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Agape Insurance Services, Santa Fe, NM

Learning the ABCDs of Medicare.

Retiring can be intimidating, and so can navigating Medicare. Agape has a long track record of helping seniors understand its complexities.

AGAPE INSURANCE SERVICES

"When it comes to Medicare, Michelle knows her stuff. She was invaluable in helping me understand how it all worked."

Medicare and Supplemental Insurance Services

 

Since its inception in 1966, Medicare has become a complicated process and today it's important to have someone you trust help you understand it all. Michelle and Damon are just those people. They will guide you through Medicare's complicated processes, and they never accept payment for their services.

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At Agape Insurance Services, we understand the many parts of Original Medicare and can assist in selecting a private plan to best suit your needs. And when the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) rolls around, we can also help you sort through the changes in prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans. Our process is simple, Michelle and Damon will meet with you at least three times, once to present the basics in a “Medicare 101” presentation, then again to review the different plans available and assess your needs, and finally a meeting to prepare any type of applications. Family members are always welcome.

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For most individuals the Initial Enrollment Period is a total of seven months; three months prior to your 65-birthday month, your birthday month and three months after your birthday month.


If you have group coverage through your employer or spouse’s employer, you do not necessarily have to enroll in Medicare Part B. To be certain it is important to speak to your Human Resources Department about your current benefits. If your unsure and just want to speak to someone, give us a call. We would be more than happy to answer your questions.

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It is often a challenge to balance work and personal life, we at Agape Insurance acknowledge this and organize our hours in such a way that benefits you and us. The hours listed are a guideline, we will accommodate you based on your need.

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Next Steps

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First: Sign up for Original Medicare through the Social Security Administration.

Next: Take account of your annual medical costs for prescriptions and continuing care, and have that information ready so Michelle and Damon can compare it to available plans.

 

Finally: Agape Insurance Services will present available plans, options and strategies for selecting appropriate supplemental coverage.

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So whether you're coming into Medicare for your initial enrollment period, or just wanting to make sure you're keeping up with the annual changes, let Michelle and Damon at Agape Insurance Services help you understand your choices and benefits.

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Medicare Insurance Offerings

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Medicare Advantage Plans

Supplemental Plans

Medicare Part D Drug Plans

Agape Insurance Services, Santa Fe, NM

Important Medicare Dates

 

October 15th - December 7th:

is your chance to make changes to your Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Prescription Drug Plan.*

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January 1st - March 31:

for those already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and wish to change.**

Medicare

How to Change Medicare Plans

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Once you’re enrolled in Medicare, you’ll have various opportunities to change certain aspects of your coverage. Here’s an overview:

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*During the annual open enrollment period (October 15 – December 7), you can make a variety of changes, none of which involve medical underwriting. (Prior to 2021, people with end-stage renal disease were not able to switch to Medicare Advantage during the open enrollment period, but that’s no longer the case as of 2021.):

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- Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare or vice versa.

- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

- Switch from one Part D prescription plan to another. It’s highly recommended that all beneficiaries use Medicare’s plan finder tool each year to compare the available Part D plans, as opposed to simply letting an existing drug plan auto-renew.

- Join a Medicare Part D plan. (Late-enrollment penalty might apply.)

- Drop your Part D coverage altogether. (Re-enrolling in a later year will include a late-enrollment penalty if you’re not maintaining other creditable drug coverage.)

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**During the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (January 1 – March 31), Americans who are already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can:

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- Switch to Original Medicare (and enroll in a Part D plan; access to Medigap might require medical underwriting, depending on the circumstances.)

- Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan.

- Only one plan change is allowed during this window (unlike the fall enrollment period, when a person can change their mind multiple times).

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During the five-star enrollment period (December 8 – November 30), people who live in an area with a five-star Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan can switch to that plan if they choose to do so.

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During the first year a person is enrolled in Medicare Advantage, they can switch to (or back to) Original Medicare and a Part D plan. And with some exceptions, they also have guaranteed-issue access to a Medigap plan.

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Any time during the year, a person enrolled in Original Medicare can apply for a different Medigap plan. But if it’s not during the person’s one-time Medigap enrollment window, the insurer will likely use medical underwriting to determine whether to issue the policy and at what price.

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