New to Medicare?
Medicare Eligibility
Disability & General Qualifications
- Who Can Enroll in Medicare?
- Am I signed up Automatically?
- Who has to sign up?
- Where can I find if I’m eligible?
Enrolling in Medicare
How and When to Enroll
You can only enroll in Medicare during three important timeframes: The Initial Enrollment Period, the Special Enrollment Period, and the General Enrollment Period. To find out more about How and When to Enroll.
Factors to Consider
Important Information/Factors
Will your Medicare plan allow you to keep your Personal Care Physician? What about Prescription Drugs? Making informed Medicare decisions is a complex task, be sure to consider these important questions and factors before doing so.
Medicare ABCs
Basics
- What is Medicare?
- Cost basics
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for eligible beneficiaries 65 and older, and beneficiaries with a qualifying medical disability. There are four parts to Medicare (Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part C, and Medicare Part D) that cover Hospital and Inpatient care, Doctor Visits and outpatient care, private insurance companies that have contracts with Medicare to provide Medicare Advantage, and Prescription Drug coverage. Most will only need to pay the Part B Premium of $174.70 per month for 2024.
Medicare Part A
Hospital Stays/Inpatient Care
Medicare Part A covers hospital, skilled nursing, home health and hospice care. Part A covers these services but not fully, and not all services. The standard Part A Deductible for 2024 is $1,632.
Medicare Part B
Doctor Visits/Outpatient Care
Medicare Part B helps cover physician services, outpatient services, durable medical equipment, and other outpatient services. The standard premium for Part B in 2024 is $174.70.
Medicare Part C
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Part C refers to Medicare Advantage plans. These plans incorporate your Part A, Part B, and often Part D – Prescription Drug coverage – into one plan. Medicare pays a private Medicare-approved insurance company to provide your healthcare coverage with a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans must, at minimum, provide the same level of coverage as Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans often include additional benefits not offered by Original Medicare.
Medicare Part D
Prescription Drugs
Medicare Part D refers to Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. There are important restrictions and limitations that affect prescription drug coverage on a plan by plan basis. People with Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan will need to enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan separately. For people enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, a Prescription Drug plan is often included with the Medicare Advantage coverage. You should note that if you decide to enroll late for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug coverage, a penalty may be assessed.
Medigap
Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement Insurance policies, also called ‘Medigap’ policies, help cover some costs Original Medicare (Part A + Part B) don’t cover, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Medicare Supplement Insurance policies require an additional monthly plan premium in addition to your Part A and/or Part B premiums. Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs – individuals in need of additional prescription drug coverage would also need to enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription drug plan. Medigap policies may be popular for individuals who travel frequently.
Medicare Plan Types
Important Dates
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP/ICEP)
This is the time frame most people sign up for Medicare. A seven-month period, starting three months before the month in which you turn 65 and ending three months after that month (assumes you do not delay enrolling in Medicare Part B plan).
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
October 15 – December 7
Beneficiaries may switch, add, or delete a plan. New plans will be effective January 1 of the following year.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP)
January 1 – March 31
Medicare Advantage plan enrollees may enroll in another MA plan or disenroll from their MA plan and return to Original Medicare. Individuals may make only one election during this enrollment period.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
Special enrollment periods may apply when certain events happen in your life, such as relocation, loss of group coverage, your current plan ends its Medicare contract, etc… The amount of time you have to make a change depends on the qualifying SEP event.
Medicare Resources
Medicare Administration
Click here to get the information you would need about official Medicare information, publications, apps, and more. Medicare is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY users call 1-877-486-2048).
Get Help Paying
Trouble paying your Medicare expenses? Are your Prescription Drug costs unaffordable? Click here for resources for helping pay your health care costs, including various programs such as Medicare’s “Extra Help,” Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs, Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and more.
