Straight Answers
Questions Valley families ask us every week
Real answers from a real local agency - no jargon, no runaround.
Who helps with Medicare in Tulare, CA?
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Tigner Insurance & Associates, a family-owned agency at 1108 Leland Ave in Tulare, has guided Central Valley seniors through Medicare for over 30 years. Reviews are always free.
Does Medicare help from Tigner cost anything?
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No. Our Medicare guidance is free. Like all licensed agents, we are paid by the carrier you choose, and your premium is the same whether you use an agent or not.
When can I first enroll in Medicare?
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Your Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window: the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.
What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement?
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Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that usually includes drug coverage. A Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover deductibles and coinsurance. We compare both for your situation.
Do I need a Part D prescription drug plan?
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If you have Medicare and no other credible drug coverage, yes - skipping Part D can trigger a lifelong late-enrollment penalty. We check your medication list against every plan.
Can I change my Medicare plan every year?
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Yes. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, and we review our clients' plans every fall to make sure they still fit.
What happens to Medicare if I work past 65?
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If you have credible employer coverage you can usually delay parts of Medicare without penalty. We help you compare staying on the group plan versus enrolling.
Can Tigner review the Medicare plan I already have?
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Yes. Bring your current plan and medication list, and we will show you side by side whether a better fit exists in Tulare County. If your plan is right, we will tell you that too.
Are Medicare Advantage plans different in Tulare County?
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Yes. Plan availability, networks, and benefits are set county by county, which is why national call centers often quote plans that do not work well here. We only recommend plans that work locally.
Can my spouse and I share one Medicare plan?
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No, Medicare is individual. But we coordinate both spouses' plans together so doctors, drugs, and budgets line up.
What should I bring to a Medicare appointment?
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Your Medicare card (or eligibility date), a list of your doctors, your prescriptions with dosages, and any current plan paperwork. The first visit takes about 30 minutes.
What is a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan?
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A Medigap policy pays many of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, like the 20% coinsurance. It offers wide doctor access with predictable costs.
Is it too late to get Medicare help after I already enrolled?
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No. We review existing coverage year-round and can switch you during valid enrollment windows, including Special Enrollment Periods after moves or other life events.
What is life insurance with living benefits?
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Modern policies can pay you while you are alive if you face a qualifying critical, chronic, or terminal illness. Living benefits are a Tigner specialty.
How much life insurance do I need?
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A common starting point is 10 to 12 times your annual income, adjusted for debts, mortgage, and children's education. We run the actual math with you in minutes.
Is term or whole life insurance better?
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Term is inexpensive pure protection for a set period; permanent coverage lasts a lifetime and builds cash value. Most Valley families end up with a blend, and we show you both.
Can I get life insurance with health issues?
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Usually yes. As an independent agency we shop multiple carriers, and each underwrites conditions like diabetes or heart history differently.
What is an indexed universal life (IUL) policy?
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An IUL is permanent life insurance whose cash value grows with a market index, with a floor that protects against losses. It can supplement retirement income tax-efficiently.
How much does life insurance cost per month?
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Healthy applicants in their 30s often pay less than a streaming subscription for meaningful term coverage. Price rises with age, so the best month to apply is this one.
What is final expense insurance?
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A smaller permanent policy, typically $5,000 to $50,000, designed to cover funeral costs and final bills so your family is not handed the tab.
Are life insurance payouts taxable?
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Death benefits generally pass to beneficiaries income-tax-free. Structured correctly, life insurance is one of the most tax-efficient assets you can leave.
Can my business insure a key employee or owner?
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Yes. Key person coverage and buy-sell funding protect a company when an owner or critical employee dies or becomes disabled. We set these up for Valley businesses regularly.
How fast can a life insurance policy be issued?
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Many carriers now offer accelerated underwriting with no medical exam, and healthy applicants can be approved in days.
Who helps Central Valley businesses with group health insurance?
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Tigner Insurance & Associates in Tulare has specialized in group benefits for over 30 years, serving employers from ag operations to professional offices.
