Call today to meet and discuss Medicare Advantage plans in New London Cty. and CT's Medicare Supplement plans!
Call today to meet and discuss Medicare Advantage plans in New London Cty. and CT's Medicare Supplement plans!
Social Security (SS) created the when-to & how-to enroll regulations for Medicare's Part A & Part B. SS also manages eligibility and the way individuals sign up. I call their regulations "rules"! They indicate an individual becomes "eligible" for MediCare the first day of the month when 65.
An individual, when first eligible, qualifies for what is called an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). It is a seven-month period to submit an application to SS.
Individuals who want to start coverage at 65 may:
● Sign up during the third, second, or month before 65 for coverage to start the first day of the month when 65. The IEP also allows signing up in the month when 65 or in any of the three months after 65.
● Continue to work and stay on the employer's medical plan. Those who worked for six or more months after age 65 can apply for Part B at any time, using the rules for the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for leaving an employer-sponsored medical plan.
[Info on the steps to sign up is on this page !]
There are two exceptions to the SS's rule "you decide when to sign up":
● First - Individuals receiving SS benefits for four or more months before 65 are automatically enrolled in Parts A & B on the first of the month they are eligible.
Note: They can opt out of Part B if covered by an employer medical plan to avoid contributing to both their employer plan and Part B's monthly cost.
● Second - Individuals under 65 who qualified for SS disability become "eligible" for MediCare and will be enrolled after receiving benefits for 24 months!
Talking to the Local SS office is usually best.
When you call the Local SS office in New London's Shaw's Cove complex at (866) 643-3401, ask to meet with a Retirement representative.
Note: Local SS offices often prefer to schedule a phone appointment.
I suggest requesting a face-to-face appointment with an SS Retirement representative to discuss enrolling at age 65. There are many advantages. Ask about:
● Completing an application for Part B and activating Part A.
● What options does SS offer to pay your share of Part B's monthly cost?
What does Part B cost?
● Your share of Part B's cost in 2026 is $202.90 a month. [Was $185] This amount is Part B's base monthly cost. It is 25% of the total cost for everyone on Medicare Part B nationwide, divided by the number of individuals covered by Part B.
Some beneficiaries must pay more for Part B.
● When an individual's AGI on a Single filer's IRS 1040 from two years ago is above 109k or 218k for a Joint filer, their monthly cost will be higher than the Base.
The legislation to charge higher-income individuals a larger share of Part B's overall cost established what is called the "income-related monthly adjustment amount" (IRMAA).
Note: Page two of this link shows the five income levels above the 2026 109k Base, and the additional amount added each month to the current year's Base amount.
* * FYI: You can also sign up for MediCare online at this SS page :
● Somewhat complicated, so I recommend being careful.
● When over 65 and leaving an employer plan, it is more complicated!
Call John at (860) 451-9793 [ Google voice # ] if any questions.
A key point: When an application is complete, MediCare calls the individual "entitled" to MediCare coverage [not enrolled ], which will start the first day of their eligible month. They will be covered by:
● Part A — inpatient care in a hospital.
● Part B — MD visits and many kinds of outpatient services.
Note: MediCare Only covers treatments and services that have been deemed medically necessary.
Medicare ID cards have "Entitled" printed above the date their Part A & B medical coverage starts.
Note: A picture of the Medicare card appears on this page.
Each ID card includes what is called the individual's unique Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MID):
● The MID has 11 upper-case letters and numbers. The format is four characters, then three more, then four more.
● To avoid confusion between certain numbers and letters, such as the number zero "0" and the capital letter "O," the MBI does not use letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z.
When talking about Medicare, individuals often ask. What is a good age to begin receiving Social Security benefits? Financial Advisors indicate there is no standard answer to this question.
I am pleased to share information from SS that may be helpful to individuals reaching age 65.
● When to start receiving retirement benefits
● Lots of information on retirement!
In response to numerous complaints, the Medicare system revised its rules for TV ads. Ads now:
● Can not ask anyone with MediCare to call, other than during each Fall (10/1 to 12/7 AEP) Annual Coordinated Election Period. At other times, ads can ask individuals turning 65 or leaving an employer medical plan to call.
[The times * * to enroll are listed on the red ink in the * * section at the bottom.]
● Are not to mention a plans specific benefits unless the plan is available to all individuals in the area with MediCare.
● Ads from a marketing organization, not a Medicare Advantage company, must include the name of the company offering the benefit they mention.
Confused about the ads you see! Call to meet and get answers to your questions!
Meeting means you will gain more understanding of the value of a Medicare Advantage plan
By talking to a New London County Medicare insurance professional, instead of the individual on an 800 # who does not understand how plans in New London County work with providers, you gain more understanding.
BTW: A call to John means you just commit to talking, not enrolling.
Another TV ad about planning for retirement mentions they also help individuals with Medicare and says - Buy their MediGap plan! [A Medicare Supplement plan] But:
+ This company's plan has not been approved in CT!
* * The only times individuals can enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan or a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) are set by CMS. They are highlighted on this red link called — enrollment periods.
A survey found ― 55% of people report being confused about MediCare!
Another survey of individuals over 65 found:
- > 29% do not understand Medicare Advantage Plans
- > 23% do not understand Medicare Supplements
- > Only 48% said enrollment was easy.
Tip: Call John's Google Voice number at (860) 451-9793 if you have questions about the confusing words in the brochures.
By meeting, we can also discuss how:
● MediCare works & interacts with a Medicare Health Plan
● When to and how to sign up!
