Frequently Asked Questions

I offer several types of health and life insurance products. My specialty is Medicare, and I never miss an opportunity to educate someone on the topic.

This is a very loaded topic as there are really many elements to Medicare, but to simplify it:

Part A is your Hospital Insurance. If you have worked at least 40 quarters in the U.S., (10 years of Full Time) you would receive Part A at no cost.

Part B is your Medical Insurance. This usually comes with a monthly premium. Each year that premium tends to go up a little. In 2025, the standard Part B premium is $185 per month unless your income is in a higher threshold.

Together, Part A and Part B are known as Original Medicare. The issue with Original Medicare is that it contains gaps, or holes, in coverage. There is no dental, vision or hearing coverage. The other issue with Original Medicare is that when it comes to your medical care, Medicare only pays 80% of medical services received, leaving you with the additional 20% to cover. There is no Out-of-Pocket-Maximum. This could be a pretty hefty amount if you unexpectedly fall and break a bone or even have a heart attack.  

To cover the gaps in Original Medicare, you have 2 options:

Part C which is known as Medicare Advantage or a Medigap/Medicare Supplement plan. These two options are very different and one is not better than the other. There are a lot of factors to consider before you choose between the two (because you can't have both). This is why it's very important to work with someone knowledgeable about both, like me, to help you compare the two and figure out which one suits your situation in the best way. 

And finally, we have Part D. This is your Prescription Drug Coverage. 

You have 3 options when it comes to Medicare:

1. Original Medicare with a Standalone Part D plan.
2. A Medicare Supplement (along with Original Medicare) and a Standalone Part D Plan
3. Medicare Advantage (typically includes your Prescription Drug Plan

Of course, there are specific scenarios where your options can be a little different. Such as if you are a U.S. Veteran, have a Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan through your retiree plan, a former Postal Worker or are Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The rules are a little different. If this is the case, there is even more reason to discuss your benefits and options with someone like me, who is well-versed in navigating your Medicare journey.

These two options have some major differences. 

One big factor is cost: 

Medicare Supplements come with a monthly premium, which you will pay in addition to your Part B premium and the cost of your Part D Prescription Drug Plan. Rates are not locked in, they typically go up each year and if you are applying after your Initial Election Period (when you turn 65) you may not even qualify unless you can pass the companies underwriting. The benefit to these plans is that there are no networks, referrals or prior authorizations. You can see any provider that excepts Original Medicare. There is a lot of freedom to control your own healthcare. One thing to keep in mind though, you will not receive Dental, Vision or Hearing benefits with this plan - you would have to purchase a separate policy for those.

Medicare Advantage Plans on the other hand, tend to be $0 premium and incorporate your Part D Prescription Drug Plan, leaving you with only your Part B monthly premium to pay. They do typically include Dental, Vision and Hearing benefits and sometimes there are additional perks. The tradeoff though, is that you will be subject to a network, referrals and prior authorizations. You will also have co-pays and co-insurance. Your plans benefits may change year to year, so if you decide that this is the plan you want to pursue, be sure to work with someone who offers to do an annual plan review with you so that you can make sure the plan is still working for your situation.

There is no one size fits all answer to this. Everyone is different. Everyone has different healthcare needs and a different budget. That's why you should give me a call so we can work together to find the answer!