Medicare Insurance Agency in Port Lavaca

Original Medicare is a federal plan. Part A helps pay for hospital care. Part B helps pay for other medical care. You may use any U.S. doctor or hospital. It must take Medicare. Medicare Advantage is also called Part C. Private firms sell these plans. Medicare must approve each plan. Each plan gives you Part A and Part B benefits. Some plans add drug benefits. Some add vision or dental benefits. Many plans use a network. You may need to use doctors in that network. Check the plan before you get care.

Most people first get Medicare at age 65. Their first sign-up period lasts seven months. It starts three months before their birth month. It ends three months after that month. You may also sign up from January 1 through March 31. This is for Part A or Part B. Coverage then starts the next month. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. You may join a Medicare Advantage plan then. You may switch or drop one. You may also join, switch, or drop a Part D plan. Those changes start January 1. Check Medicare’s sign-up dates and rules.

If you are 65 or older, job size may decide who pays first. This rule is for group health plans. The plan may be from your current job. It may be from your spouse’s current job. A group plan often pays first if the firm has 20 or more workers. Medicare often pays first if the firm has fewer than 20 workers. Other rules may apply if you are under age 65. Rules may differ if you have end-stage renal disease. They may also differ for retiree plans and COBRA. Read Medicare’s guide. Ask the benefits office before you change coverage.

Medicare Supplement plans are also called Medigap. Private firms sell them. Medigap can help pay costs left by Original Medicare. These costs may include copays. They may include coinsurance and deductibles. Some plans may help pay for care outside the U.S. You can use Medigap only with Original Medicare. You cannot use it with Medicare Advantage. The price may vary by plan and firm.

First, look past the monthly price. Check copays. Check drug costs. A Medicare Advantage plan may have lower copays. It may have drug coverage. A Medigap plan may pay some costs left by Original Medicare. Check your plan each year. Its costs and benefits may change. You may get help from Medicaid. A Medicare Savings Program may also help. Extra Help may cut your drug costs. Each program has its own rules.

Start with your care needs and budget. List your doctors. List your drugs. Check premiums and other costs. Compare two paths. One is Original Medicare with Medigap. The other is a Medicare Advantage plan. Check each plan’s doctor network. Check its drug list. You can use the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. You can also ask SHIP for help. SHIP means State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Your needs may differ from those of another person.