Medicare 101

Use this helpful resource to learn about all the Medicare plans available to eligible enrollees.

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Medicare 101: Types of Medicare plans

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is private-sector insurance that offers the same coverage as government-provided Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A & B), plus additional benefits that may add value for the policyholder. All Medicare Advantage plans must provide the hospital and hospice coverage associated with Medicare Part A and the medical insurance and preventative care coverage associated with Medicare Part B. Additional benefits may include one or more of the following:

Health and wellness programs
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Gym memberships
Prescription drug coverage

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)

Medicare Part D is private-sector prescription drug coverage. A Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) works in concert with either Original Medicare or a Medicare Part C plan that does not include prescription drug benefits under its coverage umbrella.

Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (DSNP)

Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (abbreviated DSNP or D-SNP) are available to those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. An affordable option for those eligible, premiums may be as low as $0 monthly. If you qualify for a D-SNP, you can enroll with a private carrier during a qualifying enrollment period.

Supplemental Medicare (Medigap)

Medicare Supplement plans are often referred to as Medigap plans because they help fill in the gaps in your Medicare coverage. To use Medigap insurance, you must be enrolled in Original Medicare. There are around 10 different types of Medicare Supplement Plans offering varying levels of gap coverage—these are standardized across most states, so no matter which carrier you choose, you’ll know you’re getting the same coverage.

Medicare 101: Compare plans

	Medicare Advantage (Part C)	Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)	Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (DSNP)
Part A equivalent coverage Hospital and hospice care and skilled nursing care	✔	X	✔
Part B equivalent coverage Medical insurance and preventative care	✔	X	✔
Prescription drug coverage Medications from multiple tiers	✔*	✔	✔*
Dental or vision coverage	✔*	X	✔*
Annual out-of-pocket maximum Yearly limit on what you pay	✔	X	n/a**

*Available on some Medicare Advantage and D-SNP plans
**DSNP plans usually require little-to-no out-of-pocket cost

Why Clearlink Insurance Agency?

Since 2017, Clearlink Insurance Agency has connected more than 100,000 people with Medicare coverage that fits. With simple online tools that allow you to compare relevant plans even before enrollment periods open, and more than 300 agents licensed across all 50 states, Clearlink Insurance Agency provides a one-stop resource for all things Medicare Advantage.

10+ years as an insurance broker

For more than a decade, Clearlink Insurance Agency has been a consistent, knowledgeable presence.

Insurance provider partnerships

Clearlink Insurance Agency partners with carriers in the Medicare space, including Aetna, Regence, and more.

Online plan comparison

Filter by preferred physician, pharmacy, hospital, and necessary prescriptions to make your coverage work for you.

Onshore, licensed agents

All agents are licensed and based in the U.S. Speak to knowledgeable professionals without communication barriers.

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Medicare 101: Questions to ask when choosing a Medicare plan

Prepare yourself for Medicare enrollment by knowing what to ask. Here are some recommended questions to get the Medicare answers you need to make an informed coverage decision.

What is the overall cost of coverage?
Does this plan provide additional benefits such as hearing, vision, dental, or travel coverage?
Will this plan cover my current prescriptions?
Will I need to change doctors, or can I stay with my current healthcare providers?
Which plan is best to minimize out-of-pocket costs?

Find a Medicare plan today

Compare plans in your location from UnitedHealthcare^®, WellCare, Humana and more with our Medicare plan comparison tool—then enroll online during a qualifying enrollment period.

Frequently asked questions

What are the four parts of Medicare?

In the most general terms, Medicare is divided into four parts: A, B, C, and D. Together, Medicare Parts A and B make up what is known as Original Medicare, the coverage the government provides to eligible citizens. Private-sector insurance carriers provide Parts C and D.

Here’s what the different parts cover:

Medicare Part A: hospital and hospice coverage
Medicare Part B: medical insurance and preventative care
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage): hospital and hospice coverage, medical insurance, and preventative care, plus additional benefits depending on the plan
Medicare Part D: prescription drug coverage, which can be purchased in addition to Original Medicare or Medicare Part C

What is Original Medicare?

Original Medicare is the medical coverage the U.S. government provides to citizens who qualify by age or special circumstance. Original Medicare is divided into two parts, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medicare Part A provides hospital and hospice care coverage, and Medicare Part B covers medical insurance and preventative care.

Who is eligible for Medicare?

Medicare is available to U.S. citizens who qualify by age or special circumstances (qualifying conditions). To qualify by age, you must be a U.S. citizen living in the U.S. for the previous five years, and 65 years of age (though you can enroll up to three months before your 65th birthday). Before age 65, the following conditions qualify you for Medicare coverage.

If you are disabled and have received Social Security benefits for at least 24 consecutive months
If you suffer from kidney failure, also known as End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), and have been on dialysis for more than three months or received a kidney transplant
If you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease)

How do I enroll in Medicare?

How you enroll in Medicare depends on the type of Medicare coverage you wish to enroll in. During your Initial Enrollment Period, which runs seven months surrounding your 65th birthday, you may wish to enroll in Original Medicare whether or not you plan to use government benefits right away, as enrolling outside this initial period could result in premium penalties if you lack credible coverage.

To enroll in Original Medicare, use one of the following methods:

Online enrollment: https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up
Phone enrollment: 1-833-314-2385
In-person enrollment: at your local Social Security office

To enroll in private-sector coverage such as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medigap, compare plans online and enroll online or by phone during a qualifying enrollment period.

When should I enroll in Medicare?

Enroll in Medicare during one of the qualifying enrollment periods or a special enrollment period applicable to you.

The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) begins three months before the month of a potential enrollee’s 65th birthday, continuing through the birthday month and three months after, a total of seven months. This is when to enroll in Original Medicare to prevent late enrollment penalties.
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. Policyholders can enroll in new plans, change their existing coverage, or cancel policies. Any changes take effect on January 1 of the following year.
The General Enrollment Period (GEP) runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. During GEP, those eligible can enroll in Medicare coverage after missing their Initial Enrollment Period; penalties may apply.
Also running from January 1 to March 31, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MAOEP) allows those with a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage), to switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or drop their Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. This period acts as a safeguard if changes need to be made after AEP.

Special Enrollment Periods are triggered by certain life events, such as moving or losing coverage. One such Special Enrollment Period takes place for six months following initial Original Medicare enrollment: during this period, you can sign up for a Medigap plan.

How do I choose a Medicare plan?

There is no one right answer to how to choose a Medicare plan. For some people, Original Medicare coverage is sufficient; others prefer the additional benefits provided by a Medicare Advantage plan or to supplement their Original Medicare with Part D or Medigap coverage. With Clearlink Insurance Agency, you can compare plans online, filtering by preferred physicians, pharmacies, and covered prescriptions to find the right fit for you. If you have more questions, call to speak to a U.S.-based, U.S.-licensed agent.

Clearlink Insurance represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, PFFS, and PDP organizations that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal.

Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 275 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.

Enrollment in a plan may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or you are in your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period.

For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call TTY 711.

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