Our Services: Medicare

Understanding what’s available when it comes to Medicare is half the battle. We’re here to help! We can explain Parts A, B, C and D, and help you simplify the complex. Unlike your Social Security benefit, which you can wait to file for, Medicare gives you a seven-month window to file, which is three months before your 65^th birthday, and three months after. Fail to file by 65 and you could pay higher health care premiums for life.

You should probably file for Part A—free to most people—even if you are still working and have health care coverage through your employer that qualifies. There are lots of options when it comes to Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans as compared with Original Medicare.

First make sure you understand Medicare, how it’s broken up, and what plan you will likely choose. Medicare is sectioned into different parts, each serving a unique role in delivering health care coverage. These parts include Part A, Part B, Part D, and additional coverage options like Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medigap.

• Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and limited home health care. This is normally free for most people who have qualified for Medicare coverage.
• Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, home health care, and preventive services like screenings and wellness visits, along with durable medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs). Part B coverage is the premium that will be deducted from your Social Security check if you don’t choose Medigap or Part C.
• Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Helps cover the cost of prescription medications, including certain vaccines. You can get Part D as a standalone plan along with Part B or as part of a Medicare Advantage Plan.
• Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap): Extra coverage from private insurers to help pay for out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare, such as copayments and coinsurance. Plans are standardized by letter (e.g., Plan G, Plan K).
• Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans): Private, Medicare-approved plans that may bundle Part A, Part B, and often Part D (prescription drug) coverages. Usually limited to providers within the plan’s network. May have different out-of-pocket costs and additional benefits not available in Original Medicare, like vision and hearing coverage.