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Yes. We can help you understand the Medicare process and the options available to you.

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For most people, Medicare eligibility begins around age 65.Your Initial Enrollment Period for Part A and Part B generally lasts 7 months:3 months before your 65th birthday monthYour birthday month3 months after your birthday monthYour situation may be different if you have qualifying employer coverage or another special circumstance. If you're approaching 65, start learning about your options early rather than waiting until the last minute.

Your Initial Enrollment Period is generally your first opportunity to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.For someone becoming eligible at 65, it generally begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after your birthday month.The exact date your coverage starts can depend on when you enroll.

Medicare's annual Open Enrollment Period runs:October 15 – December 7During this period, people with Medicare can make certain changes to their coverage.Depending on your current coverage, you may be able to:Join a Medicare Advantage planChange Medicare Advantage plansDrop Medicare Advantage and return to Original MedicareJoin, drop, or change a Part D prescription drug planChanges made during this period generally take effect January 1 of the following year.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs:January 1 – March 31It is available to people who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.During this period, you can generally:Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, orLeave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare.If you return to Original Medicare, you can also join a separate Part D prescription drug plan.

A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) is a period when certain people can make Medicare coverage changes because of a qualifying life event or circumstance.Examples can include:MovingLosing other health coverageChanges involving MedicaidChanges involving Extra HelpCertain changes involving your current Medicare planThe available options and timing depend on the specific event. If you think you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, it's important to determine exactly which rules apply to your situation.

Missing an enrollment deadline can sometimes result in delayed coverage or a late enrollment penalty.However, the consequences depend on which part of Medicare you're dealing with and whether you qualify for another enrollment opportunity.For example, Part B penalties can apply if someone doesn't enroll when first eligible and doesn't have an applicable Special Enrollment Period.Part D penalties can generally apply after going 63 days or more without creditable prescription drug coverage. Don't guess about your situation.Ask about your specific circumstances before making a decision.

Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance sold by private insurance companies to help pay certain out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare.Depending on the plan, Medigap can help with costs such as deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Medigap generally requires that you have Original Medicare, including Part A and Part B.Medigap policies are standardized in most states, meaning plans with the same letter generally provide the same basic benefits regardless of the insurance company selling them.

Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is an alternative way to receive your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare-approved private health plan.Medicare Advantage plans can have different premiums, deductibles, copayments, provider networks, covered services, and additional benefits.Many Medicare Advantage plans also include Medicare prescription drug coverage.Because plans differ, it's important to look beyond the monthly premium and consider whether the plan's doctors, hospitals, medications, costs, and benefits fit your situation.

There isn't one single Medicare price.Your costs can include premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance, depending on the coverage you have.For example, in 2026, Medicare.gov lists the standard Part B premium as $202.90 per month, although some people pay more based on income. The Part B annual deductible is $283. Plan premiums and other costs can vary by coverage, location and individual circumstances.

Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B. You can generally use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare.With Medicare Advantage, you receive your Part A and Part B benefits through a private Medicare-approved plan. Plans may have provider networks and different rules for receiving care.Original Medicare also allows you to add a separate Part D prescription drug plan and, if eligible, a Medigap policy.Medicare Advantage plans often bundle medical and prescription drug coverage together, although not every Medicare Advantage plan includes drug coverage.Neither option is automatically right for everyone. Your doctors, prescriptions, location, healthcare needs, and budget can all matter.

Both HMO and PPO are types of Medicare Advantage plans, but their provider-network rules can differ.HMOAn HMO generally requires you to receive care from doctors, hospitals, and other providers in the plan's network, except for certain situations such as emergencies, out-of-area urgent care, and temporary out-of-area dialysis.Some HMO plans may allow certain out-of-network services at a higher cost. PPOA PPO also has a provider network, but you can generally use out-of-network providers for covered services. You will usually pay more when you do.PPOs generally don't require you to choose a primary care doctor. The important question isn't simply "HMO or PPO?"It's whether the specific plan works with the doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, medications, and services that matter to you.

There isn't one universal Medicare Advantage price.Depending on the plan, you may have a monthly plan premium, in addition to your Medicare Part B premium. You may also have deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other costs when receiving services.Some plans have a $0 monthly plan premium, but that does not mean the plan has no other costs.Costs vary by plan and location, so compare the entire cost structure rather than focusing only on the monthly premium.

It depends on the specific Medicare Advantage plan.Many Medicare Advantage plans use networks of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers.Before enrolling, check whether your preferred doctors and healthcare facilities participate in the plan's network.Also check the plan's rules for out-of-network care, referrals, and prior authorization when applicable.

Many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage.However, not every Medicare Advantage plan works exactly the same way.If prescription coverage is important to you, check the plan's covered drug list, pharmacy network, cost-sharing rules, and other requirements.If you join an HMO or PPO Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage, you generally can't add a separate Part D plan while keeping that Medicare Advantage plan.

