Medicare Planning Essentials with Mark Faildo

This week on the Team Lally Real Estate Radio Show, we interview Mark Faildo of Premier Benefit Consultants. He demystifies Medicare—what it covers, when to plan, how income affects premiums, and why many Hawaii residents qualify for affordable, even zero-premium plans. Mark also shares critical planning tips for those approaching age 65, military retirees, and anyone looking to avoid costly lifelong penalties by getting Medicare right the first time.

We also have our Experts We Trust. Danny Langerman of DHA Financial explains why today’s market conditions still favor buyers, why VA loans remain one of the best financing options available, and how to think strategically about refinancing. Renee Ube of Your VA Match joins the conversation to share how delegating the right tasks to virtual assistants can unlock growth, scale your business, and multiply your time when done with clarity and feedback.

Watch or Listen to the full episode

Interview Transcription

ADRIENNE: 
Welcome back, and thanks for listening to the Team Lally real estate show, home of the guaranteed sold program, or we’ll buy it. I’m Adrienne and I’m Attilio. If you have any questions, just give us a call at 7999596, or check us out online at Team lally.com

ATTILIO: 
Well, hey, we’re our guest today. Grew up in Kalihi and graduated from Farrington High School. He built his career in the hospitality industry, working in food and beverage at Hilton, Hawaiian Village, Sheraton, Waikiki and at the principal heal hotel,

ADRIENNE: 
before moving into leadership as a district manager with Starbucks. He’s also an Army National Guard and reservist retiree with 22 years of service After navigating the confusion of Medicare while helping his own parents, he committed himself to mastering the system. 16 years later, he now helps individuals and families better understand Medicare and make informed, confident decisions about their options. Please welcome our guest. Mark Faildo, hello. Mark, aloha. Mark, welcome, be with you. So, Mark, like, why do people need a Medicare plan and what does this process look like?

MARK: 
Yes, yeah, great question. So the reason for this is Medicare in itself, covers a lot of things, both in and outpatient services, but things that it doesn’t help people with getting coverage for include vision, hearing, dental and even medication coverage. So those are the things that Medicare plans help to deliver, as well as do other. Things like keeping costs down for, you know, medical services that people might need, it all such a proper planning right? We our goal really would be to try to help people navigate Medicare in such a way they avoid gaps in coverage and Medicare’s lifelong penalties. Medicare does penalize people for not participating in the right way. So we gather people’s information, like doctors, names, medication lists. We use that information to do some research and then come back with some recommendation as to which Medicare plans may be best suited for each individual.

ADRIENNE: 
So mark with the Medicare are certain people not qualified based on their income or their assets? What’s been your experience with that?

MARK: 
You know, I’m probably getting a bad connection here, but I think you’re asking about the how people’s income and assets might impact their choices. Yes, okay, all right, yeah. So you know, income really has a big implication on Medicare. What Medicare does is always look back two years to calculate current Medicare premiums. So in 2026 for instance, they’ll look back at people’s 2024 tax returns to discover whether or not they will pay the standard rate or elevated rates for Medicare premiums. This is just for Original Medicare. However, I’d like to share that with Medicare plans. Here in Hawaii, there are several different plans that start at zero premium per month, no matter your income or assets. So it’s very quite affordable. Wow.

ATTILIO: 
And how does that possible? Is that funded by tax dollars? Tax dollars?

MARK: 
Yep, kind of so what happens here is that when people pay their premiums for Original Medicare, if they choose a certain Medicare plan, those premiums float from that person on to Medicare, but then Medicare turns around and gives it right back to the insurance carrier. That person has selected that insurance carrier has the option of increasing or tacking on some additional premiums, but many of them don’t, and therefore they’re able to get a Medicare plan at no additional cost.

ADRIENNE: 
Oh, wow, that’s pretty impressive to be able to, like, not have that additional cost.

