Navigate Medicare with Confidence

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7 month window that starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month and ends 3 months after. The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 to December 7 each year, when you can switch plans. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) allows MA members to switch plans or return to Original Medicare. Special Enrollment Periods are available for qualifying events.

Original Medicare (Parts A & B) is provided directly by the federal government. You can see any Medicare-accepting provider nationwide and add a standalone Part D drug plan and/or Medigap supplement. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. Plans are typically HMO or PPO networks, often include drug coverage and extra benefits (vision, dental, hearing, fitness), and may have low or no additional premium but require using network providers.

Medigap plans help pay costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. They're sold by private insurers and provide more predictable healthcare costs. Important: Medigap plans only work with Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage. The best time to buy Medigap is during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, starting when you're 65+ AND enrolled in Part B.

If you have coverage through your or your spouse's current employer with 20+ employees, you can typically delay Medicare Part B without penalty. You'll get a Special Enrollment Period when that coverage ends. However, you should still enroll in Part A (it's usually free) unless you have a Health Savings Account (HSA). If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare becomes your primary coverage at 65.

Yes. If you don't sign up for Part B when first eligible and don't have qualifying coverage, you'll pay a 10% premium penalty for each 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't. This penalty lasts for life. Part D also has a late enrollment penalty: 1% of the national base premium for each month you went without creditable drug coverage. Our agents help ensure you enroll on time to avoid penalties.

Part D covers prescription drugs, including many recommended vaccines (like shingles and Tdap). Since 2025, Part D plans include an annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs; the amount is set each year by Medicare (see Medicare.gov for the current figure). Plans have formularies (drug lists) that categorize medications into tiers with different costs. We can help you find a plan that covers your specific medications at the lowest cost.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include benefits not covered by Original Medicare: routine vision, dental, and hearing care; fitness programs; over-the-counter allowances; transportation to medical appointments; meal delivery after hospital stays; and telehealth services. Some plans offer special supplemental benefits for chronically ill members. Benefits vary by plan and location.

As licensed agents, we help you understand your options, compare the plans we represent, check whether your doctors are in-network and your medications are covered, and complete enrollment. Insurance carriers pay our commission, so there is no extra cost to you. We provide year-round support for questions about your coverage, not just during enrollment periods.

Yes! Several programs help with Medicare costs: Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help pay Part B premiums and may cover deductibles/copays. Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) significantly reduces Part D prescription costs. Medicaid dual-eligibility provides comprehensive coverage for those who qualify. We can help determine your eligibility for these programs and assist with applications.