Julie Mason
MPP
Mason Medicare Advocates
Julie Mason
MPP
Mason Medicare Advocates
Advocate Location
Novato , CA 94949
Specialty
Insurance & Billing
TeleAdvocacy Available
Offers FREE Initial Consultation
*Greater National Advocates Terms of Use Apply
How I Can Help
With 35 years in the Medicare field, I assist Medicare beneficiaries navigate the Medicare program (both original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D). For those new to Medicare, I provide education and information on how the program work, what options are available, and pitfalls to avoid. I can assist beneficiaries with selecting Medicare supplement plans (Medigap), Part D plans, and/or Medicare Advantage plans. (Note: I am *not* an insurance agent, so I have no financial incentive whatsoever in helping beneficiaries choose a particular plan).
For established Medicare beneficiaries, I assist with filing appeals when Medicare denies a claim or a prior authorization. The Medicare appeals process is complicated, with 14 different permutations depending on whether you are in original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, whether you are appealing the denial of a medical service vs. a prescription drug, whether your appeal needs to be expedited, etc. I can assist throughout the process, from gathering medical and other supporting documentation for the appeal, to drafting an effective appeal letter and including citations from the applicable Medicare laws, regulations, and other regulatory guidance that mandates coverage for the denied service, to copying the appropriate Federal, Congressional, state entities so that your health plan knows they are being monitored by those entities on your appeal. All of these factors contribute to a greater chance of success in getting your denied service or prescription drug covered.
I can also assist with switching plans (Medigap, Part D, or Medicare Advantage), finding in-network providers (if you are a Medicare Advantage member), filing complaints, or any other issue or problem encountered in the Medicare program.
For established Medicare beneficiaries, I assist with filing appeals when Medicare denies a claim or a prior authorization. The Medicare appeals process is complicated, with 14 different permutations depending on whether you are in original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, whether you are appealing the denial of a medical service vs. a prescription drug, whether your appeal needs to be expedited, etc. I can assist throughout the process, from gathering medical and other supporting documentation for the appeal, to drafting an effective appeal letter and including citations from the applicable Medicare laws, regulations, and other regulatory guidance that mandates coverage for the denied service, to copying the appropriate Federal, Congressional, state entities so that your health plan knows they are being monitored by those entities on your appeal. All of these factors contribute to a greater chance of success in getting your denied service or prescription drug covered.
I can also assist with switching plans (Medigap, Part D, or Medicare Advantage), finding in-network providers (if you are a Medicare Advantage member), filing complaints, or any other issue or problem encountered in the Medicare program.
Important Information About Me
- I offer a FREE Initial Consultation
- I offer TeleAdvocacy Service
- My geographical area of practice is Nationwide
Why I Became A Professional Health Care Advocate
Although my entire 35-year career has been in the Medicare space, that was not initially my intention. After college, I had actually planned to work in the field of international development, an interest that stemmed from my senior year of high school spent in Mumbai, India as an exchange student, and then my time in the Peace Corps in Ecuador following college. Upon returning from the Peace Corps, I pursued a Master degree in Public Policy at the University of Michigan with the intention of taking international health courses at the UM School of Public Health. Alas, when it was time to register for those classes I found they were all full, so I registered for domestic health classes. That one turn of fate shifted my career focus and landed me in the world of Medicare for the rest of my career.
After graduate school, I joined the Federal agency now known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where I learned that its primary goals are to ensure Medicare’s long-term solvency and guarantee beneficiaries receive their entitled benefits. Over my 20 years at CMS, this mindset of protecting Medicare beneficiaries shaped my work ethic, particularly in overseeing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and ensuring compliance—preparing me well for the next phase of my career.
After 20 years with the Federal government, I was ready for a change. I moved into the consulting world, working hand in hand with Medicare Advantage plans to help them comply with the extensive Medicare rules. Rather than an enforcer of the rules, as I was with CMS, I was now a seasoned advisor to health plans. I first joined a firm that specialized in working with Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans and later co-founded a consulting firm, also working with MA plans. In 2020, we dissolved that firm, and I founded Integritas Medicare, again working with Medicare Advantage plans and other entities in the Medicare space, advising them on how to stay in compliance with the many complex Medicare rules.
With over 15 years as a Medicare consultant, my career has taken me from working with MA plans and healthcare entities to becoming a trusted advocate for Medicare beneficiaries. My journey spans from federal regulation to health plan advising and now focuses on helping individuals navigate the complexities of Medicare. Few former CMS employees transition into healthcare advocacy, making my experience unique. The expertise and network I’ve built over 35 years, including my time at CMS, allow me to address even the most challenging Medicare issues. I’m excited to apply this wealth of knowledge to help you overcome Medicare challenges and secure the benefits you deserve.
After graduate school, I joined the Federal agency now known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where I learned that its primary goals are to ensure Medicare’s long-term solvency and guarantee beneficiaries receive their entitled benefits. Over my 20 years at CMS, this mindset of protecting Medicare beneficiaries shaped my work ethic, particularly in overseeing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and ensuring compliance—preparing me well for the next phase of my career.
After 20 years with the Federal government, I was ready for a change. I moved into the consulting world, working hand in hand with Medicare Advantage plans to help them comply with the extensive Medicare rules. Rather than an enforcer of the rules, as I was with CMS, I was now a seasoned advisor to health plans. I first joined a firm that specialized in working with Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans and later co-founded a consulting firm, also working with MA plans. In 2020, we dissolved that firm, and I founded Integritas Medicare, again working with Medicare Advantage plans and other entities in the Medicare space, advising them on how to stay in compliance with the many complex Medicare rules.
With over 15 years as a Medicare consultant, my career has taken me from working with MA plans and healthcare entities to becoming a trusted advocate for Medicare beneficiaries. My journey spans from federal regulation to health plan advising and now focuses on helping individuals navigate the complexities of Medicare. Few former CMS employees transition into healthcare advocacy, making my experience unique. The expertise and network I’ve built over 35 years, including my time at CMS, allow me to address even the most challenging Medicare issues. I’m excited to apply this wealth of knowledge to help you overcome Medicare challenges and secure the benefits you deserve.
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