The parts of Medicare
- Part A helps cover hospital stays, skilled nursing care, and hospice.
- Part B helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans are offered by private insurers and combine Part A and Part B, often with drug coverage and extra benefits.
- Part D plans help cover prescription drugs.
Parts A and B together are called Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement
Medicare Advantage plans replace how you receive your Original Medicare benefits. They usually use a provider network, cap your yearly out-of-pocket costs, and many include drug coverage and extras like dental or vision.
Medicare Supplement plans, also called Medigap, work alongside Original Medicare to help pay costs like deductibles and coinsurance. They generally let you see any doctor who accepts Medicare. Medigap works with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage, and you would usually add a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
When you can enroll
- Initial Enrollment Period: a seven-month window that starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after it.
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7 each year. You can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, with changes starting January 1.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or return to Original Medicare once.
- Medigap Open Enrollment: a six-month period that starts the month you’re 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this time you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state without health questions.
How we help
Your advisor reviews your doctors, prescriptions, and budget, then compares plans available in your area. We explain the trade-offs in plain language, help you enroll, and review your coverage with you each year. There is no cost to use our service.
Common questions
When should I start looking at Medicare plans?
About three months before the month you turn 65, when your Initial Enrollment Period begins.
Can I change my Medicare plan every year?
Yes. During the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, you can switch Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.
Do I need a Part D plan with Medicare Advantage?
Many Medicare Advantage plans already include drug coverage. If you choose Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, you would usually add a separate Part D plan.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.