MARK: 
Yeah, it’s a little confusing. However, you know, we will go through, yeah, yeah, some of that things to make it easy to understand,

ATTILIO: 
yeah. And then we

ADRIENNE: 
did, we know,

ATTILIO:
talk about, like, some of these companies you guys are working help businesses like Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, outrigger hotels, transition their retiring employees onto Medicare. How do you do how do you all do that?

MARK: 
Yeah, in various ways. Some of these employers here in Hawaii have asked me to, you know, sit on site and just answer questions for their soon to be retiring employees. We’ve done presentations at on site at all of these employers, and then when people are, in fact, ready to or on the verge of retirement, they’re pointed in my direction with proper planning, like I said, we help them to make that transition seamless. So they go from one day having employer provided coverage, and then on to Medicare, not only for the employee. But if they’re covering their their spouse, we’re taking care of their their spouse as well. Yeah.

ATTILIO:
And talk about again, is there like a, like a, what is the age requirement? Or what is there an age that you get to to be able to qualify?

MARK: 
Yep, qualifying for Medicare typically starts at age 65 now there are those because of a disability or a certain condition that do qualify for Medicare prior to 65 but the majority of folks will wait until their 65th birthday month, and that’s when they become Medicare eligible. There are many scenarios surrounding that, though you know, if people are still working, do they take Medicare? Don’t they take Medicare? We’re there to help them understand these options and to make sure that they’re doing the proper thing at that point of their lives. Yeah.

ATTILIO:
Now I know I see that on your guys’ website, you guys will go into the workplace and do free consultations for like the workplace. What does that cost? Anything to the employer? Or how does that work?

MARK: 
No, not at all. There’s never any charges, not either to the employer or to the folks in which we help. And that’s because, I tell you, there are seven different insurance carriers in the state that offer these types of plans. We. We’re compensated equally by all seven, and I want to stress and that the reason we’re a little bit different is because no other agency represents all seven. So when people are asking for our assistance, it is without any bias. My role, really is to help to gather information and make great recommendations for person based on their needs, not so much the insurance companies needs. It’s really people in which we help. That’s objective number one, right? That’s, that’s who’s most

ADRIENNE: 
important, yeah, so Mark, how far in advance should people start? You know, working with your guys company like, let’s say that they’re 64 about to be 65 how long, like, you know, should they be, like, six months out?

ATTILIO: 
How far in advance should they be meeting with you before they turn 65 to get Medicare?

MARK: 
Great question, guys, you know, I’ve got people in my calendar that are five years out. We’ve offered, yeah, we offer people. Hey, listen, just give me your birthday month. And the year in which you turn 65 expect a call from me three months away from that month and that you’ve just entered what is called Medicare’s initial enrollment period. So I think the best time really, is anytime after 60 and obviously before you hit 65 that’d be prime.

ATTILIO: 
Yeah, I think that’s in Hawaii. That’s the difference between when people when when, when you’re when. That’s kind of like the same transition when people stop calling you by your first name or how’s it, and they start calling you uncle or auntie or grandpa or grandpa. No, grandpa. If they call you grandpa, like grandpa or grandma too early, you slap them. But if they’re calling you like Hey uncle, I knew that I was getting older when the when the younger kids, was Hey, uncle. I need help with this. Uncle. I have one question. And whereas you know, when you’re younger, you won’t be calling that so right about the time they start calling you uncle, is probably when you need to call mark and schedule, schedule your consultation for transitioning into retirement to get your Medicare. You know, it’s for people we hear. You know, Medicare is a buzzword, and I’ll define a buzzword. Is a word that people hear a lot about, and then they start like, Oh, I know what that is. And then you ask them some detailed questions, and they don’t know it is. Here’s another buzzword. What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid? Decided, vermillion.

