Understanding Your Medicare Options

Medicare FAQs

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for people age 65 and older, as well as certain individuals under 65 who qualify due to disability or specific medical conditions.

Medicare plans have a range of characteristics including:

  • Monthly premiums

  • Annual deductibles

  • Copayments

  • Coinsurance

  • Prescription drug costs

  • Out-of-pocket expenses

Medicare can feel complicated, especially when you're first trying to understand your coverage options. Our goal is to help make Medicare easier to understand so you can make an informed decision about your health coverage.

What does it cover?

Medicare has several options to choose from:

  • Part A – Hospital Insurance: Helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and certain home health services.

  • Part B – Medical Insurance: Helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and certain medical equipment.

  • Part C – Medicare Advantage: Offered by private Medicare-approved insurance companies. These plans combine Part A and Part B coverage and may include additional benefits.

  • Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage: Helps cover the cost of prescription medications through private insurance plans.

  • Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare to help with certain out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover.

  • Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid

  • Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (C-SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed specifically for people with certain severe or disabling chronic conditions.

When can I enroll?

Medicare has several different enrollment periods, and the dates and rules depend on your individual circumstances.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months:

  • 3 months before the month you turn 65

  • The month you turn 65

  • 3 months after the month you turn 65

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period

If you are looking to make a change from your current Medicare plan you can make changes from:

October 15 through December 7

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

If you're already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have another opportunity to make a change from:

January 1 through March 31

Special Enrollment Periods

  • Continue working past age 65 and have qualifying health coverage through your or your spouse's current employer

  • Lose qualifying employer or union coverage

  • Move and your new address affects your plan options

  • Experience certain changes involving Medicaid or other qualifying coverage