What is Medicare?

Your Essential Guide to Understanding Medicare

Navigating Medicare can be overwhelming, but we're here to guide you through the essentials of what Medicare is, how it works, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older. However, certain younger individuals with disabilities or specific health conditions, such as ALS or kidney failure, may also qualify. Understanding how and when to enroll, and what Medicare covers, is critical to making the best health decisions for yourself or a loved one.

How Do I Enroll in Medicare?

There are two main methods to enroll in Medicare:

  • Automatic Enrollment
    If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, you'll automatically be enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65.

  • Self-Enrollment
    If you're not receiving Social Security, you'll need to manually enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which begins three months before your 65th birthday and lasts for seven months.

Do You Need to Enroll at 65?

If you have health insurance from an employer with more than 20 employees, you can delay enrolling in Medicare without penalty. However, you must ensure continuous credible coverage to avoid penalties.

Finding Your Medicare Number

Once enrolled, you’ll receive your Medicare card with a unique Medicare number. You will use this card to access Medicare services unless you opt for a Medicare Advantage plan, in which case you’ll use your plan’s card.

What Are the Parts of Medicare?

Medicare is divided into different parts that cover various aspects of your healthcare. Here’s a brief breakdown:

  • Hospital insurance that covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home health care.

  • Medical insurance that covers doctor visits, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.

  • An alternative to Original Medicare that combines Parts A and B, often with additional benefits like dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.

  • Prescription drug coverage that helps cover the cost of medications.

How Much Does Medicare Cost?

Medicare isn't free, and it's important to understand the costs associated with each part:

Medicare Part A Costs

  • Most people won’t pay a premium for Part A, but if you have less than 40 quarters of work, the premium can range from $278 to $505 per month (2024 rates).

Medicare Part B Costs

  • The standard Part B premium is $174.90 per month (2024 rates). Higher-income individuals may need to pay an additional surcharge called the Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount (IRMAA).

What Does Working With MedicareHub Look Like?

The number one reason Seniors experience stress is trying to navigate the Medicare healthcare system.

You Making The Right Plan Choice Matters. Make Sure To Get It Right Today.

You can now learn how Medicare works in the comfort of your home.  Our On-Demand Medicare Made Simple Workshop is your first step to understanding Medicare

Gaps in Medicare Coverage

Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything. There are deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket expenses for most services. That’s where additional options like Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans and Medicare Advantage come into play to help cover those gaps.

How Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Works

Medicare Supplement plans help cover out-of-pocket costs like copays, deductibles, and co-insurance that are not covered by Original Medicare. Medigap plans work alongside Medicare Parts A and B to reduce your financial burden.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Medicare Advantage plans are all-in-one alternatives to Original Medicare. These plans often include additional benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug coverage.

3 simple steps we take to make Medicare simple.

Our workshops are 45 minutes or less.  They are online and on-demand for your convenience.  You get it sent to your email with a guide book.

  • We cover the Medicare basics, your plan options, and answer your questions. Simple as 1,2,3.

  • After a workshop we schedule a time to help you determine a plan that fits your specific needs.

  • Our Licensed Agents are professional guides that are experts at making Medicare simple for you.

  • Take advantage of all our free resources to help make your life easy by making Medicare simple.

TAKE YOUR NEXT STEPS TODAY

WATCH OUR WORKSHOP

Make your Medicare easy and simple today. Sign up for our free on-demand workshop. Your free access to everything you need to know about Medicare.

SCHEDULE A CALL

When you're ready to select a plan, our licensed agents will help guide you through comparing plan options and help enroll you in a plan tailored for you.

AWARD-WINNING CUSTOMER SERVICE

After you've chosen the health plan of your choice, you will experience the best customer service for a lifetime. You deserve the very best!

The #1 reason Seniors experience stress is trying to navigate the Medicare healthcare system.

You Making The Right Plan Choice Matters.
Make Sure To Get It Right Today.

You can now learn how Medicare works in the comfort of your home.  
Our On-Demand Medicare Made Simple Workshop is your first step to understanding Medicare

CHECK OUT WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING!

We remove the confusion about Medicare, so more people can easily choose a plan.

Check out our reviews!

We Use The Industry’s Top Carriers

We are an independent brokerage that specializes in Medicare, which means we work with dozens of carriers, including these and so many more.

READY TO LAUNCH INTO RETIREMENT WORRY-FREE?

Learn how we find the right plan for you!

Make Medicare easy and simple to understand today by signing up for our free

MEDICARE MADE SIMPLE

ON-DEMAND WORKSHOP

  • Learn each basic part of Medicare and how we can help you enroll into Medicare if needed.

  • Learn the differences between a Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.

  • Learn how prescription drug plans work and how we can help you possible save thousands on medication cost yearly.

  • Learn how to gain access to additional benefits most Seniors want such as:  dental, hearing, vision, and more.

  • Plus our simple one page checklists to make sure you are doing everything you need to enroll or change your health plan. 

Trying to decide on choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?

WE CAN HELP!

Take the survey below. This survey will help you decide today what type of Medicare plan is best for you.

Take the survey now!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • MedicareHub is an Insurance Brokerage that specializes in Medicare health plans.  We provide completely free educational services and resources that help people find the best Medicare plan.  We are contracted with insurance companies that pay us when we help enroll our clients into the correct insurance plans that meet their individual needs.

  • No. We have an agnostic approach to enrolling you into a plan.  Our agents are employed agents and aren’t paid more based on enrolling someone into a specific plan.

  • Most sites that market Medicare are often large call centers with hundreds of Agents that are new to Medicare.  We aren’t a call center with hundreds of agents.  We are an Independent Brokerage that assigns you an agent.  They’re assigned to you for life and their personal assistant liaison is there to provide you ongoing customer support for a lifetime. We serve you in all that we do!

  • No. We are an Independent Insurance Brokerage that is contracted with multiple insurance carriers that specialize in Medicare health plans.  We market these plans in multiple states.  We collect information from each of our clients based on their plan needs and find the plan that best fits each client's needs.

  • Yes. We have an active insurance license to market health insurance plans in our home state and multiple non resident states.  In addition, we certify annually to market and enroll Medicare beneficiaries into any Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan carriers.

  • How does MedicareHub make money?

    Are MedicareHub Team Members incentivized to push certain plans over others?

    How are we different from other Medicare sites?

    Is MedicareHub affiliated with any insurance companies?

    Is MedicareHub licensed?

    Is it more expensive to buy insurance through MedicareHub?

    No. Our services to you are at no cost and the insurance company plans are the same price regardless of the agent or agency you choose to work with to help enroll you.  You don’t get a discount or better cost for working with anyone else when enrolling into a plan of your choice.  Costs are regulated by the federal government or state laws to ensure your protection.

  • No. The plans are either standardized by state or federal laws or rates have been approved yearly by CMS and the fixed copays, coinsurance, and benefits are reflected by the summary of benefits for certain plans you may choose.  You will pay your part B premium unless you qualify for Medicaid within your state and qualify for assistance to pay or reduce your Medicare part B cost.

Are you still uncertain of what direction you need to take?

Check out our customers’ favorite educational videos on our Youtube channel below to learn more

At MedicareHub, we believe that everyone deserves a guide that eliminates stress & confusion. 

We provide the guidance that makes life easy by making Medicare simple.

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