MARK: 
Great question, similar, right? Think of it actually, Medicare is a federal mandate or not mandate, but federal program that’s managed by the federal government, right? We help to pay for Medicare through payroll taxes and general tax revenues, and once you qualify based on age and certain conditions, you’re eligible to participate Medicaid, on the other hand, although federally funded as a state run program that you qualify for based on income and assets, right? So two different sorts of lines of insurance, it is absolutely possible that people have both Medicaid and Medicare call those dual eligible members, right? But two different programs, Medicaid is not aged base, whereas Medicare typically is. Medicaid, again, asset and income related qualifications.

ADRIENNE:
Yeah, does your does you and your company? Can you help with both types, or you mainly focus on the Medicare side,

MARK: 
although we do only do Medicare plans, there are Medicare plans that are specifically designed for people that have both Medicaid and Medicare, right? So although we concentrate on the Medicare side of that, again, we we’ve anyone with that Medicare card will be able to help. But there are, you know, a population of Hawaii that have both, and we’re able to help them as well.

ATTILIO: 
Can you share with us and looks like on your website? Looks like you have what is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid? Besides the spelling, the, the and the other thing, other thing to clarify, because the show, well, it broadcast worldwide, but it does, for sure, get played on the other on the outer islands. People hear us on Kauai, Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, maybe kohlhala way, if they have, like, one of those, like Hurricane radios. Do you help people statewide? Absolutely.

MARK: 
Our my license is State of Hawaii. I’m sure you can find people like me all over the nation, but my license is all here, and yes, we travel the islands, going in, helping people. Know where they are, if necessary. My main office is here on Oahu. I have another office on Kauai, but we do help people on all islands of the state.

ADRIENNE: 
Yeah, no mark with um, there’s like, a lot of people that are retired through the military, like yourself. They may have, you know, disability, which require like which makes them eligible for the medical through the VA, or the retirees, do they still need Medicare, or that’s or they do? They have both? What happens with that?

MARK:
I am so glad you asked that question. Adrienne, so it varies, right? Veterans, one group of military and the other would be TRICARE for life members. Both of these approach Medicare differently. Veterans Association benefits are granted to those that qualify based on an assessment for their veteran benefits. On the opposite side would be TRICARE for life. Members that are actually told in order for you to continue with TRICARE after Medicare eligibility, you must have Medicare A and B, parts A and B to continue with TRICARE for life, right? So these you’ve just touched upon some of the small details that will work. People work with people through depending on their individual circumstances. We say Medicare basic is rather simple, but the complexities, we believe come in not only with Medicare, but what they’re adding to Medicare, or what they also have besides Medicare, such as VA benefits or TRICARE benefits as well.

ATTILIO: 
Do you guys provide education? Because I know I see the notices like, or even when you’re not with that. But like, every year, it seems like, is it true with Medicare too, like with our regular insurance, that you got to, like, re enroll every year and decide what you want.

MARK: 
Good question. Again, I’ll say this, so every year during October 15 through December 7. So that period just passed, we just went through Medicare’s annual enrollment period. Lot of things can happen during this period. People who are already in Medicare plans are making decisions whether or not to keep the same plan they’re in, or perhaps should they, you know, change to another option. It’s during this time where those types of decisions can be made, right? And so if a person says, No, I’m all good with the plan which I have, I want to continue it. There’s no real action for that person to take. That plan will re automatically, re activate itself for the next year, and continue to do that for as long as that person wants it. Other than that, though, if they want to make a change, that would be the time. And you can see up on the screen, there’s other periods of the time, including Medicare’s open enrollment period, which is upcoming the first quarter of every year. If you’re already in these plans, you get to change your plan one more time. Yeah, one last time. So many different areas of the years to be knowledgeable of.

ATTILIO: 
So you have the first quarter of the year for the procrastinators who didn’t do it before the end of the year. And then I also see you have another another support for the procrastinators, one on one consultation they was at work. They never go to the group meeting. They missed them all. You had five of them use like, I don’t know even the company was bringing in food. They still never go. They can, they can still meet with you, me with you, one on one.

