Kyle Robertson, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: During the fall enrollment window, you have several options to adjust your coverage: you can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different one, leave Original Medicare to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, drop your Medicare Advantage plan to return to Original Medicare, or join, switch, or drop a standalone prescription drug plan if you are on Original Medicare.

Answer: Most Medicare Advantage plans do not pay your Part B premium. However, some plans offer a Part B "Giveback" benefit that lowers or covers that cost.

If you have both Medicare and Full Medicaid (often called being "dual-eligible"), Medicaid generally pays your Medicare Part B premium, along with most of your other out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

Answer: Even if you love your current plan, it is always a smart idea to review your Medicare coverage every year during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7).

Insurance companies change their plans annually, and what works great for you this year might look very different next year.

Answer: Certain major life changes allow you to change your Medicare plan outside of normal enrollment windows. These are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs), and they usually give you 2 months from the date of the event to make a change.

Common qualifying events include:

Moving: Moving to a new area where your current plan isn't available.

Losing Job Coverage: Losing health or prescription coverage from an employer.

Qualifying for Financial Help: Gaining or losing Medicaid or Part D "Extra Help."

Answer: No, if you leave a Medicare Advantage plan, you aren't automatically guaranteed the right to buy a Medigap supplement.

Unlike Medicare Advantage, Medigap plans usually require you to answer health questions. Insurance companies can review your medical history and choose to deny you coverage or charge you more based on past health issues.

Answer: When you have both VA benefits and Medicare, the two programs do not work together or coordinate to share the cost of a single medical bill. Instead, who pays depends entirely on where you go for care.

If you go to a VA facility or use VA-authorized care, the VA covers it. Medicare does not pay for services received within the VA system.

If you go to a regular, civilian doctor or hospital, Medicare covers it. The VA will not pay for routine medical care outside its own network unless it was specifically pre-approved by them.

Essentially, you choose which system to use each time you need medical treatment, and that program handles the bill entirely.

Answer: Regardless of where you live, your official enrollment window—called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)—is a 7-month span: the 3 months before you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Starting this process at the beginning of that window gives you plenty of time to weigh your options and sign up without feeling rushed.

Answer: Fall Open Enrollment (October 15 – December 7): Open to everyone with Medicare. You can change your plans, and your new coverage starts on January 1.

Winter Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (January 1 – March 31): Only for people already on a Medicare Advantage plan. If you switch plans during this time, your new coverage usually starts the first of the next month.

Answer: An independent Medicare agent isn't tied to just one insurance company. Because they work with multiple carriers, they can offer you a few big advantages: unbiased comparisons, more options to choose from, and a trusted guide to help you review your plans every year.

Answer: Short Answer: Simply receiving a cash inheritance is not considered taxable income by the IRS, meaning a standard cash payout generally does not affect your Medicare premiums.

Long Answer: Medicare uses your Modified Adjusted Gross Income from two years prior to determine if you owe an IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount), which is an extra surcharge added to your Part B and Part D premiums. If your income crosses specific thresholds, your premiums will go up. An inheritance will only trigger higher premiums if it generates taxable income, such as taxable withdrawals from an inherited retirement account (Traditional IRA or 401k) or ongoing dividends from inherited stocks.

Answer: Working with a licensed Medicare agent can save you time, stress, and money. Because Medicare has strict deadlines and confusing parts, trying to figure it out alone can lead to expensive mistakes. Best of all, working with an agent is completely free for you because the insurance companies pay them directly.