Janowski Insurance Services is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. We work with individuals, families, and small businesses primarily in Virginia Beach and the surrounding cities. Most of our clients are people navigating the ACA Marketplace, approaching or in Medicare, or thinking about life insurance for their family or estate.
No. Our compensation is paid by the insurance carrier, not by you. Whether you enroll on your own or work with us, your premium is the same. The carriers pay us for placing the business and providing ongoing service.
We focus on three main lines: ACA Marketplace health plans, Medicare (Advantage, Supplement, and Part D), and life insurance (term, whole, universal, and final-expense). We also help clients think through how those coverages connect to retirement, Social Security, and other financial decisions.
Two things. First, we're independent — we work with multiple carriers in each line, so the recommendation is based on what fits you, not what we have to sell. Second, we look at how the pieces of your financial picture connect. Health coverage, Medicare, life insurance, and retirement income are linked, and decisions in one area affect the others.
The easiest way is to use the contact form on our contact page, or call us directly. We'll schedule a no-obligation conversation to understand your situation and walk through the options. There's no charge for the consultation.
A premium tax credit is a subsidy that reduces what you pay each month for a Marketplace plan. The amount is based on your estimated annual household income and family size. The credit is paid directly to the insurer on your behalf, lowering your monthly premium. At tax time, the IRS reconciles the actual credit against your real income.
It depends on the plan and the network. Different plans have different provider networks, and the same insurance company may offer multiple plans with different networks. Before enrolling, we verify whether your current doctors and hospitals participate in the plan you're considering.
If you miss Open Enrollment (November 1 through January 15), you can still enroll if you've had a qualifying life event — losing other coverage, moving, marriage, divorce, having a baby, or certain income changes. Each event opens a Special Enrollment Period that typically lasts 60 days from the event.
No. Plans differ in monthly premium, deductible, copays, out-of-pocket maximum, network, and prescription drug coverage. The metal tier (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) gives a rough indication of how costs are split between premium and out-of-pocket spending, but two plans in the same tier from different carriers can be very different.
Form 1095-A is a tax document the Marketplace sends each January if you had Marketplace coverage. It shows your monthly premiums and any tax credits you received. You need it to file your taxes — the IRS uses it to reconcile the tax credits against your actual income. We help clients track down 1095-As and answer questions about them.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for people 65 and older (and for some people under 65 with disabilities). Medicaid is a joint federal-state program for people with limited income and resources. They are separate programs with different eligibility rules. Some people qualify for both — they're called dual eligibles and have additional plan options.
It depends on your employer's coverage. Most people should enroll in Part A (hospital) at 65 since it's typically free. Whether to take Part B and delay employer coverage, or stay on employer coverage and delay Part B, depends on the size of your employer and how their plan coordinates with Medicare. We walk through your specific situation before you decide.
Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement) is a private insurance policy that pays for some of the costs Original Medicare doesn't — deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. There are several standardized Medigap plan letters (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N), each with a defined set of benefits. Plan G is currently the most popular for new enrollees because Plan F is no longer available to those newly eligible for Medicare.
The Annual Election Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year. During AEP, you can switch between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, change Part D plans, or switch from one Advantage plan to another. Changes made during AEP take effect January 1 of the following year. We review existing clients' plans each fall to confirm their plan is still the right fit.
Maybe — Part D formularies (the lists of covered drugs) change each year. Drugs can be added, removed, or moved to different cost tiers. We re-run our clients' medication lists against available Part D plans every fall during AEP to make sure they're still on the most cost-effective plan for their drugs.
Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific number of years (usually 10, 15, 20, or 30) and is generally less expensive. If you pass away during the term, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit; if you outlive the term, the policy ends. Permanent life insurance (whole, universal, indexed universal) covers you for life as long as premiums are paid, costs more, and accumulates cash value over time.
Underwriting is the carrier's evaluation of your application — your age, health, lifestyle, and sometimes family medical history — to determine your premium and approve your coverage. For some policies you'll complete a medical exam and answer health questions. For others (simplified-issue and guaranteed-issue), the process is faster but the premium is higher or the coverage limit is lower.
Your beneficiary is the person, people, or trust that receives the death benefit. Most policyholders name a spouse, children, or another family member. You can name multiple beneficiaries with specified percentages, and you can name contingent beneficiaries who receive the benefit if the primary beneficiary has passed away. We recommend reviewing beneficiaries periodically, especially after major life events like marriage, divorce, or a death in the family.
It depends on the type of policy. Term life policies typically have a level premium for the duration of the term — the same payment every year. Whole life premiums are also level for life. Universal and indexed universal life policies may have flexible premiums. After a term policy expires, renewal premiums increase substantially with age, which is why most people don't renew once the term ends.
Final expense insurance is a smaller, simplified-issue whole life policy designed to cover end-of-life costs — funeral, burial, and small outstanding debts. Coverage amounts are typically $5,000 to $25,000. The application process is simpler than a fully underwritten policy (often no medical exam), and the policy is permanent — it doesn't expire as long as premiums are paid.