MARK: 
Yeah, absolutely, yeah. My office is on Kapiolani Boulevard. We do home visits if necessary, no problem. But we are happy to go ahead and, you know, formulate these appointments to help people as time comes up. I cannot stress though, catilio, that’s really key. If you do it properly, there’ll be no gap in coverage. That’s the main thing that you don’t want to be without insurance. And then again, to avoid those penalties. Those penalties are lifelong. So that, one and done, you’re paying these penalties, typically, for the rest of your life.

ATTILIO: 
Oh, so if you procrastinate, there’s going to be a charge for that. There’s a consequence. It’s not like, it’s not like I went to my, you know, I went to an exercise class and they charged me a one time $12 no show fee. It’s forever. So it’s however it pays to meet with you guys early. And you know what I would say, if you’re a good employment organization out there, they’re bringing people in like you.

ADRIENNE: 
And also you guys have the monthly seminars. Oh yeah. What is that one? Yeah. When do those happen? And how do people get signed up?

MARK: 
Thanks for asking. So every last Saturday of every month except December, taking a break this month, but every last Saturday of every month, down at Dave and Busters Ala Moana location, we run a monthly seminar that touches upon not only Medicare, but also the social security. Security basics as well. You’ll hear about things like, Well, what should I consider before drawing Social Security? What life change events would impact my social security payment? Those kinds of things, and I take the other half and just talk about Medicare basics. So every last Saturday of every month down at Dave and Busters, doors open at 830 presentations begin at nine o’clock. There’s never any charges to come to this seminar. Just all we ask is that you make a reservation, either on the website that you’re showing now or by calling me. That’s another way of getting a seat reserved.

ATTILIO:
Yes, the other thing I want to point out to you people, Hey, Dave and Buster, has been moved. It’s at the Ala Moana shopping center. So if you at the ward Dave and Busters, you’re at the wrong location. Go to the Ala Moana 10 minutes down the road to Ala Moana, I know, with our, with our, with our, with our, our wiser generation, they take a little bit longer to get to places, and they get all footless when they’re in the wrong spot. So make sure Dave and Busters, Ala Moana new one, they wouldn’t move. It’s not a new one they would move. It’s at the Ala Moana shopping center reserve, um, and, and always Dave and Busters, like, I is it best to park? What do you suggest to park? Because that there’s like, Oh, and by the way, um, remember when you and park your car? How many times security you got to go help people find their car. There’s, like, I don’t know, 20,000 parking stalls. Make sure you remember where you were park your car.

MARK: 
Oh, yeah, during parking

ADRIENNE:
tons of there’s literally, right, yeah,

MARK: 
tons of parking. Yeah, there’s lots of parking either side of

ATTILIO:
your seminar, people cleaning the parking lot. That’s the only people there, all the custodians changing the rubbish. And then your guys’ seminar.

ADRIENNE: 
So, so, so mark, we do have a few more minutes left in our show, and before we wrap it up, I’d really love to hear our recent success. Oh, yeah, we like stories. Share that with us.

MARK: 
All right. Well, let’s share one from Kauai. I recently met somebody who was already in a Medicare plan and she actually needed some major dental work done. The plan in which she was in provided some dental coverage, basically for cleaning, but she needed much more than that. She was unaware of another option by the same carrier that she was already with. The difference would be that the plan that is by the other or the other option by that same carrier has tons more dental coverage, but it does have elevated costs for medication. So after doing some research, we did find that there would be a slight elevation to her medication coverage, but it was so overshadowed by the amount of dental coverage she earned by going and switching into another plan. Yeah, she was not only able to get her dental work done, but that plan also provided her with some lower copay for medical services. And so the whole happy story is that she’s now big smile. She’s got great, great smile. She did her dental work done. It’s all all good, yes, little bit more costly for a medication to bear that for about a year, and then to be able to switch plans again next year to something that’s maybe bedroll to bring her costs down, but great success story for a person out there in Kauai.