Original Medicare consists of Part A and Part B. You can generally see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare anywhere in the U.S. You can also add a separate Part D prescription drug plan and may choose a Medigap policy to help with certain out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative way to receive your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare-approved private health plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. The better option depends on your circumstances, including your doctors, medications, preferred providers, budget and coverage priorities.

Medigap is private insurance designed to help pay certain out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare, such as certain copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.You must have Original Medicare to buy a Medigap policy.

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is supplemental coverage sold by private insurance companies.It helps pay certain costs that Original Medicare doesn't fully cover.Medigap is different from Medicare Advantage.Original Medicare + Medigap is one coverage approach.Medicare Advantage is another way to receive your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits.You generally can't use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan.

For many people, the Medigap Open Enrollment Period is especially important.It begins when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B and lasts six months. During this period, you generally have important protections, including the ability to buy Medigap policies offered in your state without medical underwriting for pre-existing health conditions. After this period, you may have fewer options or pay more depending on your circumstances and state rules.

Plan G is one of the standardized Medigap plans available in most states.Generally, after you pay the Medicare Part B deductible, Plan G covers many of the remaining Medicare-approved cost-sharing amounts that the plan covers.Plan G does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.There is also a high-deductible version of Plan G available in some states. For 2026, the high-deductible Plan G deductible is $2,950. Important: Don't market Plan G as "the best plan." A better positioning is:

Plan N is another standardized Medigap option.It covers many of the same types of costs as other Medigap plans, but you may have certain copayments for some office visits and emergency room visits.Plan N does not cover Part B excess charges.The exact costs and availability can vary by location and insurer.

The biggest difference is how your Medicare benefits are delivered.Medicare AdvantageYou receive your Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan offered by a Medicare-approved private insurer.The plan may use provider networks and has its own cost-sharing structure.MedigapMedigap supplements Original Medicare and helps pay certain out-of-pocket costs.You generally pay a separate Medigap premium in addition to your Medicare Part B premium.Medigap does not replace Original Medicare.

For many people, the most important opportunity is their 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period.It begins when you're 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B.During this period, you generally have important protections: you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state, and insurance companies generally can't use medical underwriting to deny you coverage or charge more because of pre-existing health conditions. This is a one-time enrollment period. It doesn't repeat every year like Medicare's annual Open Enrollment Period. Other circumstances can create guaranteed-issue rights or special opportunities to buy Medigap.

Medigap premiums vary.Your premium can depend on factors such as:The plan you chooseWhere you liveThe insurance companyYour ageWhen you purchase the policyPricing method used by the insurerWhether you qualify for certain discounts You also continue paying your Medicare Part B premium.Medigap premiums generally increase over time, although the way premiums are calculated depends on the insurer and state.

Medicare Part D is Medicare prescription drug coverage.It helps pay for many brand-name and generic prescription drugs.Part D coverage is offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare.You can generally receive drug coverage through:A standalone Medicare drug plan with Original Medicare, orA Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage

Part D plans have a list of covered medications called a formulary.Plans can have different formularies, pharmacies, premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.Before choosing a plan, it's important to check whether your prescriptions are covered and understand what you may pay at the pharmacies you use.Drug coverage can change, so reviewing your coverage periodically is important.

Medicare covers prescription drugs in different ways depending on the type of drug and coverage you have.Part D generally covers many prescription drugs that you take yourself.Part B covers certain drugs under specific circumstances, including some medications administered in a doctor's office or certain drugs used with durable medical equipment.If you have Original Medicare, you can generally add a separate Part D plan for prescription drug coverage.

Your enrollment opportunity depends on your circumstances.Generally, you can enroll when you're first eligible for Medicare.You can also make certain changes during Medicare's annual Open Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, with changes generally effective January 1. Certain life events can create a Special Enrollment Period.If you're eligible for Part D but don't enroll and go 63 days or more without creditable prescription drug coverage, you may later face a late enrollment penalty.

Part D costs depend on the plan.You may pay:A monthly premiumA deductibleCopaymentsCoinsuranceFor 2026, a Medicare drug plan's deductible cannot be more than $615.For 2026, after your deductible, your covered Part D drug costs generally involve 25% coinsurance until your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,100, after which catastrophic coverage begins. Because costs and plan details can change, always verify the current plan information before enrolling.

Start with your actual medications.Consider:The name of each medicationDosageHow often you take itBrand vs. genericYour preferred pharmacyWhether your pharmacy is in-networkThe plan's formularyDeductibleCopays and coinsuranceMonthly premiumAny applicable coverage restrictionsThe plan with the lowest monthly premium isn't necessarily the plan with the lowest total prescription costs for you.