Hearts First
The parts, explained
A, B, C, D — in one page, without the jargon
Hospital insurance
Inpatient stays, skilled nursing, hospice. Most people paid for this through payroll taxes and owe no premium.
Medical insurance
Doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, durable equipment. Carries a monthly premium set by Medicare.
Medicare Advantage
A private plan that bundles A and B, usually adds drug coverage, and often dental, vision and hearing — inside a network.
Prescription drugs
Covers your medications. Each plan has its own list, so the right one depends entirely on what you actually take.
The one decision that matters most: Advantage or Supplement
Neither is better on paper. The right answer depends on how you use care, how much you travel, and how predictable you need your costs to be.
Medicare Advantage
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Lower or $0 monthly premium, extras like dental, vision and gym benefits.
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Everything on one card, with a yearly cap on what you can spend.
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You stay inside a network and may need referrals — harder if you travel a lot.
Medigap / Supplement
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Any doctor in the country who takes Medicare. No networks, no referrals.
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Highly predictable costs — you know almost exactly what a year will cost.
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Higher monthly premium, and you buy a separate Part D plan for prescriptions.
Key dates
Miss the window and it can cost you for life
Some Medicare late-enrollment penalties never go away. We put the right dates on your calendar and handle the paperwork before they arrive.
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Initial Enrollment Period The 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 before, your birth month, 3 after.
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Annual Enrollment Oct 15 – Dec 7 every year. Switch plans, change drug coverage, or leave Advantage.
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Medigap Open Enrollment 6 months from your Part B start date — the one window where health questions can’t block you.
FAQ
Medicare questions, answered honestly
Does it cost me anything to work with you?
No. Your premium is set by the carrier and Medicare — it’s identical whether you enroll with us, online, or by yourself. Our help is free.
I’m still working at 65. Do I have to sign up?
It depends on your employer’s size and your plan’s credit status. Getting this wrong triggers lifetime penalties, so bring us your benefits letter and we’ll read it with you.
Will my prescriptions be covered?
We run your exact medication list against each plan’s formulary and your preferred pharmacy, then show you the yearly cost side by side before you choose.
Can I change plans if I don’t like mine?
Usually yes, during Annual Enrollment each fall. We review your plan with you every year — even if nothing changed, we check that it’s still your best fit.
Bring your doctor list. We’ll do the rest.
One conversation, no sales pressure, and the same agent every year after that.