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Medicare

Medicare in 2025

Get to know Carrie Atkinson and learn about your Medicare options for 2025

Medicare is complicated. We're here to simplify, and teach you about Medicare's many parts to help find the coverage option that is right for you.
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Medicare 101

A 15-minute presentation on Medicare designed for someone who will soon be eligible

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement

Educational presentation of about 20 minutes highlighting the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement with a standalone prescription drug plan

Medicare Simplified

This video is for educational purposes only and will give you an overview of Medicare.

Using Medicare.gov to evaluate your prescription drug plan options

This tutorial will show you how to confidently review your plan options using Medicare.gov

Making Sense of Medicare

Whether you are new to Medicare, approaching age 65, or preparing to retire, you’ll need to make several important decisions about your health insurance coverage. We know that Medicare can be confusing, and the benefits and costs can change every year. That’s why our approach is to educate our consumers, and develop lasting relationships that result in life-long clients. We will help Michigan residents with understanding Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements, and Prescription Drug Plans. As independent agents, we offer a variety of carriers and coverages to complement what you have available through Medicare Parts A & B.

Create your MyMedicare.gov account

Now that your Medicare coverage is active, you should take a few minutes to create a MyMedicare.gov account.

MyMedicare.gov is a free, secure, online portal for managing personal information related to Medicare benefits and services. Features like the Medicare Blue Button tool will give you and your loved ones access to personal health information that can help make better decisions and improve the quality of your care and overall health. You can also check the status of your Medicare claims, and print an "On the Go Report" that summarizes your medical information for your doctors.

Plus, during the Annual Election Period, MyMedicare.gov provides the tools necessary to make sure the plan you are currently enrolled in is still a great fit. You'll be able to review recently filled medications, conduct a plan comparison, and see upcoming changes to your plan.

To create your account, go to MyMedicare.gov. Have your Original Medicare card available, and fill in the requested information. Create a username and password, and be sure to store the login information securely for future use. If you get stuck, you can use the Live Chat service to get assistance from a customer service representative, or call 1-877-607-9663 to reach MyMedicare.gov technical support.

For a video tutorial, click here. (Note: a brief ad may appear before the tutorial begins.) 

Frequently asked questions

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

What are the different parts of Medicare?

The short answer is as follows:

Part A is Hospital Insurance and covers inpatient care. Most people will not pay a premium for Part A.

Part B is Medical Insurance and provides outpatient care such as physician services. Part B premiums are usually deducted from your Social Security income benefit. 

Part D is prescription drug coverage through the private insurance market. Costs for Part D depend upon the plan you select.

Part C combines Parts A through D and is commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage. You must be enrolled in A and B to have an Advantage plan.

Medigap (also known as a Medicare Supplement) is available through private insurance companies and helps cover the "gaps" in coverage from Original Medicare Parts A and B. 

To learn more, please watch this brief Medicare video.

Part A Premium & Deductible

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs

Part B Premium & Deductible

https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs

What does Part A cover?

In general, part A covers:

What does Part B cover?

Part B covers two types of services:

  • Medically necessary services. Services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition and that meet accepted standards of medical practices.

  • Preventive services. Health care to prevent illness or detect it an an early stage, when treatment is most likely to work best.

You will pay nothing for most preventive services if you get the services from a health care provider who accepts assignment.


https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/what-part-b-covers

How do I sign up for A & B?

Visit Medicare.gov sign up where you will learn when to sign up, how to sign up, and when coverage will begin.

What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap?

Generally, Medicare Advantage is cheaper per month but has more out-of-pocket costs as you need care. Advantage plans combine Parts A through D and therefore, you will need to be enrolled in A & B to have an Advantage plan. Advantage plans usually have a built-in dental, vision, and hearing benefit, and some add-ons available. With Advantage plans there are doctors in-network, out of network, and doctors that do not accept.
 
Medigap plans tend to be more expensive monthly but have fewer out-of-pocket costs as you need care. Medigap will help cover original Medicare costs, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. However, unlike Advantage plans, you will need to purchase a prescription drug plan separately and there is no built-in dental, vision, or hearing unless medically necessary. Many plans offer optional benefits for an additional cost. Unlike Advantage plans, Medigap plans have nationwide acceptance - which is great for snowbirds or those looking for extra flexibility. Also note, unless taking Medigap during your Initial Election Period or with other guaranteed issue rights, you must provide evidence of insurability and go through medical underwriting where your premiums can be increased, or you can be denied. That said, if you are considering Medigap, it is best to take it when your Medicare coverage first begins. 

More on Medicare Advantage

With several zero premium plans available, Medicare Advantage offers an easy-to-manage plan that is bundled all-in-one. However, you can expect co-pays and may be restricted to a network of providers. Most Advantage plans operate as a health maintenance organization (HMO) or a preferred provider organization (PPO) where HMOs may limit beneficiaries to using health care providers in their network and may require referrals to visit a specialist. PPOs generally allow care outside of their plan's network, however you typically have to pay more.

More on Medigap

What is the IRMAA?

Income-related monthly adjustment amount (or IRMAA for short) is a surcharge added to your Part B and Part D premiums if your income is above a certain level. IRMAA is based on your modified adjusted gross income, and the Social Security Administration uses a two-year look-back of your income tax returns. The amount is recalculated annually, and appeals can be filed if you disagree with their decision.

The 2025 Part B total premiums for high-income beneficiaries with full Part B coverage are shown in the following table:

Premiums for high-income beneficiaries with full Part B coverage who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the taxable year, but file a separate return, are as follows: 

The 2025 Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts for high-income beneficiaries are shown in the following table:

Premiums for high-income beneficiaries who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the taxable year, but file a separate return, are as follows: 

What are the Part D Coverage Stages?

Generally,  Medicare drug plans and Medicare Advantage Plans with drug coverage have 3 stages:

  • Deductible stage: If your Medicare plan has a deductible, you pay all out-of-pocket costs until you reach the full deductible. No Medicare drug plan may have a deductible more than $590 in 2025. Some Medicare drug plans don’t have a deductible.

  • Initial coverage stage: After you reach your full deductible (if your plan has a deductible), you’ll pay 25% of the cost as coinsurance for your generic and brand-name drugs until your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,000 in 2025 (including certain payments made on your behalf, like through the Extra Help program). Then, you’ll automatically get “catastrophic coverage.”

  • Catastrophic coverage stage: You won’t have to pay out-of-pocket for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.

When you have Medicare drug coverage, you’ll get an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) the month after the pharmacy bills your plan. Your EOB shows the prescriptions you filled, what your plan paid, what you and others have paid, your coverage stage, and what counts toward your out-of-pocket costs and your total drug costs.