformation and misleading claims they make about their services.

You can notice at the beginning of the commercial the fine print that says “paid endorsement” as Jimmie Walker gets paid loads of money to talk about the benefits of calling the helpline.

EXTRA BENEFITS CLAIM: The commercial claims they provide extra benefits like dental coverage, including dentures, extractions, fillings, prescriptions, transportation, and meals. They make it sound that these benefits are available in every state.

• THE TRUTH: You can only get these benefits they claim when you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Their fine print says, “Extra benefits require enrollment in a Medicare Advantage Plan”

ACTUAL PERSON CLAIM: An actual person answered my call and looked up my zip code.

• THE TRUTH: Their fine print says, “Your call will be directed to a licensed insurance agent or to a third-party partner of Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings, LLC who can provide more information about your Medicare insurance plan options.”

• THE TRUTH: A call center agent will answer your call. They are not Medicare specialists who can help you understand your options. They will get your information and sell them to insurance agents who will call you multiple times to sell you an insurance product.

ZIP CODE CLAIM: Look up your zip code to know the benefits available to you

• THE TRUTH: Every state has a different Medicare Advantage plan in every part of the country. The agent will not be able to tell you what is available in your state until you give them your information. You cannot be entitled to all the benefits because benefits vary by location.

EXTRA BENEFITS CLAIM: They offer extra benefits like dental coverage, including dentures, extractions, fillings, prescriptions, transportation, meals, and so much more.

• THE TRUTH: Their fine print says, “Plan availability varies by region and state. Transportation to plan-approved locations. Extra benefits require enrollment in a Medicare Advantage Plan.”

• THE TRUTH: The extra benefits are exaggerated. You cannot get all of them unless you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. And when you do, the benefits vary by location.

NO ADDITIONAL COST CLAIM: You can get all the benefits at no additional cost!

• THE TRUTH: The commercial is very misleading. It makes it sound like you can get all these benefits without cost. But that’s not true. You may have to pay a premium, deductible, and coinsurance for some of the benefits they claim.

ADDS MONEY TO SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIM: Adds money to my Social Security check

• THE TRUTH: Only Medicare Part B gives back benefits in some states, and it’s only because it comes with no prescription benefit. If you opt for this benefit, you forfeit your prescription benefit.

ELIMINATE CO-PAY CLAIM: They eliminate Co-pays

• THE TRUTH: When you read their fine print, it says: “Plans and benefits vary, and premiums, co-pays, and co-insurance may apply. Plans that have no premium, no co-pays, and no deductibles may require qualifying for low-income subsidies or SNP. Benefits may differ from those offered under your current plan.”

• THE TRUTH: Co-pays cannot be totally eliminated in any Medicare Advantage Plan. You will still have to pay some out-of-pocket costs.

DENTAL WORK CLAIM: Get significant extra benefits, including expanded coverage for dental work, all at no additional cost

• THE TRUTH: Expanded dental works are not available in all states. The commercial makes it sound like this benefit is available in every state, but that’s not the case.

GET EVERYTHING CLAIM: Call to get everything you may be entitled to.

• THE TRUTH: They are prompting you to call as if they are the only ones who can provide these benefits. But that’s not true. You can get these benefits from other sources as well.

• THE TRUTH: People say these commercials are very misleading and use a lot of scare tactics to prompt you to call. Be very careful and only deal with companies that are transparent about their intentions and what they can provide for you. Do your research before speaking with them.

Medicare Helpline Disclaimer

It’s always smart to read the fine print on advertisements before you call them or give them any personal information.

“The 2021 Medicare Helpline is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of any government agency or program. Outside of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, members can enroll in a plan only if they meet certain criteria. A licensed insurance agent can help you determine whether you are eligible. Your call will be directed to a licensed insurance agent or to a third-party partner of Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings, LLC who can provide more information about your Medicare insurance plan options. There is no obligation to enroll. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. This is not a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or consult www.medicare.gov”

Many seniors say that Jimmie Walker’s commercial for the Medicare Helpline is misleading and full of false claims. Be careful when you watch this commercial and don’t believe everything they say on their commercial.

Do your research to find out what services are available to you and if there are any costs associated with them. Don’t give them your information unless you are sure you want to be contacted by a licensed insurance agent.

What Is The Best Way To Know Your Medicare Coverage Options?

The best way to know your Medicare coverage options is by visiting the official Medicare website. You can also speak with a licensed insurance agent to get more information about your options.

A licensed insurance agent can help you determine the right Medicare plan for you and your needs. You can find a licensed insurance agent by visiting the official Medicare website or by calling Medicare at 800-MEDICARE or 877-486-2048). You can also visit your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased Medicare counseling.

How Can Funeral Funds Help Me?

Funeral Funds is an independent life insurance agency offering free quotes and advice for those seeking life insurance coverage.

We can help you compare life insurance policies from different companies to find the best coverage for you and your family. Fill in the quote box to get free quotes.

If you are interested in learning more about Funeral Funds and how we can help you, please visit our website or call us at (888) 862-9456. We are here to help you find the best life insurance coverage for your needs.

*This website is not endorsed by, directly affiliated with, maintained, authorized, or sponsored by Medicare Helpline. Any Medicare Helpline trade name or trademark is for identification and reference purposes only and does not imply any association with the trademark holder of their product brand.

Medicare Helpline is a registered trademark of its original owners, and Funeral Funds of America declares no affiliation, sponsorship, or any partnerships with any registered trademarks unless otherwise stated.

The information on this website is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only, and all information in this article is subject to change without notice.