Medicare Planning

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Medicare Part A covers your hospital expenses. This includes hospital stays, skilled nursing care, hospice, and home health-care services. You may have to pay various deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. You earn Part A by paying taxes toward Medicare while working for 10 years (or 40 quarters). If you did not earn Part A, you will pay a premium. 

Medicare Part B covers services that treat illnesses or conditions 

such as doctor’s office visits, lab work, x-rays, and outpatient 

surgeries. It also covers preventive services  like cancer screenings 

and flu shots. Part B also covers medically necessary durable 

medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers to treat a 

disease or condition. Most people pay a premium for Part B. 

Even if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that 

provides your Part A and Part B benefits, you will still pay your 

Part B premium.

 Medicare Part D Drug Plans 

Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs. Although Medicare Part D coverage is optional, it can be valuable if you take medications. You will pay a 

late-enrollment penalty if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part D Coverage when you are first eligible. You can get Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage either through an independent Prescription Drug Plan (PDP), or through a 

Medicare Advantage Plan that includes prescription drug 

coverage. Before choosing a plan we want to be sure you know the 

difference between your many options; In particular how 

Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans differ.