Working With Trusted SR Solutions

How is your service free?

Medicare carriers pay us commissions when you enroll. You don’t pay anything extra. Your plan cost is the same whether you use us or go direct.

How are you different from other brokers?

First thing I want you to know is that I care, and that you matter. My word is my bond, and you will be treated with the respect you deserve. Here you will receive personalized service and the information you need to make the right decision for you.

Can you help if I’m not in Texas?

Yes. While we are based in Texas, we are licensed in eleven states and can help Medicare beneficiaries in all of them.

Do you have experience with UnitedHealthcare?

Yes. We are certified with Aetna, Cigna, Devoted, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellcare.

Enrolling in Medicare

When can I enroll in Medicare?

Your Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month window. It starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and continues for 3 months after.

If you miss it, you can enroll during the General Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, but late penalties may apply.

The Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, is different. It lets you join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the following year.

When does my coverage actually start?

If you enroll in the 3 months before your birthday month, coverage begins the first day of your birthday month. If you enroll during your birthday month or in the 3 months after, coverage begins the first day of the following month.

If you enroll during the General Enrollment Period instead, coverage begins the first day of the month after you enroll.

I’m turning 65 and plan to retire. When am I eligible to enroll?

Assuming you have met the work-related eligibility requirements, you can begin your enrollment 3 months before the month you turn 65. We recommend applying in that first month so your coverage starts with no gap.

Do I need to enroll in both Part A and Part B?

Part A is typically already in place and premium-free when you turn 65 if you or a spouse worked at least 10 years. Part B is not automatic unless you enrolled in Social Security before 65. If you have not filed for Social Security benefits, you must proactively enroll in Part B and begin paying the premium.

What happens if I miss my enrollment window?

In addition to a gap in coverage, you will likely face a penalty. The Part B penalty is 10% of your premium for each full 12-month period you were eligible but not enrolled, and it lasts as long as you have Part B. The Part D penalty is roughly 1% of the national base premium for each month you went without creditable drug coverage.

Medicare Costs

What does Medicare cost?

Costs vary based on the parts you choose.

Part A: Premium-free for most people if you or your spouse worked 10 or more years. Otherwise up to $565 a month. Part A carries a $1,736 deductible per benefit period.

Part B: The standard premium is $202.90 a month, higher for some based on income. The annual deductible is $283.

Part C and Part D: Varies by plan. Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,400 a year.

Medigap: Monthly premiums vary based on your age, location, and the plan letter you choose.

Will I pay more because of my income?

Possibly. IRMAA is an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. Social Security looks at your tax return from two years prior. Individuals above roughly $109,000 or couples above $218,000 pay more. If your income has dropped since then because of retirement, divorce, or the death of a spouse, you can appeal using form SSA-44.

Choosing Coverage

What’s the difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare?

Original Medicare, Parts A and B, is managed by the federal government and lets you see any doctor who accepts Medicare. You usually need a separate Part D plan for prescriptions and a Medigap policy to cover what Medicare leaves behind.

Medicare Advantage, Part C, is offered by private insurers. It bundles Part A, Part B, usually Part D, and may include extras like dental, vision, hearing, and gym memberships. You typically must use the plan’s network of doctors.

Should I have both a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement?

No. They are not designed to work together, and it is not legal for an agent to sell you a Medigap policy if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. You pick one path or the other.

Can I just keep Original Medicare, Parts A and B, at retirement?

Yes. But you will have no prescription drug coverage, and Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum, so your exposure is unlimited.

When can I buy a Medicare Supplement without answering health questions?

During your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, a 6-month window that starts the first month you are both 65 and enrolled in Part B. During that window no insurer can deny you or charge you more because of your health history. Once it closes, most states allow medical underwriting, which means you can be turned down.

Can I change my plan if I’m unhappy with it?

Yes, during certain windows. Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, lets you switch, join, or drop plans. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, January 1 to March 31, lets you switch Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare. Special Enrollment Periods are triggered by life events such as moving or losing coverage.

Can I keep all my same doctors on Medicare?

Usually. What matters is whether your doctor accepts Medicare, and if you choose a Medicare Advantage plan, whether they are in that plan’s network. We check your specific doctors before you enroll.

Working Past 65 and Other Coverage

What if I’m still working at 65? Do I have to enroll?

If you are still working and have coverage based on current employment, typically from a company with 20 or more employees, you may delay Part B and Part D without penalty. Once that employment or coverage ends, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to enroll penalty-free.

If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually becomes your primary payer at 65 and you likely need to enroll on time.

Can I keep my employer coverage?

Maybe. If the employer group has 20 or more eligible employees and you continue working, it can be an option. There are several factors to weigh, including your drug coverage and whether you contribute to an HSA.

Does COBRA count as employer coverage for delaying Part B?

No. COBRA is not coverage based on current employment, so it does not protect you from the Part B late enrollment penalty. Your 8-month Special Enrollment Period starts the month after your employment or employer coverage ends, not when COBRA runs out.

Can my spouse be on my Medicare plan?

No. Medicare has no spousal or dependent coverage. It is individual. Once your spouse reaches age eligibility, they enroll on their own, starting 3 months before the month they turn 65.

I have retiree benefits. Does that mean I don’t need Medicare?

No. A retiree plan typically wraps around Medicare and pays secondary, which means Medicare needs to be in place first.

Coverage Questions

Does Medicare cover dental, vision, and hearing?

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing care. To get that coverage you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes those benefits, or buy standalone dental, vision, and hearing plans.

Does Medicare have dental plans?

Not directly. Some Medicare Advantage plans include dental benefits, usually with annual limits. Standalone dental plans are also available.

Does Medicare cover me in a nursing home?

Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care for up to 100 days per benefit period, following a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least three days. It does not cover long-term custodial care.

What is Part D?

Part D is the Medicare prescription drug benefit, introduced in 2006. It is offered through private plans, either as a standalone drug plan alongside Original Medicare or bundled into a Medicare Advantage plan.

What is a Part C plan?

Part C is another name for Medicare Advantage. You may also see it written as MA, MSA, or MA-PD when prescription coverage is included.

What is creditable coverage?

Creditable coverage is a Part D term. It means your existing prescription drug coverage is at least as good as standard Medicare Part D. Having it lets you delay Part D without a penalty. It is a separate question from whether your coverage lets you delay Part B.

Have a question that isn’t here? Call Scott Bowling directly at 512-844-3983, or pick a time and I’ll call you.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.