Frequently asked questions

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older, and for some younger people with qualifying disabilities or end-stage renal disease. It has four parts: Part A (hospital), Part B (medical), Part C (Medicare Advantage, an all-in-one plan from a private carrier), and Part D (prescription drugs). Most people in Michigan become eligible the month they turn 65.

If you're already receiving Social Security, you're enrolled in Parts A and B automatically when you turn 65. If not, you apply through SSA.gov, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at your local Social Security office. Once you have Parts A and B, we help you choose the right Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and Part D plan from over 40 carriers. Call (269) 979-8600 for a free consultation.

Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7-month window starting 3 months before the month you turn 65. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, when you can switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. Special Enrollment Periods may apply if you lose employer coverage, move, or qualify for Extra Help.

Part D is Medicare prescription drug coverage offered by private insurance companies. If you don't enroll when first eligible and don't have other creditable drug coverage, you'll pay a permanent late-enrollment penalty added to your premium for life. We match Part D plans to your actual medication list and preferred pharmacy in Michigan so you don't overpay.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an all-in-one plan from a private carrier (Priority Health, Humana, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, HAP, and more) that often includes prescription drug coverage and extras like dental, vision, hearing, and a grocery card, usually with low or $0 monthly premiums but copays for services. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance, higher monthly premiums but very predictable costs. We compare both side by side for you.

Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement insurance, is private insurance that pays some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind, like the Part A deductible, coinsurance, and copays. Plans are standardized by letter (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N). Plan G is the most popular for new enrollees and covers nearly everything except the Part B deductible; Plan N has lower premiums with small copays. Benefits for each letter plan are the same no matter which carrier sells it, only the premium and service differ. Availability of plans C and F is limited to people eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020.

During your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During that window a carrier must sell you any plan it offers regardless of your health, with no medical underwriting and no higher price for pre-existing conditions. After it ends, carriers can underwrite, raise your premium, or decline you, though some guaranteed-issue rights apply if you lose other coverage. Call us before you turn 65 so we can time this right.

It depends on the size of the employer. If the company has 20 or more employees, the group plan usually pays first and Medicare pays second, so many people delay Part B without penalty. With fewer than 20 employees, Medicare generally pays first and you should enroll in Part A and B when eligible. Retiree coverage and COBRA are not considered current employer coverage, they pay second to Medicare, and delaying Part B can trigger the permanent late-enrollment penalty. We can review your specific situation before you make a costly mistake.

VA benefits and Medicare are separate systems that do not coordinate: VA coverage only works at VA facilities, and Medicare only pays at Medicare providers. Many veterans carry both for flexibility. TRICARE For Life requires you to keep Medicare Parts A and B; then Medicare pays first and TRICARE For Life generally covers the rest. We can explain how your specific coverage fits together.

You may qualify as dual eligible, which means Medicare pays first and Medicaid can cover some or all of your remaining premiums, deductibles, and copays. You may also qualify for Extra Help with Part D drug costs and for Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) that bundle extra benefits like groceries, transportation, and dental. We help Battle Creek and Michigan residents check eligibility and enroll.

The standard Medicare Part B premium and deductible amounts change every year and aren't finalized until CMS publishes them in the fall. Higher-income enrollees pay an IRMAA surcharge based on their tax return from two years prior. Call us at (269) 979-8600 and we'll walk you through the current numbers and how they apply to your situation.

Some Medicare Advantage plans, especially Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for people with chronic conditions or who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, include a monthly grocery and over-the-counter benefit loaded onto a flex card. Eligibility and benefit amounts vary by plan and ZIP code. We can check which plans in your Michigan county offer this and whether you qualify.

No. There is no charge to you for our help. We are paid a commission by the insurance carrier when you enroll, not by our clients, and the premium you pay is the same as going direct. Commission amounts are regulated and vary little between carriers, so you get unbiased advice.

Yes. We help individuals, families, and the self-employed in Michigan find major medical coverage both on and off the Healthcare.gov marketplace, plus short-term plans, dental, vision, and supplemental cash-benefit plans for cancer, heart attack, stroke, and hospital stays.

Term life covers a set period (10, 20, or 30 years) usually at the lowest premium, which often fits income replacement while you're working or raising a family. Whole life is permanent coverage with guaranteed cash value growth. Universal life is permanent coverage with flexible premiums. Indexed Universal Life (IUL) adds market-linked cash value growth with downside protection, often used to transfer assets to the next generation income-tax-free and probate-free.

Final expense is a small whole-life policy (usually $5,000 to $50,000) designed specifically to cover funeral, burial, and final medical costs. It's simplified-issue, meaning easier qualification with no medical exam, great for older applicants or anyone with health concerns. Benefits go directly to your beneficiary tax-free.

A fixed indexed annuity is an insurance contract where your principal is guaranteed by the issuing carrier, subject to its claims-paying ability, and your growth is linked to a market index (like the S&P 500). You participate in market gains up to a cap, but you cannot lose money to a market downturn, your worst year is 0%. There are no advisory fees, and many provide guaranteed lifetime income you can't outlive.

Yes. We help Michigan residents protect retirement savings by rolling 401(k), 403(b), and IRA balances into carrier-guaranteed, tax-deferred vehicles such as fixed indexed annuities, which have no advisory or management fee on most contracts we place. We coordinate with your Social Security claiming strategy so you have predictable, guaranteed income for life, no market risk and no advisory fees.

Full retirement age depends on the year you were born. For anyone born in 1960 or later, it's 67. You can claim Social Security as early as 62 (at a permanent reduction) or delay up to age 70 (for an 8%-per-year increase). The right claiming age depends on your health, marital status, and other income, we help you think it through alongside your insurance plan.

Yes. All five of our licensed agents are available for in-home appointments throughout Michigan, in addition to in-office, phone, and video meetings. Whichever is most comfortable for you, at no cost.

We're based in Battle Creek, Michigan and are licensed throughout Michigan, plus approximately 10 additional states. Call us at (269) 979-8600 and we'll confirm we're licensed where you live.

Over 40. Because we're independent, we shop the entire marketplace on your behalf, including Priority Health, Humana, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, HAP, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare, and more, instead of pushing one company's products.