Medicare Health Insurance Plans
Medicare is the national, federally funded health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, or younger people with certain disabilities and/or end-stage renal disease.
What Medicare Plans Cover
Medicare plans covers many inpatient and outpatient services, including medical services, drugs, and medical equipment.
Medicare Part A
Covers inpatient hospitalization, skilled nursing facilities care, hospice care, and partly covers home care.
Medicare Part B
Covers outpatient care, including doctor’s services, medical supplies, and preventative services.
Medicare Part C
Private companies contract with Medicare to provide your A & B benefits. You still need to pay your Part B premiums.
Medicare Part D
A program to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for self-administered prescription drugs.
The annual Medicare open enrollment period runs from October 15th to December 7th each year
Medicare Part A
Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A is often called “Hospital Insurance” because it covers everything related to hospitalization, including inpatient hospital stays and skilled nursing facilities. If you have completed 40 quarters (10 years) of work and paid the respective taxes for Medicare, you are eligible for Medicare Part A without having to pay a premium!
Medicare Part B
Medical Insurance
Medicare Part B is known as Medical Insurance. It is part of the original Medicare and covers the cost for any medical services/supplies that are needed to treat your health conditions, including doctor’s services, preventative services, ambulance services, laboratory tests, imaging, and other outpatient services.
Medicare Part C
Medicare A & B Combined
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are sold by private insurance companies and replace the coverage provided by Medicare Parts A & B. Anyone who purchases a Medicare Advantage plan will not need a Medicare plan or a Medicare Supplement plan, as both will be covered by the Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Part D
Prescription Plan
Medicare Part D is the drug coverage regulated and approved by Medicare, but offered by insurance companies. Each plan varies not only in monthly cost, but also in drug coverage. Thus, it is important not to base your enrollment on just the monthly cost of the plan. When you go with Ikhlas, we will take into consideration your monthly premium, your annual deductible (if there is one), and your annual drug cost to make sure you are getting the best overall coverage for the year.
Medicare Supplement
Medicare is great! It offers a lot of health coverage with a big network of hospitals and doctors. However, it does not cover all your out-of-pocket costs, and they could add up to be quite substantial! That’s why it’s important to enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan, also known as a Medigap Plan.
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Medicare has standardized all Medigap plans (identified by the letters A through N) so that all the health insurance companies that offer those plans must offer the exact same coverage. No company can offer more or less coverage than any other company. This is important to stress: regardless of the company purchased from, the only difference between plans with the same letter is the cost!
The idea behind Medicare Supplement plans is to limit the unlimited out of pocket risk that you have with Medicare alone. Mainly, supplement plans cover the hospital charges that are not covered by Medicare, along with the 20% gap that you are required to pay for doctor visits and outpatient surgeries, which could prove quite substantial in serious operations. It is essential for seniors to be covered by a Medicare Supplement policy to protect their hard-earned money that they’ve been saving throughout their careers.
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Here at Ikhlas Insurance Group, we do the running around of comparing the rates with many different health insurance companies and Medigap plans to be sure we provide you with the absolute best rates for the best coverage possible! Do not hesitate to reach out to us at 833.853.5333 or to schedule a free consultation with us! We are here to answer your questions!
Ikhlas Insurance Group is a privately held corporation operating under Ikhlas Inc. Submission of your information constitutes permission for a licensed insurance agent to contact you with additional information about the cost and coverage details of health plans. Descriptions are for informational purposes only and subject to change. Insurance plans may not be available in all states. For a complete description, please call 1-855-200-6335 to determine eligibility and to request a copy of the applicable policy. We do not offer every plan in your area. Currently, we represent 8 organizations which offer 527 plan products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
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Who qualifies
Who is eligible for Medicare?
Medicare eligibility extends beyond just age. Here are the main qualifying criteria:
- Age 65 or older
U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are 65+ and have worked at least 10 years (40 quarters) qualify for premium-free Part A.
- Disability under 65
If you’ve received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, you automatically become eligible for Medicare.
- End-stage renal disease
People of any age with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant qualify for Medicare coverage.
When to enroll
Medicare enrollment periods explained
Enrolling at the right time is critical — late enrollment can result in permanent premium penalties.
Here’s a guide to the key windows:
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
7-month window starting 3 months before your 65th birthday, the month of your birthday, and 3 months after.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
October 15 – December 7 each year. You can switch, join, or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1st.
General Enrollment Period (GEP)
January 1 – March 31 each year, for those who missed their IEP. Coverage begins July 1. Late enrollment penalties may apply.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
If you lose employer-sponsored coverage or experience a qualifying life event, you may be eligible to enroll outside the standard windows without penalty.
Why work with Ikhlas Insurance for Medicare?
We represent 8 organizations offering 527 plan products in your area — giving you real choice
All consultations and services are completely free — we are compensated by the insurance carriers, not you
We compare Part D plans based on your actual medications, not just the lowest premium
We help you avoid costly late enrollment penalties by guiding you through timing
- We serve nationwide with deep expertise in both Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
Frequently asked questions
If you or your spouse is still working and covered by an employer group plan, you may delay Medicare enrollment without penalty. However, you should enroll within 8 months of losing that coverage to avoid late penalties. Our advisors can help you assess your specific situation.
For Part B, the late penalty is 10% added to your monthly premium for each 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t enroll — and it lasts for life. Part D carries a similar ongoing penalty calculated monthly. This makes enrolling on time extremely important.
No. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans only work alongside Original Medicare (Parts A & B). If you choose Medicare Advantage (Part C), you do not need — and cannot use — a Medigap plan at the same time.
Original Medicare does not cover most dental, vision, hearing, long-term custodial care, cosmetic procedures, or care outside the U.S. Many Medicare Advantage plans do offer dental, vision, and hearing as extras — and this is one area where we help you find a plan that fills these gaps.
Comparing Part D plans requires looking at the formulary (list of covered drugs), monthly premium, annual deductible, and your specific copay or coinsurance at each tier. Ikhlas does this analysis for you based on your actual medication list to find the best total annual cost — not just the lowest monthly premium.
Yes. Low-income individuals may qualify for Extra Help (also called Low Income Subsidy / LIS) for Part D costs, or Medicaid to help cover premiums and cost-sharing. Your state’s SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) can also provide free counseling. Ask an Ikhlas advisor whether you might qualify.