Learn at your own pace

Most people have an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) around their 65th birthday. It begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and runs three months after, for a seven-month window. After that, the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs every year from October 15 to December 7, when you can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage. There is also the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) from January 1 to March 31 for certain changes. If you have a qualifying life event, such as moving or losing other coverage, you may get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Timing rules can be tricky, so it is worth confirming your dates together before you make a change.

They are two different ways to round out your Original Medicare coverage, and you generally choose one path or the other. A Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) bundles your Part A and Part B coverage through a private plan, often includes prescription drug coverage, and usually works within a network. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan instead works alongside Original Medicare to help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Medicare leaves behind, and it lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare, but it does not include drug coverage. The right fit depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, how you like to budget, and how often you travel. That is exactly what we sort out on a call.

Part D is prescription drug coverage. It is offered through private plans and helps with the cost of the medications you fill at the pharmacy. You can get it as a standalone drug plan paired with Original Medicare, or it may already be built into a Medicare Advantage plan. Drug plans differ in which medications they cover and how they cover them, so the smartest approach is to check your specific prescriptions against a plan's drug list before deciding.

It depends on how you want to handle the costs that Original Medicare does not cover on its own. A Medigap plan can make your out-of-pocket expenses more predictable and give you the freedom to use any provider that accepts Medicare, which many people value. Others prefer the all-in-one structure of a Medicare Advantage plan. There is no single right answer for everyone. We look at your health, your budget, and your priorities, then compare your options side by side so the choice is yours to make.

No. My help is at no cost to you. As an independent agent I am paid by the insurance carriers, and that never changes your premium. You pay the same whether you enroll on your own or work with me. The difference is that I work for you, not the carrier, and I can compare options across the organizations I represent so you do not have to do it alone.

Just a few things make our conversation quick and useful. Have your Medicare card handy, a list of your current medications with dosages, and the names of the doctors or specialists you want to keep seeing. If you have a current insurance card or plan, that helps too. Do not worry if you are missing something. We can always start with what you have and fill in the rest together.