First understand. Then compare. Finally, decide.
Medicare
Understand your Medicare options.
When you can enroll or make changes, and what is worth comparing: costs, network, medications and plan benefits. We explain it calmly, before any decision.
- Licensed insurance agent
- Service in English and Spanish
- Clear enrollment periods
How we review it
Five steps, no rush.
Eligibility, options, comparison, decision and yearly review: in that order.
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Every situation opens different windows. We review them with you.
Eligibility
When do you reach Medicare?
Eligibility and enrollment periods are different things. We review your case if:
- You are nearing 65 and your initial enrollment period
- You already have Medicare and want to review your coverage
- You have Medicare and Medicaid
- You are moving or losing other coverage: depending on your circumstances, a special period may open
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Extra benefits vary by plan: not every plan includes them.
Options
Original Medicare and the types of plan.
We explain Original Medicare and the types of coverage we can present to you, and how they differ:
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Premiums and costs
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Doctor network
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Prescription drugs
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Each plan's specific benefits
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We are here to explain, not to pressure you.
Compare
Your doctors, your medications, your pharmacy.
We review each option available in your service area against what you already use.
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Your doctors
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Your medications
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Your pharmacy
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Costs for the year
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The decision is yours. Our part is making sure it is informed.
Decide
With clear information.
You choose. We support you through enrollment in the plan you decide on, within the period that applies.
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An informed decision
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Support through enrolment
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Dates on time
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What suits you today may not be the same next year.
Review every year
Your plan can change from one year to the next.
Premiums, networks, covered medications and benefits can change. The annual period, October 15 to December 7, is the time to review.
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Yearly review
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Changes to your plan
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Follow-up
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Medicare guide
The four parts of Medicare
A simple guide to the four parts of Medicare and what each one means for your coverage.
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Part A
Hospital insurance
- Covers hospital stays, skilled nursing care, hospice and some home health services.
- In many cases it has no monthly premium, though it can include deductibles and coinsurance.
- It is an important foundation of Medicare, but on its own it does not cover every medical cost.
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Part B
Medical services
- Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and other clinical care.
- It usually comes with a monthly premium.
- For many services you pay a deductible and coinsurance, unless you have supplemental coverage.
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Part C
Medicare Advantage
- These are plans offered by private insurers approved by Medicare.
- They combine Part A and Part B benefits.
- Some plans include prescription drugs or other benefits, such as dental, vision or hearing; these vary by plan and service area.
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Part D
Prescription drugs
- Helps cover the cost of prescription medicines.
- It is obtained through private plans approved by Medicare.
- It can be bought separately or come included in some Medicare Advantage plans.
- Since 2025 the coverage gap (“donut hole”) no longer exists.
Medicare calendar
The Medicare year at a glance
Knowing Medicare's key periods helps you make decisions on time. Here are the most important windows of the year.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- Medicare Advantage open enrolment (January to March)
- Annual election period (15 October to 7 December)
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1 January to 31 March
Medicare Advantage open enrolment period
If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
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15 October to 7 December
Annual election period (AEP)
You can enrol in or change a Medicare Advantage plan or a prescription drug plan for the following year.
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Seven months around your 65th birthday
Initial enrolment period
If you become eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, your initial enrolment period lasts seven months: it starts three months before your birthday, includes your birthday month and ends three months after.
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Outside the usual dates
Special enrolment periods
In certain circumstances, such as a change in your job, your coverage or where you live, you may qualify for a special enrolment period.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to your questions about Medicare
Can I keep my doctor?
In many cases yes, but it depends on the type of plan you choose. Some plans require doctors inside their network, while others are more flexible about providers outside it.
With the right guidance you can check whether your current doctors accept the plan before you enrol, and avoid surprises later.
Will my medicines be covered?
Drug coverage depends on the plan. Original Medicare generally does not include prescription drugs, but many Medicare Advantage plans and Part D plans do cover them.
It is worth reviewing your list of medications and confirming how each option covers them before you decide.
Does the “coverage gap” or “donut hole” still exist?
No. Starting in 2025, the coverage gap in drug plans no longer exists.
Part D parameters, such as the deductible and the out-of-pocket limit on covered drugs, are updated every year. That is why it is worth reviewing your medications against each plan during the annual period.
When can I enrol in Medicare for the first time?
Your initial enrolment period normally lasts seven months: it begins three months before you turn 65, includes your birthday month and ends three months after.
Enrolling during that window usually gives you more options and helps you avoid penalties or needless delays.
What happens if I do not enrol at 65?
If you already receive Social Security benefits, you may be enrolled in Original Medicare automatically when you turn 65.
If that is not your case, you may face late enrolment penalties if you sign up later without having had other valid coverage.
If you have coverage through your employer or your spouse's employer, it is worth reviewing your options before enrolling to choose the right time.
Annual period: October 15 to December 7
Let's review your Medicare options.
Tell us which doctors and medications you use and we will review the options available in your service area.
- Licensed insurance agent
- Service in English and Spanish
- A review every annual period
The information on this page is general and educational. It is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Plans, premiums, benefits, networks and covered medications vary by plan and service area, and can change every year.