Turning 65 shouldn't mean drowning in acronyms. From Original Medicare to prescription coverage to choosing between a Supplement and an Advantage plan, we'll walk you through it all in plain English, so you can enroll with confidence and pick a plan that actually fits your life.
Talk to a Medicare AdvisorPrefer to learn in person? Sit in on a Medicare 101 session with Mike, at no cost and nothing to sign. These sessions run several times a month, and you're welcome whether you're turning 65 yourself or helping a parent figure it out. There's nothing to buy and no pressure to enroll on the spot, just bring your questions.
Come to a Medicare 101 SessionOriginal Medicare comes in two parts, and understanding what each one covers is the foundation for every decision that follows.
The simple way to remember it: Part A is hospital care. Part B is everything else, doctor visits, outpatient services, and equipment.
Original Medicare is what comes out of the box. It's straightforward coverage for Parts A and B, but it doesn't cover everything, and it doesn't cap your out-of-pocket costs. That's where a Medicare Supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan comes in, and I'm here to help you determine if you need more than what comes out of the box.
The bottom line: Supplements trade a higher monthly premium for maximum flexibility and predictability. Advantage plans trade network restrictions for lower upfront costs, often bundling in extras like dental and vision. Neither is universally "better," it depends on how you use healthcare and what you value most.
Nothing to do here, you're automatically enrolled. Your Medicare card will show up in the mail roughly 90 days before the month of your 65th birthday.
Three enrollment options: call 1-800-MEDICARE, file a paper application at your local Social Security office, or enroll online at Medicare.gov.
A paper application at your local Social Security office, with both you and your employer completing parts of the form.
A captive agent can only show you their one company's Medicare plans. We have access to 200+ trusted carriers, so when we walk through Supplement and Advantage options with you, you're seeing the real field, not just whatever one company happens to sell.
Medicare has a lot of moving parts, Parts A, B, C, and D, Supplements, enrollment windows, and income-based premiums. You don't have to sort through it alone. We'll sit down with you, walk through your specific situation, and help you choose the coverage that actually makes sense for your health and your budget.
Schedule Your Medicare Consultation, At No Cost to YouTurning 65 soon or helping a parent navigate Medicare?
Give us a call, we're glad to walk you through every step.
Looking for coverage that fills the gaps Medicare leaves? See Supplemental Insurance.
Prefer to learn at your own pace first? Sit in on our plain English Medicare 101 class.
Not everyone does. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan helps cover the gaps Original Medicare leaves, like copays, coinsurance, and deductibles, in exchange for a higher monthly premium and no network restrictions. Whether it's worth it depends on how you use healthcare: frequent travelers and high utilizers of the healthcare system tend to value the flexibility and predictability most. We'll walk through your specific situation before you decide.
A Medicare Supplement plan works alongside Original Medicare, letting you see any doctor who takes Medicare with no networks, in exchange for a higher premium. A Medicare Advantage plan replaces Original Medicare entirely, usually bundling in Part D and extras like dental and vision, with lower premiums but network restrictions, referrals, and prior authorizations. Neither is universally better, it depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, and how much you could absorb in a bad year.
If you're already drawing Social Security, you're automatically enrolled and your card arrives roughly 90 days before your 65th birthday month, nothing to do. If you're not yet drawing Social Security, you'll need to actively enroll by calling 1-800-MEDICARE, filing a paper application at your local Social Security office, or applying online at Medicare.gov.
Part A covers hospital care: inpatient stays, skilled nursing, hospice, and home health. Part B covers everything else: doctor visits, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and ambulance services. Part C, Medicare Advantage, bundles A and B (usually with D) through a private insurer. Part D covers prescription drugs, with your share moving through a deductible phase, initial coverage, and catastrophic coverage over the year.
No. Carriers pay us, you never pay us directly, and that has been the model here for 25 years. We have access to 200+ trusted carriers, so we compare across the real field rather than showing you just one company's plans.