Your Health.Your Benefits.Your Future.

Part A is hospital insurance: inpatient stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice and some home health care.

Part B is medical insurance: doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and medical equipment.

Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. They include Part A and Part B coverage, usually drug coverage, and often extra benefits, generally with a provider network.

Part D is prescription drug coverage, offered as a stand-alone plan or inside a Medicare Advantage plan. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy can help pay costs that Original Medicare leaves to you.

Most people pay no premium for Part A because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.

Part B has a monthly premium that is set each year; people with higher incomes may pay more. There are also deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap plans each have their own premiums and costs, which differ by plan and by area. I will help you compare the total yearly cost, not only the premium.

Every drug plan has its own list of covered drugs (formulary), price tiers and pharmacy network, and these can change every year.

Part D now includes a yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs.

Bring your medication list and I will check how each plan in your area covers it. The Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, is the main time to change plans.

Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, that month, and the three months after.

If you already receive Social Security benefits, you are usually enrolled in Parts A and B automatically.

If you or your spouse are still working with employer coverage, the timing can be different. Signing up late without other qualifying coverage can mean lifelong penalties, so it is worth checking early.

You can start benefits as early as 62, receive your full benefit at full retirement age, or earn delayed credits by waiting until 70.

Spousal and survivor benefits, taxes and work income all affect the right choice, and the decision usually cannot be undone later.

As a Registered Social Security Analyst®, I can review your options and how they fit with your Medicare coverage.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) can help pay Part B premiums and, for some people, deductibles and copays.

Extra Help lowers prescription drug costs for people with limited income and resources.

Medicaid may cover additional costs for people who qualify. Eligibility rules vary by state; I can help you check and apply.