What exactly is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program mostly for people who are 65 and older. It also covers some younger people who have been receiving disability coverage for two years and also people with certain medical conditions (like end-stage kidney disease). 

What exactly is Medicare?

Medicare has four parts, and a lot of letters…

Part A: Hospital coverage (inpatient care, nursing homes, hospice)

Part B: Doctor visits, outpatient care, lab tests, preventive care

Part C: Also called Medicare Advantage—private plans that bundle A + B (and usually D)

Part D: Prescription drug coverage

So, Part A + B = "Original Medicare", and Part C is the private plan version. Part D helps with medications.

How much does it cost?

Part A is usually free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

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Part B has a monthly premium—most people pay about $185/month in 2025, but it can be more if you have a high income. The cost for Parts C is typically $0/month and the cost for Part D varies depending on the plan.

I’m turning 65 - do I have to sign up for Medicare?

You should, unless you have qualifying coverage through an employer (with 20+ employees). If you wait too long without other coverage, you could face late penalties, so let’s make sure you get the timing right.

When can I sign up?

You have a 7-month window starting 3 months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and ending 3 months after. That’s your Initial Enrollment Period. If you miss it, you might have to wait for a General Enrollment Period (Jan–Mar), and you could pay penalties.

 

What’s the difference between Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans?

Great question—and one that trips up a lot of people. Here’s the gist:

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a replacement for Original Medicare. It’s run by private insurance companies and usually bundles Part A, Part B, and often Part D (drug coverage) all in one plan. It might throw in extras like dental, vision, or hearing—but you’ll have to use their network of doctors and hospitals.

Medicare Supplement (aka Medigap) is a plan you buy in addition to Original Medicare. It would typically be Plan G and it helps cover the "gaps" that Original Medicare doesn’t pay—like copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. You keep your freedom to go to any provider that accepts Medicare, but you’ll need to buy a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.

We will go through both options and see which one makes the most sense. Once we determine which direction, then we will look up your medications and your doctors and make sure you have the plan that best fits your needs.