How many employees do I need for a group health plan?
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In California, group coverage can start with as few as one W-2 employee besides the owner. Small groups often get better rates than owners expect.
What do group benefits usually include?
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Medical is the core, and most employers add dental, vision, life, and disability. We build the package around your budget and your workforce.
How do I lower my company's health insurance costs?
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We re-shop carriers at renewal, compare funding types, and restructure plan tiers. Employers who never re-shop almost always overpay.
Can seasonal and ag workers be covered under a group plan?
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Often yes, with the right plan design around eligibility and hours. Agriculture is our home turf, and we know the carriers that handle seasonal workforces well.
What is level funding versus fully insured?
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Level-funded plans blend the predictability of fixed monthly costs with a possible refund in healthy claim years. For the right group they cut costs meaningfully.
Are group health premiums tax-deductible for my business?
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Employer-paid premiums are generally a deductible business expense, and employees' share can be pre-tax through a Section 125 plan. Confirm details with your tax professional.
Can employees pay part of the group premium?
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Yes. Most plans use cost sharing, and we help you set a split that keeps the plan affordable for both the business and the crew.
When can my company change group plans?
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Your renewal date is the natural switch point, but a review any time of year tells you whether waiting is costing you money.
Does Tigner handle open enrollment for our employees?
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Yes. We run the meetings, answer employee questions in plain English, and handle the paperwork so your office manager does not have to.
What is group life or disability coverage?
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Employer-sponsored life and disability protect your team's income at group rates that are far cheaper than individual policies. They are inexpensive additions that employees genuinely value.
Who is Tigner Insurance & Associates?
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A family-owned, independent insurance agency in Tulare, California, founded in 1992. Mark Tigner and Dalton Tigner specialize in life insurance, group benefits, and Medicare for the Central Valley.
How long has Tigner been in business?
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Over 30 years. The agency has served Tulare and the surrounding Central Valley since 1992.
Is Tigner a family-owned business?
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Yes. Tigner is run by the Tigner family, with Mark Tigner as President and Dalton Tigner as Partner. When you call, you talk to a Tigner.
Where is Tigner's office located?
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1108 Leland Ave, Tulare, CA 93274, right in the heart of Tulare. Walk-ins are welcome and parking is easy.
What areas does Tigner serve?
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Tulare, Visalia, and the greater Central Valley. We meet clients in person, by phone, or by video across California.
Is Tigner an independent insurance agency?
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Yes. We are not captive to any single carrier, so we shop multiple companies and recommend what fits you, not a quota.
What insurance does a farm or ag business need?
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Ag operations typically layer group health for the crew, key person life on the principals, and benefit packages that survive seasonal swings. Few agencies understand ag the way a Tulare agency does.
Why use a local agent instead of an online quote site?
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Online quote engines sell your information to call centers. A local agent gives you one accountable person, year-round service, and someone who knows Tulare County networks and carriers.
How do I book an appointment with Tigner?
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Use the booking calendar on this page, call (559) 684-1000, or email dalton@tignerfinancial.com. Reviews are free and take about 15 minutes.
Can I meet with Tigner in person?
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Yes - in our Tulare office, by phone, or by video. Most first reviews take 15 to 30 minutes.
What carriers does Tigner work with?
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We hold direct relationships with major health, Medicare, dental, vision, and life carriers, and we compare them against each other on your behalf.
How is Tigner rated by clients?
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Tigner holds a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Google from verified client reviews.
Can I get health insurance if my employer does not offer it?
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Yes. We help individuals and families compare private plans and find coverage that fits their doctors and budget.
Does Tigner offer dental and vision insurance?
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Yes, for both individuals and employer groups, often as low-cost additions to a medical plan.
What retirement accounts does Tigner help with?
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401(k) plans, Traditional and Roth IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 403(b) accounts, 529 college savings, and fixed annuities.
What is a fixed annuity?
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A contract with an insurance company that grows at a guaranteed rate and can convert savings into dependable lifetime income. Popular with savers who want growth without market risk.
