Medicare questions, answered simply

No. Our help is free to you. We are paid by the insurance companies we represent when you enroll, and plan premiums are the same whether you enroll through us or directly.

No. We are a licensed, independent insurance agency. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

We represent many, but not all, plans in southern Arizona. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE list all of your options, and we are happy to point you there.

Yes. Several of our advisors are bilingual, and we hold Spanish-language seminars every fall. Llámenos y pida hablar en español.

Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long: the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Signing up in the first 3 months means coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.

From October 15 to December 7 each year you can join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1.

You may have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) and could owe late enrollment penalties for Part B or Part D. Call us, because a Special Enrollment Period may apply.

If you have creditable group coverage through current employment, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty. When that coverage ends, you have 8 months to enroll.

Medigap works alongside Original Medicare and pays your share of costs, with no networks. Medicare Advantage replaces how Original Medicare pays and uses networks, usually with lower premiums and extra benefits.

No. Medigap only works with Original Medicare. If you join an Advantage plan, a Medigap policy would not pay claims.

Possibly. Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) apply above certain income levels, based on your tax return from two years earlier. You can appeal after a life-changing event like retirement.

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental, vision or hearing aids. Many Advantage plans include them, and stand-alone plans are available.

Yes. Part D plans have a yearly out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs, set at $2,100 for 2026. After that you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs that year.

Each plan has a formulary. Send us your list with doses and pharmacy, and we will compare the total yearly cost across the plans we offer.

Extra Help is a federal program that lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays for people with limited income and resources. We can help you apply through Social Security.