Medicare & Senior Insurance

Turning 65

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a seven-month window:

1. Starts 3 months before your 65th birthday
   
2. Includes your birthday month
   
3. Ends 3 months after

    

During IEP you can:

• Enroll in Parts A & B
  
• Join a Medicare Advantage plan
  
• Sign up for Part D

   

Other enrollment windows:

• Special Enrollment Period (SEP): After employer coverage ends
  
• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): Oct 15 – Dec 7 each year

   

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is offered by private insurers—Kalish Financial helps you compare plans that:

• Include A & B (sometimes D) under one policy
  
• Add extras: dental, vision, hearing, fitness, transportation
  
• Offer cost savings: lower copays, annual out-of-pocket maximums

   

Plan types:

• HMO (network-based care)
  
• PPO (some out-of-network coverage)
  
• MSA (high-deductible + savings account)
  
• PFFS (private fee-for-service)
  
• SNP (for specific health conditions or dual-eligibles)
  

Enrollment: IEP, AEP (Oct 15–Dec 7), OEP (Jan 1–Mar 31), plus certain SEPs.

Medicare Supplement

Also called Medigap, these policies plug coverage gaps in Original Medicare:

Popular plans:

• Plan F: Most comprehensive (covers all deductibles & cost-sharing)
  
• Plan G: Like F, minus Part B deductible
  
• Plan N: Lower premiums, small copays for office & ER visits

   

Key benefits:

• Same standardized coverage across carriers
  
• Guaranteed renewability (premium-based)
  
• Freedom to see any Medicare-approved provider
  

Best time to buy: First six months after enrolling in Part B (guaranteed issue).

Prescription Drug Plans

Medicare Part D helps cover your prescriptions. Kalish Financial will help you:

• Compare costs: premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, coverage gap
  
• Check formularies: ensure your medications are included
  
• Verify pharmacies: your favorite locations get you the best savings
  

Enrollment windows: IEP, AEP (Oct 15–Dec 7), OEP (if in Advantage), select SEPs to avoid penalties.

Dental & Vision Plans

Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental or vision. Your options:

• Medicare Advantage: many plans include cleanings, exams, glasses
  
• Standalone plans: dedicated dental or vision insurance
  
• Discount programs: reduced rates without insurance guarantees

Consider:

• Your routine care needs (cleanings, eyewear)
  
• Premiums vs. out-of-pocket savings
  
• Provider networks and plan flexibility
  

Enroll or change coverage during AEP (Oct 15–Dec 7).

Senior Wellness Programs

Medicare covers several wellness services that support healthy aging:

• Part A: Home health (nursing, PT), inpatient mental-health stays
  
• Part B: Annual Wellness Visits, preventive screenings (depression, obesity, cancer), counseling (mental health, smoking cessation)
  
• Advantage plans: extra benefits like gym memberships, nutrition counseling, home safety evaluations, expanded therapy
  

Enrollment follows the same windows as other plans (IEP, AEP, OEP, SEPs).

Medicare Terms Glossary

Brush up on key terms—always feel free to ask Kalish Financial for more detail:

• Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN): Notice you may owe if Medicare won’t pay
  
• Coinsurance/Copayment: Your share of costs after deductibles
  
• Creditable Coverage: Insurance as good as Part D—avoids late penalties
  
• Deductible: Amount you pay before Medicare begins coverage
  
• Formulary: Drug list a Part D plan covers (organized in tiers)
  
• Guaranteed Issue Rights: Rules protecting your ability to buy Medigap
  
• Premium: Your monthly payment for coverage
• Special Needs Plan (SNP): Advantage plan for specific conditions or dual-eligibles