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Medicare Guidance

Medicare Made Clear, With a Licensed Agent by Your Side

Medicare has many moving parts. We help you understand your options, compare plans available in your area, and choose coverage that fits your health needs and budget — at no cost to you.

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  • Licensed, knowledgeable agents
  • No cost, no obligation to enroll
  • Help comparing plans in your ZIP code
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See Medicare plans in your area

Plans and availability vary by location. Your information is kept private and secure.
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The Basics

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, and for some younger people with certain disabilities, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS.

It is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare is divided into parts, and each part covers different kinds of care. Many people also add private coverage to help with costs Medicare does not fully pay.

Understanding how the parts fit together is the first step toward choosing coverage with confidence.

  • Part A: hospital insurance
  • Part B: medical insurance
  • Part C: Medicare Advantage plans from private insurers
  • Part D: prescription drug coverage
Check Your Eligibility

Your Options

Four Ways to Build Your Medicare Coverage

Most people start with Original Medicare and then decide whether to add a Medicare Advantage plan, a Medicare Supplement plan, or a Part D drug plan.

Original Medicare

Parts A and B, provided by the federal government. You can generally see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage

An all-in-one alternative offered by private insurers. Many plans include drug coverage and extra benefits such as dental or vision.

Part D Drug Plans

Stand-alone prescription drug coverage that works alongside Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans.

Medicare Supplement

Also called Medigap. Helps pay some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, such as coinsurance.

How It Works

Finding the Right Plan in Three Simple Steps

Our licensed agents walk you through the process at your pace.

  1. Tell us about your needs

    Share your ZIP code, your doctors, and the prescriptions you take. This helps us focus on plans that may fit.

  2. Compare your options

    We review plans available in your area side by side, explaining costs, networks, and benefits in plain language.

  3. Enroll with confidence

    When you are ready, we help you enroll and remain available for questions throughout the year.

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Side by Side

Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or Medigap?

There is no single best choice. The right coverage depends on your health, your doctors, your budget, and how you like to receive care.

  • Your doctorsCheck whether the doctors and hospitals you use are in a plan’s network, or accept Medicare.
  • Your prescriptionsConfirm your medications are on the plan’s drug list (formulary) and review how they are priced.
  • Your budgetWeigh monthly premiums against deductibles, copays, and the most you might pay out of pocket.
  • Travel and locationConsider whether you travel often or spend part of the year in another state.
FeatureOriginal MedicareMedicare AdvantageOriginal Medicare + Medigap
Who offers it Federal government Private insurers approved by Medicare Government (A and B) plus a private Medigap policy
Doctor choice Any provider that accepts Medicare Usually a plan network (HMO or PPO) Any provider that accepts Medicare
Out-of-pocket limit No annual limit Yes, an annual maximum set by the plan Depends on the Medigap plan chosen
Drug coverage Not included; add Part D Often included Not included; add Part D
Extra benefits Generally not included Many plans include dental, vision, or hearing Generally not included
Referrals Not required May be required, depending on the plan Not required

This is a general overview. Benefits, costs, and availability vary by plan and location. Not all plans are available in all areas.

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Learning Center

Explore Our Medicare Guides

Clear, practical explanations to help you make informed decisions.

Medicare Eligibility Who qualifies for Medicare and when coverage can begin.
Enrollment Periods Key dates for signing up or changing your coverage.
Medicare Advantage How Part C plans work and what they may include.
Medicare Supplement How Medigap helps with out-of-pocket costs.
Part D Drug Coverage Choosing a prescription drug plan that fits.
Medicare Learning Center Articles and resources for every stage.

Questions

Medicare Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions. Do not see yours? Our licensed agents are happy to help.

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Still have questions?

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(445) 300-7597 Mon–Fri 8am–8pm ET

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, as well as some younger people with certain disabilities, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS. It is made up of several parts that cover hospital care, medical services, and prescription drugs. Many people also add private coverage to help with costs Medicare does not fully pay.

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. These plans cover everything Parts A and B cover (except hospice, which Original Medicare still covers), and many include prescription drug coverage and extra benefits such as dental or vision. Plans usually use provider networks, and costs and benefits vary by plan and location.

A Medicare Supplement plan, also known as Medigap, is a private insurance policy that works alongside Original Medicare. It helps pay some of the costs Original Medicare does not, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage, so many people pair them with a Part D plan.

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. You can get it as a stand-alone plan that works with Original Medicare, or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs, so it is important to check that your medications are included.

Most people first enroll during their Initial Enrollment Period, a 7-month window that includes the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months after the month they turn 65. After that, you can make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you have a qualifying life event. Enrolling late in some parts may result in penalties.

Yes, during certain times of the year. The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) lets you join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) lets Advantage members make one change. You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period after events like moving or losing other coverage.

Original Medicare is the traditional program run by the federal government, made up of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). It lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, generally without referrals. It does not include most prescription drug coverage and has no yearly out-of-pocket limit, which is why many people add Part D and a Medigap policy.

Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Part B helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment. Part D covers prescription drugs, and Medicare Advantage plans may add benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing. Coverage details and costs are set annually by CMS and vary by plan.

Original Medicare generally does not cover the medications you fill at a retail pharmacy, though Part B covers certain drugs given in a doctor’s office or hospital outpatient setting. To get coverage for most prescriptions, you can join a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Plans differ in which drugs they cover and how much they cost.

Start by listing your doctors, prescriptions, preferred pharmacies, and monthly budget. Then compare plans available in your area on premiums, deductibles, copays, out-of-pocket limits, provider networks, and drug coverage. A licensed agent can do this comparison with you at no cost and explain the differences in plain language.

Free Guidance

Ready to Review Your Medicare Options?

Speak with a licensed agent who can explain your choices and compare plans available where you live. There is no cost and no obligation.

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Get Started

Request a Free Medicare Plan Review

Share a few details and a licensed agent will reach out at a time that works for you.

We will listen to what matters most to you — your doctors, prescriptions, and budget — and explain the plans that may be a good match.

  • No cost to speak with an agent
  • No obligation to enroll
  • Plain-language explanations

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