Frequently asked Medicare questions
Washoe County
“Currently we represent 11 organizations which offer 31 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Carson City
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 26 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Douglas County
“Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Lyon County
“Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Churchill County
“Currently we represent 6 organizations which offer 19 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Storey County
“Currently we represent 7 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Humboldt County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Pershing County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Mineral County
“Currently we represent 2 organizations which offer 5 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Esmerelda County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Elko County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Lander County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Eureka County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
White Pine County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Lincoln County
“Currently we represent 1 organization which offers 2 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Nye County
“Currently we represent 10 organizations which offer 39 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Clark County
“Currently we represent 12 organizations which offer 46 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Washoe County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Carson City
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Douglas County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Lyon County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Churchill County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Storey County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Humboldt County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Pershing County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Mineral County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Esmerelda County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Elko County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Lander County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Eureka County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
White Pine County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Lincoln County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Nye County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
Clark County
“Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 21 products in your area. You can always contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program for help with plan choices.
The Social Security Administration handles Medicare Part A and Part B applications. There are 3 ways to enroll:
- Enroll in Part A and B online
- Enroll over the phone by calling Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213
- Apply in person at a local Social Security Administration office
You must continue paying all Part A and B premiums to remain eligible for Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage.
If you miss your initial enrollment period to sign up for Medicare, you may have to pay late enrollment penalties.
You can enroll into or change Medicare Advantage plans during:
The “Donut Hole” is another name for the Part D prescription drug coverage gap. During this coverage phase prescription drug plans will cover a smaller share of your prescription costs.
If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan you’ll still have Medicare, but you’ll receive your Part A and Part B coverage through your Medicare Advantage plan. You will need to use the card from your Medicare Advantage carrier to get Medicare covered services.
It is important to enroll into creditable prescription drug coverage to avoid paying a Part D late enrollment penalty.
On Medicare Supplement, you can go to any doctor or facility that is enrolled in Medicare and accepting new Medicare patients.
To search doctors and facilities that accept Medicare, click here.
Your access on Medicare Advantage is determined by the type of insurance plan you are enrolled in.
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) generally require you to receive your care from doctors and facilities in the plans network (except for emergencies).
- Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) allow you to use any doctor or facility that accepts Medicare. You will pay less for services received within the plan’s network.
- Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans allow you to visit any Medicare approved doctor or facility that accepts the plan’s payment terms.
Yes, Medicare Advantage plans can add or remove providers from their provider network throughout the year.
Each state offers assistance programs to help beneficiaries with limited income with Medicare costs.
To find assistance available to you, please visit the State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Generally, Medicare is for people 65 or older. You may be able to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease).
In order to receive coverage for out of state services, you’ll need to have prior authorization (also known as a Letter of Agreement or LOA) approved by your plan first. A Letter of Agreement is a one time contract that could, based on your medical situation, grant you access to a specific out of state medical facility. It is ultimately up to your HMO Medicare Advantage carrier to approve or deny a Letter of Agreement request.
You’ll have a single 12-month period (your trial right period) to get your Medigap policy back if the same insurance company still sells it once you return to Original Medicare. After this period you would need to answer health questions to be accepted for coverage.
You can enroll into Medicare Supplement with no health questions asked during your 6 month “Medigap Open Enrollment“. This period starts the first month of your Part B coverage.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are rated by CMS every year using a 5 star rating system. This is used to determine the overall quality of health and drug plans. Plan star ratings can be viewed on Medicare.gov.
COBRA is not considered creditable drug coverage by Medicare. If you are enrolled in COBRA while eligible but not enrolled into Medicare, you will pay Medicare late enrollment penalties when you enroll in the future.
When enrolled into Medicare and employer health insurance, the insurance that pays will be determined by a coordination of benefits. Click here for more information on who pays first.
Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage. Enrolling in a stand-alone Part D plan will terminate your existing Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Parts A & B are known as “Original Medicare”.
- Part A: Hospital insurance that helps cover costs of inpatient care, skilled nursing, hospice, & home health.
- Part B: Medical insurance that helps cover outpatient care, preventative services, and services from doctors.
- Part C: Medicare Advantage plans offered by private insurance companies.
- Part D: Drug coverage offered by private insurance companies to help cover the cost of prescriptions.
