Medicare FAQs, Your Questions Answered

Your Initial Enrollment Period starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and continues 3 months after, a 7-month window total. Enrolling late without other creditable coverage can trigger a permanent late-enrollment penalty, so it's worth planning ahead rather than waiting until the last minute.

Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a plan run by a private insurer, often bundling drug coverage and extra benefits, usually with a network of providers. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare to cover out-of-pocket costs and generally lets you see any doctor who accepts Medicare, but requires a separate Part D plan for drug coverage. Which is better depends on your doctors, budget, and how often you travel.

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care. Many Medicare Advantage plans do include these benefits, which is one of the main reasons people choose Advantage over Original Medicare, but coverage levels vary widely by plan, so it's worth comparing the specifics.

Missing your Initial Enrollment Period can mean a late-enrollment penalty added to your premium for as long as you have coverage, plus a gap in coverage until the next enrollment window opens. If you think you may have missed a deadline, reach out, you may still qualify for a Special Enrollment Period depending on your circumstances.

No. Working with a licensed agent costs you nothing, agents are compensated by the insurance carriers, not by clients, and your premium is the same whether you enroll directly or through an agent. What you get in return is unbiased guidance across multiple carriers and someone to call when questions come up later.

Santa Clara County residents have access to a range of Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D plans, and availability changes from year to year. Because I'm contracted with multiple carriers, I can show you what's actually available in your zip code rather than steering you toward a single company's options.