This page provides direction for...

  1. How to sign up for Medicare Parts A and or B.

  2. When and how to sign up for a Medicare Supplement plan or Medicare Advantage plan. 

Ready to sign up for

Part A & Part B Medicare?

What's your situation?

  1. I want to sign up for both Part A & Part B, or only Part A, when I turn 65.
  2. I already have Part A & want to add Part B because I’m losing my job-based coverage.
  3. I don't have health coverage, and I need a temporary plan until I reach 65! [Call or email Keith for a quote.

                                                  727-858-5488 or keithsalvione@outlook.com

Social Security & Medicare's websites offer excellent guidance when signing up for Part A & Part B.

Click the button below to get started.

MEDICARE HELPFUL SITES

Steps When Choosing The Right Supplement or Medicare Advantage Plan!

Option 1: Call Keith at 727.858.5488, and together we will check your doctors and medications along with the best plan options that meet your specific health needs.

Option 2:

  1. Call your doctor to make sure they accept the plan you are considering.

  2. If you take Brand Name medications, check what Tier level they are on.

    1. (Remember, you may be subject to a deductible for both medical and prescription coverage)

 3. Do I have to pay more for Medicare Part B premiums because of my income level?

       [income-related monthly adjustment amount] (IRMAA)

Click on the image below and do the math!

Attention TRICARE FOR LIFE Veterans

A Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage can potentially be advantageous for someone who has TRICARE For Life (TFL), but we are very careful about recommending it without comparing the specific plan to what you currently have.

The key issue is that TRICARE For Life already provides prescription drug coverage, so you generally do not need Medicare Part D just because you are on TFL. TRICARE specifically says TFL includes prescription coverage and that medicare beneficiaries don't need Part D. (TRICARE)

The bigger question is: Why would he want Medicare Advantage?

Normally, someone with TFL has:

Original Medicare A + B → TRICARE For Life → TRICARE pharmacy coverage

  • Medicare pays first for Medicare-covered services, and TFL generally pays second. (Medicare)

If he enrolls in Medicare Advantage, the structure changes:

Medicare Advantage → TRICARE For Life

IMPORTANT: TRICARE confirms that he does not lose TFL simply because he enrolls in Medicare Advantage. However, Medicare Advantage claims don't automatically cross over to Medicare, meaning he may have to file claims for reimbursement of TFL-covered expenses. (TRICARE)

What WE would tell you!

"You already have very strong coverage with Original Medicare and TRICARE For Life. Before switching to Medicare Advantage, we need to determine what you're actually gaining and what you're giving up."

TRICARE itself points out an important distinction: with Original Medicare + TFL, beneficiaries can generally see Medicare-participating providers without needing a referral or prior authorization for Medicare-covered specialist care, whereas Medicare Advantage plans can impose network requirements. (TRICARE Newsroom)

What about the fact that the Medicare Advantage plan has NO drug coverage?

That isn't necessarily a problem for you.

TRICARE For Life's pharmacy benefit is considered creditable prescription drug coverage, so you don't need Part D merely to maintain prescription coverage. (TRICARE)

In fact, I would not automatically recommend adding Part D simply because the MA plan doesn't include it.

However, there is an important exception: some Part D plans may cover drugs that TRICARE doesn't cover, so your actual medications should be checked before making the decision. (TRICARE)

My recommendation

Before you enroll, I would compare these two scenarios side-by-side:

Option A — Keep what he has

Original Medicare A & B + TRICARE For Life + TRICARE Pharmacy

Option B — Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plan + TRICARE For Life + TRICARE Pharmacy

Then specifically investigate:

  1. His doctors — Are all of his doctors in the MA network?
  2. His hospitals — Are his preferred hospitals in-network?
  3. Specialists — Does he need referrals?
  4. Prior authorization — What services require authorization?
  5. Maximum out-of-pocket exposure under the MA plan.
  6. Dental benefits — What does the plan actually pay?
  7. Vision/hearing benefits.
  8. OTC allowance, if applicable.
  9. Transportation benefits, if applicable.
  10. His prescriptions — Are all of them adequately covered through TRICARE?
  11. Pharmacy network — Is his preferred pharmacy convenient and in-network for TRICARE?
  12. Whether the MA plan is HMO, PPO, PFFS, or MSA.
  13. How TFL claims will be handled with that particular MA plan.

The most important point!

Don't choose Medicare Advantage simply because it has a $0 premium or extra benefits.

For someone with TFL, Original Medicare + TFL is already an unusually strong combination, particularly because of the broad provider access and secondary coverage.

An MA plan could still make sense if your dad values benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, OTC allowances, or other supplemental benefits and the plan's networks and restrictions work well for him.