Turning 65 or shopping for health insurance? Get clear answers from a local licensed agent.

Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts 7 months: it starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after. Signing up in the months before your birthday month helps your coverage start on time. If you or your spouse are still working with employer coverage, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty — it depends on the employer's size and coverage, so it's worth reviewing together.

Part A is hospital insurance (inpatient stays, skilled nursing, hospice). Part B is medical insurance (doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services). Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, is an alternative way to get your Part A and B benefits through a private insurance company, often with drug coverage included. Part D is prescription drug coverage offered by private insurance companies.

A Medicare Supplement works alongside Original Medicare to help pay costs like deductibles and coinsurance, and you can generally see any provider that accepts Medicare; you'd usually add a separate Part D plan. Medicare Advantage replaces how you receive Parts A and B through a private plan that typically uses a provider network and may include drug coverage and extra benefits. Which fits best depends on your doctors, prescriptions, travel and budget.

Possibly. If you don't sign up for Part B or Part D when first eligible and don't have other creditable coverage, you may pay a late-enrollment penalty that is added to your premium for as long as you have that coverage. Timing your enrollment correctly avoids this.

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, when you can join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the next year. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 – March 31 for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan. Special Enrollment Periods may apply after certain life events, such as moving or losing employer coverage.

Open Enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs November 1 through January 15; enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1. States that run their own marketplace may have different dates. Outside Open Enrollment, you generally need a qualifying life event — like losing coverage, moving, marriage or having a baby — for a Special Enrollment Period.

Many people qualify for a premium tax credit based on household income and size. The temporary enhanced credits ended after 2025, so for current coverage, credits are generally available for household incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Some lower-income households may also qualify for reduced out-of-pocket costs or Medicaid. I'll help you check what you may qualify for.

No. There's no fee to work with me. Licensed agents are typically paid by the insurance company, and plan premiums are the same whether you enroll with an agent or on your own.

Yes. Existing clients can reach out any time for an annual review, help with doctor or prescription changes, billing questions or life changes. Plans change every year, so a quick review before each enrollment period is a smart habit.

No. I'm a licensed insurance agent with HealthMarkets Insurance Agency. This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. You can always contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for information on all of your options.