Medicare insurance
Medicare made simple so you can enjoy your retirement.
Medicare is notoriously challenging. From not knowing where to enroll, to not understanding the different Medicare plans, to not being sure if you have the right coverage, seniors often feel overwhelmed when it comes to Medicare. And that’s a problem, because not having the right plan—or any plan at all—can lead to gaps in healthcare protection, which can be disastrous for those on a retirement budget.
That’s where we come in.
For nearly 40 years, we’ve been taking the mystery out of Medicare for Central California’s retirees so you can enjoy your retirement with peace of mind.
What is Medicare, and how does it work?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for anyone age 65 and older. Here’s a basic overview of how Medicare works.
Three basic approaches to Medicare
There are three basic options when it comes to Medicare coverage, namely: original Medicare; Part D and/or a supplement; and Medicare Advantage. Here is an overview of each option:
Option 1: Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
Original Medicare includes Parts A and B and is public health insurance coverage offered by the federal government. (To give you an idea of cost, the annual Part B deductible in 2023 was $226 and had risen an average of $7.75 per year—or a little over 5%—each year over the preview decade.) Original Medicare helps cover:
- Doctor visits and services, including many preventative services and yearly checkups
- Outpatient care in hospitals
- Inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities
- Various in-home medical care services and equipment
- Hospice, including some in-home care
However, there are some things that original Medicare does not cover, such as long-term care and prescription drugs, as well as vision, dental, and hearing care. For more comprehensive coverage, you’ll need to look at other Medicare options. Keep reading to learn about those.
Option 2: A Medicare Supplement plus a Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)
Medicare Supplement can include coverage for the following:
- Medicare Part A or Part B deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance
- Medicare Part B excess charges
- Skilled Nursing Facility copayments
- Emergency care while traveling abroad
Medicare Part D provides coverage that helps you pay for prescription drugs. It also gives you access to other purchasing options, including many retail drug stores and mail-order drugs. When choosing this Medicare approach, you have the option of choosing a Medicare Supplement and/or a drug plan.
Option 3: Medicare Advantage (Part C)
A Medicare Advantage Plan—also referred to as Part C—is a comprehensive plan which includes medical and drug coverage. Medicare Advantage plans have little or no premiums but have copays for some services. They may also include benefits not covered by Medicare, such as vision and dental.
