Medicare
Our agency offers several different plan options and prescription drug programs to meet your specific needs. Please contact us so we can help you navigate the complexities of Medicare.
What are the parts of Medicare?
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Helps cover:
- Inpatient care in hospitals
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice care
- Home health care
Part B (Medical Insurance)
Helps cover:
- Services from doctors and other health care providers
- Outpatient care
- Home health care
- Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)
- Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits)
Part D (Drug coverage)
Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines).
Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.
Your Medicare options
When you first enroll in Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose how you get your Medicare coverage. There are 2 main ways to get Medicare:
Original Medicare
- Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
- If you want drug coverage, you can join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).
- To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your 20% coinsurance), you can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage.
- Can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S.
Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C)
- Medicare Advantage is an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.
- Plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.
- In many cases, you’ll need to use doctors who are in the plan’s network.
- Most plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover—like vision, hearing, dental, and more.
- Part A
- Part B
- You can add:
- Part D
- You can also add:
- Supplemental coverage
This includes Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Or, you can use coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.
- Part A
- Part B
- Most plans include:
- Part D
- Extra benefits
- Some plans also include:
- Lower out-of-pocket costs
If you already have Medicare:
- Review your Medicare health and drug coverage and make changes if it no longer meets your needs, or if you could lower your out-of-pocket costs. You don’t need to sign up for Medicare each year, but you should still review your options.
- Mark your calendar with these important dates! This may be the only chance you have each year to change your coverage.
October 1, 2020
Start comparing your current coverage with other options. You may be able to save money or get extra benefits. Visit Medicare.gov/plan-compare
October 15 to
December 7, 2020
Change your Medicare health or drug coverage for 2021, if you decide to. This includes changing to Original Medicare, or joining or changing a Medicare Advantage Plan.
January 1, 2021
New coverage begins if you made a change. If you kept your existing coverage and your plan’s costs or benefits changed, those changes also start on this date.
January 1 to
March 31, 2021
If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can change to a different Medicare Advantage Plan or switch to Original Medicare (and join a separate Medicare drug plan) once during this time. Any changes you make will be effective the first of the month after the plan gets your request. See page 59.
