Vicki Wuest, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: If you need a replacement here are your options:

✅ How to request a replacement Medicare card

You can get a replacement “red, white & blue” Medicare card any of these ways:

Log into your account at Social Security Administration (SSA) via my Social Security and select “Replace your Medicare card”.

Log in (or create) your secure account at Medicare (Medicare.gov) and either print a copy or request one to be mailed.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE and request a replacement card to be mailed.

The replacement card is free.

It typically takes about 30 days to arrive in the mail.

Until it arrives, if you need proof of Medicare, you can print a copy via your Medicare.gov account.

Answer: Absolutely! Good brokers always ask if there is someone that helps them with their medical decisions, especially if the member seems confused.

Answer: Contact an Independent Licensed Medicare Broker to help select the plan that best fits your needs and budget.

Answer: Original Medicare (Parts A & B) does not cover medical alert systems. These devices are not classified by Medicare as durable medical equipment (DME) or otherwise covered items.

Because they are not considered “medically necessary” by the CMS criteria for DME, you won’t receive reimbursement under standard Medicare for the equipment or the monthly monitoring fees.

Answer: If the employer has 20 or more employees

You can delay Part A and Part B without penalty because the employer coverage is considered creditable (primary insurance before Medicare).

When that coverage ends (or your spouse stops working), you’ll have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Part A and/or Part B without a late enrollment penalty.

If the employer has fewer than 20 employees

The employer plan is secondary to Medicare. You should enroll in Part A and Part B when first eligible, or you might lose coverage or face late enrollment penalties later.

Answer: Yes — you can still enroll!

You’ll just need to pay for Part A (hospital coverage) since it’s normally free only for those with 10 years of U.S. work credits.

As long as you’re a U.S. citizen or legal resident who’s lived here at least 5 years, you can also sign up for Part B (medical coverage) and have full Medicare access.

Answer: Even with Medicare, there are some costs you’ll need to plan for.

Here are six common things Original Medicare (Parts A & B) doesn’t cover:

1. 🦷 Dental care – cleanings, fillings, dentures, etc.

2. 👓 Routine vision – eye exams or glasses.

3. 👂 Hearing aids and exams.

4. 🚗 Long-term care – like nursing homes or assisted living.

5. 💊 Most prescription drugs – you need a Part D plan for that.

6. 🌴 Care outside the U.S. – Medicare usually doesn’t pay for foreign travel emergencies.

✅ Tip: Many people add a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan to help cover these gaps.

Answer: Not exactly.

Many Medicare Advantage plans advertise a $0 monthly premium, but that doesn’t mean there are no costs.

You still pay your Medicare Part B premium, and you’ll have copays, coinsurance, and yearly out-of-pocket limits when you use medical services.

So while the plan itself may not charge a monthly fee, it’s not truly free — you’ll just pay as you go, rather than upfront.

Answer: 🌿 When’s the Best Time to Review Your Medicare Options?

👉 Turning 65?

Start looking 3 months before your birthday.

👉 Already on Medicare?

Review and compare plans during Annual Enrollment — Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

👉 Moved or lost coverage?

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

✅ Best time to start?

September – early October, before plans fill up and deadlines hit!

Answer: When you move to a new state, your Medicare coverage may need to change, especially if you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, since these plans are limited to specific service areas. Moving out of your plan’s area triggers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that lets you switch to a new plan in your new state. If you tell your plan before you move, your SEP starts the month before and lasts two months after your move; if you tell them afterward, it starts when you report it and lasts two months. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) travels with you nationwide, but you’ll want to review Medigap and Part D options available in your new ZIP code and update your address with Social Security.

Answer: If you miss the Medicare Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 15–Dec. 7), you may still be able to change your coverage. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you can use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1–Mar. 31 to switch to another Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D drug plan. Outside of those times, you’ll need to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period — for example, if you move, lose other coverage, qualify for Medicaid or Extra Help, or if your current plan leaves your area. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until the next Open Enrollment to make changes.

Answer: Medicare currently covers a wide range of telehealth (virtual) visits — including video and some phone appointments — for people in rural or limited-access areas, allowing you to see doctors and specialists from home through September 30, 2025. These flexibilities remove the old rule that you had to be in a medical facility or certain rural location. You’ll typically pay the same 20% coinsurance as an in-person visit, and your provider must accept Medicare and be licensed in your state. Starting October 2025, some of these expanded telehealth benefits may tighten again for non-mental-health services, but behavioral and mental health care will remain fully eligible for virtual coverage. Medicare Advantage plans may also offer even broader telehealth options.

Answer: That’s a great question — not all blood tests are automatically covered by Medicare. Coverage depends on whether the test is considered medically necessary and ordered by your doctor to diagnose or monitor a health condition.

Answer: Are you a Medicare beneficiary currently? If so, it depends on the plan you're enrolled in. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are most likely NOT covered as you are out of network.