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Your Best Medicare Insurance Planning Resource

We strive to provide the best Medicare insurance information.  As an industry organization, our goal is providing current and relevant information to help you make better planning decisions.

For Consumers: Scroll down to read our tips for finding the best Medicare insurance plan for your needs and budget. We provide questions to ask before buying, lists of top insurance companies, reports on the lowest cost plans, and much more. Find local Medicare insurance agents near me. Our online directory is 100% free and 100% private to use.

For Insurance Agents: Check our Agent Center. And, learn more about being listed on our Find A Local Medicare Agent online directory.

For Media: Access the latest Medicare insurance statistics and data. Click the link.


You Have Multiple Medicare Options

Best-Medicare-Insurance-Plan-ChoicesMedicare is an incredible program with many significant benefits for 64 million Americans. But, it’s very complex. And you will have to make multiple important decisions in order to find the best coverage for your specific needs and budget.

To help, here’s a quick overview.

When you first enroll in Medicare (typically at age 65), you choose how you get your Medicare coverage. Some choices allow you to change plans. But not all choices can be changed. The rules are very complex and can even be different based on what State you live in.

There are 3 ways to get Medicare:
1. There is “Original Medicare” (Medicare Part A and Part B).
2. You can add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and/or drug plan coverage (Part D).
3. Or, you can get Medicare Advantage (Part C). This is actually coverage through a private plan, typically an insurance company like UnitedHealthcare, Humana or Aetna.

There are definite pros and cons to each. We will cover some of the basics. But, it’s up to you to be an educated consumer. That can involve a bit of work. The Association strongly believes that a local Medicare insurance agent can be a valuable resource. We offer a free directory that lists them by Zip Code.


Original Medicare – The Preferred Option for Many

Some 36 million people have “Original Medicare” (as of 2022). That’s simply Medicare Parts A and B.

Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.

Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover services from doctors and other health care providers. It can cover durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds). Part B covers many preventive services (like health screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits.

PROS:  People with Original Medicare can go to any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. In most cases, there is no need for a referral to see a specialist.

CONS: You’ll likely want to pay for a Part D prescription drug plan to cover costs. There are deductibles and co-pays that you’ll have to pay. These can be covered by a separate Medicare Supplement (or Medigap) policy.


Medigap Fills The “Gaps” In Medicare Parts A & B

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Click to find lowest cost Medigap plan in your State

Over 14 million people have purchased separate insurance to fill the ‘gaps’ in Medicare. A Medicare Supplement (commonly called Medigap) pays for covered charges that Medicare doesn’t pay for.

For example, a Medigap policy can pay the Medicare deductible and any required co-pays. People like Medigap because they can see any doctor or use any hospital that accepts Medicare.

There are no limits or constraints (such as those with Medicare Advantage). Want to see a specialist, you can. The Mayo Clinic, it’s okay.

Costs for Medigap insurance can vary considerably for equal coverage. For example, in parts of Iowa, a woman turning age 65 can buy Plan G for $79-per-month. She could pay as much as $192 for Plan G from a different insurance company. It’s really important to compare.


Medicare Advantage (Part C)

They call it Medicare Advantage (MA) but really it’s private insurance. That’s not necessarily bad. But it’s important to understand the pros and cons of Part C coverage. Over 26 million Americans have Part C coverage (2022).

Part C plans provide the benefits of Medicare Parts A, B, and often Part D (drugs). Sometimes there is no premium charge. There may be lower co-pays, so there’s no need for Medigap. Many offer added benefits not in Original Medicare, such as fitness classes or some vision and dental care.

The TV ads make Part C plans sound great. But be wary. Advantage plans can limit who you get your medical care from. They can carry hidden risks, especially for people with major health issues. If you live in a rural area, there may not be many plans to choose from.

Part C Plan CompareAdvantage plans typically require that you get care from a more limited network of providers. You may need pre-authorization to see a specialist.

A Kaiser study found that about half of all MA enrollees would end up paying more than those in traditional Medicare for a seven-day hospital stay.

The average Medicare beneficiary can choose from 43 Medicare Advantage plans (2023). That is an increase from prior years.

Finding the best plan can be difficult. Many agents today offer both MA and Medigap. Those that do will say so on their agent directory listing.


Tips For Finding The Best Medicare Plan For You

Medicare is a NATIONAL program. But your plan options typically are LOCAL. You may have as many as 40 different Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans to choose from. Add to that as many as 20 different Medigap options and 20 different Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

Agents – Brokers – Call Centers: You can not buy Medicare insurance directly from an insurance company or provider. You must always speak to an agent (licensed insurance agent).

Five Tips For Consumers

TIP #1: Know the difference. An agent typically is able to sell you coverage from just one company. A broker usually can sell you plans from multiple companies. And, the person answering your call to a toll-free Call Center number generally will have a plan they’d like to see you buy.

Tip #2: How to determine the difference. Ask the person how many companies they are ‘appointed’ with. Appointed is insurance industry jargon for “I can sell that plan and earn a commission or fee when I do”.

Tip #3: Ask which companies the person can offer you. The better Medicare insurance brokers will typically be appointed with a few of the top sellers. But maybe not all. That’s why it’s important top ask which plans they can represent. If one or two are missing, you might want to get a comparison quote from another broker.

Tip #4: It’s worth speaking to at least 1 local pro. Medicare plans are local and a local Medicare insurance agent will know which plans people in your area like. And, which plans people are dropping because of problems. The Association provides a free and private directory you can use to find pros in your Zip Code.

Tip #5: Ask about your rights to change plans. Medicare plans change all the time. Some get better and some get worse. Medicare gives you certain rights to change plans. But that’s not always the case. So ask before you sign on the dotted line. And remember, verbal statements are worthless when it comes to insurance. Only things in writing matter.

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Click to access the free directory listing Medicare agents in your Zip Code


Medicare Insurance Statistics, Data and Other Important Information

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Click to Access Medicare Insurance Information

The Association makes available a repository of information.

Access Medicare insurance statistics (2024 edition) and data.

Medicare Advantage information.

Medicare Supplement and Medigap.

And Medicare drug plans.

Click this link to access some of the statistics and data we posted earlier (2022).

You can also click the MEDICARE NEWS tab above. That will take you to our news center where we post lots of valuable information.


Finding The Best Medicare Drug Plan

Compare Medicare Drug Plans

Click to find Medicare drug plan options

The typical senior can save between $500 and $700 simply by comparing their Medicare drug plan coverage each year.

Everybody with Medicare Part D coverage can compare and switch plans for the coming year during Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7).

Plans change each year. Avoid paying more for your drugs. Factor in new drugs you are now taking.

The Association has worked with eHealth to provide access for an easy to use comparison tool. It’s 100% private. Simply enter your Zip Code (NO personal info). You can enter your prescriptions to get the best information.

Read more tips on finding the best 2024 Medicare drug plan coverage.

Compare Medicare Drug Plans 2023
Medicare insurance agents near me directory
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Medicare-Information-Medicare-News