The 25 questions every Medicare class asks.

Nothing, ever. Licensed agents are paid by the insurance carriers, and your premium is identical whether you enroll with us or directly with the company. The only difference is that with us, you get an advisor who answers the phone all year.

No. The Medicare Professor is a private, independent agency operated by Jason York of Insurance Made Simple. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. You can always review every option at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday. After that, the Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31, and Special Enrollment Periods open when life changes, like moving or losing employer coverage.

Not if we do our job right. Before recommending anything, Jason checks that your doctors are in network and your prescriptions are on the plan formulary. If a plan would force a change you do not want, it comes off the list.

No. Jason is an independent broker representing 11+ national carriers. Independence is the whole point: recommendations are driven by your needs, not a sales quota.

Probably. Jason is licensed in 17 states, including Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky and Kansas, and works with clients by phone and Zoom every day. Call (561) 770-7957 and we will confirm your state in about thirty seconds.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) bundles your coverage into one private plan, often with extras like dental and vision, but uses provider networks. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare, letting you see any doctor that accepts Medicare nationwide, with predictable costs but a higher monthly premium.

If you do not enroll in Part D when first eligible, you may face a late enrollment penalty of 1% per month for every month you were without creditable coverage. This penalty is added to your premium permanently. Even if you take no medications now, enrolling protects you from this penalty.

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an extra charge added to your Part B and Part D premiums if your modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds. It is based on your tax return from two years prior and can change annually.

Yes, but timing matters. During the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 - Dec 7), you can disenroll from Advantage and return to Original Medicare effective January 1. You also have the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan 1 - Mar 31) to switch. However, getting a Medigap plan after your initial enrollment period may require health underwriting.

Missing your Initial Enrollment Period can result in a lifetime late enrollment penalty on your Part B premium (10% for every 12-month period you were eligible but did not enroll). You may also have to wait for the General Enrollment Period (Jan 1 - Mar 31) to enroll, with coverage not starting until July.

ANOC stands for Annual Notice of Change. Your plan sends this every fall (by September 30) outlining any changes to costs, coverage, or provider networks for the coming year. It is important to review this to ensure your plan still meets your needs.

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care. These services require separate coverage through Medicare Advantage plans with dental/vision/hearing benefits, standalone dental and vision plans, or Medigap plans that include some of these extras.

No. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum. You pay 20% of Medicare-approved amounts for Part B services with no cap. This is one of the main reasons people choose Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans, which do have annual out-of-pocket limits.

Many Medicare Advantage plans charge no additional monthly premium beyond your Part B premium ($202.90). These plans are funded by Medicare, which pays private insurers a set amount per member. Low or $0 premiums do not mean low quality - they are a common feature of competitive Advantage plans.

Medicare is individual. Your spouse needs to qualify on their own based on their age, disability status, or work history. However, some employer retiree plans cover both spouses, and some Medigap and Advantage plan discounts may apply to households.

If your employer has 20 or more employees, you can delay Part B without penalty. If the employer has fewer than 20 employees, you should enroll in Medicare as primary. Always coordinate with your employer benefits department. We can help you figure out the right timing.

Medicare Savings Programs are state Medicaid programs that help pay Medicare costs. There are three levels: QMB helps with premiums and cost-sharing, SLMB helps with premiums, and QI helps with Part B premiums. Eligibility is based on income and varies by state.

Medicare works the same in all 50 states. However, Medicare Advantage plan networks are local. If you split time between states, Medigap is often the better choice since it works nationwide. We help snowbirds evaluate their options every year.

Bring your Medicare card (or number), a list of your current doctors and specialists, a list of all medications with dosages, your current plan information (if any), and any questions you have about coverage or costs.

We recommend reviewing your plan every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 - Dec 7). Plans change their costs, coverage, and networks annually. Even if you are happy with your plan, it is worth confirming it still best serves your needs.

Hospital indemnity insurance pays a fixed cash benefit directly to you for each day you are hospitalized. It is not health insurance, but it can help offset copays, deductibles, and other costs associated with a hospital stay, especially useful with Medicare Advantage plans.

Yes. Through Insurance Made Simple, Jason also offers term and whole life insurance, final expense policies, indexed universal life, and annuities. These are separate products from Medicare but can be part of your overall financial protection plan.

You can verify Jason York's license at npnlookup.com or by calling your state's department of insurance. Jason's NPN (National Producer Number) is 17350011. He is licensed in 17 states.

Call or text Jason at (561) 770-7957, email jason@insurancesimplified.info, or book a free review. There is no such thing as a dumb Medicare question, and we are here to help.