ATTILIO: 
All right, so here’s the moral of the story, if you meeting with grandma, and she’s super happy and smiling and all her teeth all buckle loose and get all Pukas in them. She’s on the wrong medical plan, and she needs to call mark right

ADRIENNE: 
now, because Mark knows all the ins and outs of all the different carriers and all the different plans. It sounds like there’s so much, and it’s always continuing to change. And you know, like you are there you are, like it’s your job to stay on top of these things, and know the changes, and know the nuances, and Coach all of your clients on All right, this is a strategy we need to, you know, make the move.

ATTILIO: 
So it’s the holiday grandkids. You get sharp memory. Help out grandma and grandpa. You go see them at Christmas, New Year’s Eve party, and the teat is all messed up. You’d be like, Oh, we got to make one appointment with Mark, get you on some battle dental coverage, or if the smile is all nice, then you know, they already met with Mark. Well, maybe they didn’t. Maybe they got to double check the enrollment in the first quarter of the year.

ADRIENNE: 
So, so, so mark. I know that our listeners, they’ve been listening to share all this information. They’re like, how do I get a hold of him? How do I set this? Oh, yeah, I’m together. So what’s the best way to connect with you?

MARK: 
Yes, yeah. So best way is just to call me. Phone number is 808-292-7092. Great way of just connecting. Just leave a message. If I don’t pick up, I’ll be sure to call you back. As soon as possible. With that, you’re able to go to the website at Mark, I’m sorry. PBC, Hawaii backslash mark, P as in Papa B as in, bravo, C as in Charlie, standing for Premier benefit consultants Hawaii spelled out.com backslash mark,

ATTILIO: 
all right, so doing a reenactment at home, they’re like, hold on, hold on, I don’t even grab one pen yet. And then, okay, wait. They wanna go grab the pen, but they never used the pen since 1981 so No more ink. Now they grabbing one second pen. Okay, they finally found one pencil, because not even the two pens don’t work. Okay, here you go. The phone number 29270922927092

ADRIENNE: 
all right, you got to know thank you. Thank you. Thank you Mark for jumping on and sharing all about this important resource, and you as a resource to help navigate the complexities of this, this Medicare. So it’s

MARK: 
been an honor. Thank you very much. I definitely had a great time and appreciate being on the show with you both. Thank you so much for allowing me to be here today.

ATTILIO: 
I tell you what. Make a mental note of it. Reach out to us if we don’t reach you, but maybe three months before the end of the year is probably be a good time to have you on the show as a friendly reminder to our people like now is the time you getting ready to retire or making a change in your life. Let’s uh, maybe that would be like, like, ideally they should like, if it’s coming towards the end of the year, they should be like, seeing you, um, you know, what am I thinking? Like? October, maybe September, September, October, November. Yeah. Okay, yeah. We’ll bring you back on to remind

MARK: 
Thank you. Thank you so much. I know I’ll see you both at one of Troy’s get together. Well, that seminar that we Yeah, so that seminar we put on, half of it is with one of their Do you know Carl sadonaga from impact? He’s the one that leads the discussion on Social Security, and then I take the volume for Medicare. But that’s, it’s kind of a powerful, nice, nice impact of myself.

ATTILIO: 
Okay, well, maybe we have to do one of those for us too, yes, but because we have a similar crowd, yes.

ADRIENNE: 
Thank you, Mark. Thank you. Mark. Happy New Year hiking.

MARK: 
Take care. Aloha, okay, Aloha, great.

ATTILIO: 
All right, so that is what was the name of the well, I’m going to give you the phone number. You look up the name of the company. It’s Mark Faldo, but the phone number is 292 7092,

ADRIENNE: 
it was premier benefit consultant.

ATTILIO: 
Premier benefit consultants. Mark Faildo, again, that phone number 2927092

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