Note: Calling John is a commitment to talk, not to enroll.
Note: In-person communication is the most effective way to help you. Additionally, it avoids Medicare's marketing regulations, which require that any phone call discussion of Medicare Health plan details be recorded.
● First — Call the Local SS office — ask to meet with a Retirement person.
Note: They may suggest a telephone appointment.
When talking, tell them the date you will be leaving employer coverage and thus want to:
+ Start Part B on a certain date.
-> FYI. Signing up for Part B also activates Part A but it will be backdated six months from your Part B date.
+ Understand the options to pay your share of Part B's monthly cost of $202.90 in 2026 :
-> This cost is deducted from your SS payment when receiving benefits.
Note: There are payment options when an individual has not sighed for SS benefits.
The steps in the SEP to avoid Part B's late enrollment penalty include:
● Taking a CMS-L564 form to your employer. When completed it confirms you had employer medical coverage.
-> The CMS-L564 can be found on this link.
-> The application for Part B, CMS-40B can also be found on this link.
● Returning the signed CMS-L564 to the SS office:
-> approves your SEP to sign up for Part B.
-> shows you have medical coverage and thus will avoid B's late enrollment penalty
BTW — If someone was not actively employed and on an employer's medical coverage with COBRA they can't just sign up for Part B whenever they want!
● MediCare does not pay MDs or other outpatient providers their "office rate". Nor are they paid 100% of the amount MediCare approved for the treatment or service they provide!
● The MediCare system reviews all medical treatments and services to determine if they are medically necessary. Then, an amount is "assigned" ** for each.
** Discounted, often directly from retail!
● MDs and other outpatient providers who signed up to participate agreed to accept just 80% of the approved amount. This is called the — accept "assignment." MediCare's claim contractor pays them
● When a Medicare beneficiary has — any:
+ Outpatient treatment or service: MediCare's claim contractor will send them a statement showing they owe 20% of the approved amount for all the treatment they receive!
- > At the beginning of each year, individuals only using "original Medicare" pay Part B's deductible. It's $283 in 2026.
+ Hospital-based treatment — Part A's coverage is extensive when an individual is in a hospital on an admitted basis! MediCare pays for everything "medically necessary." — However, when only using "original Medicare" they are responsible for paying Part A's deductible each time admitted not for each year. It's $1,736 in 2026.
Note: If admitted in an observation status coverage is not the same!
What to do about this Big Risk to your income & savings!
Buy either type of Medicare Health Plan (a special kind of health insurance) — puts an umbrella over your income and savings! It may best be called "financial protection from medical expenses."
Owning means the company pays your providers, and you will not be overwhelmed by bills for your 20% share!
The information in these two red links describes how each type of plan works with the MediCare system and protects your finances:
● Medicare Advantage Plan in New London County, CT or a
● Medicare Supplement in CT
Each plan has options to meet an individual's situation/interest/budget.
It would be helpful if someone could confirm that a change in health will not occur in the future. — But in every life, we know:
● No one can say an accident won't happen!
● The possibility of an illness, with complex and ongoing treatment, is high!
Because of the Big uncertainty of a health change and the Big Costs that could come — it's very important to buy — either a:
-> Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan approved for New London County
-> Medicare Supplement approved in Connecticut
Owning either means these unique insurance plans will:
+ + Protect from significant expenses and provide peace of mind!
+ + Put you in control!
Note: A Medicare Health Plan can only be changed only nce a year, but a "Med. Supp." can be changed at any time.
Bottom line: Owning is priceless, whether you're soon 65 or over 65 and have decided to leave your or your spouse's employer plan.
Call/text John C Parker's Google Voice today at (860) 451-9793. Meeting in person is most effective! We can:
● Review your situation/interest/budget!
● Increase understanding of how plans in our area work with MediCare,
● Discuss which type will be the most effective for you! - > I am told this is highly appreciated. Help!
Note: Whatever time you need will be available.
Meeting in person also avoids MediCare's requirement that any discussion of benefits or enrollment details over the phone be recorded.
Once you've considered what's best for your situation and an enrollment period is available, we can meet to sign up!
You can also send questions about signing up for a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement:
● Using the form below or
● To — John@MedicarePlansSECT.com
John helps individuals as:
● An Advisor — to better understand MediCare's Part A & Part B coverage — how the original MediCare treatment system and the two types of Medicare Health Plans work — and how they interact with physicians & providers.
● A Broker — to highlight effective options to fit each individual's situation/budget/interest when an enrollment period is available, plus help them find the best plan and take the needed steps to enroll.
Meeting face-to-face with a MediCare Insurance Professional < - - >
● Is the most effective way to receive accurate, helpful, and understandable information.
+ vs. talking on an 800 # to a who-knows-where individual required to follow a script
.
● Provides insights on how New London County plans work! Local insights are unavailable when speaking with an individual on an 800 number.
John is licensed in CT (# 2276378 ) and does not solicit or sell in other states.
Medicare's marketing regulations
The regulations developed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require John, when providing any information about Medicare Health Plans, such as the content on this website, to disclose to or inform Medicare beneficiaries that:
● He is appointed and certified for 2026 by the six companies offering regular Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in New London County. Note: — the primary area where he helps individuals. He is pleased to offer beneficiaries any of the 19 regular Medicare Advantage plans (his primary focus) that these companies offer, even though some plans do not provide compensation.
● He is also appointed by and is certified for 2026 with the six Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) companies. Thus, is able to offer all beneficiaries the 11 plans available in New London County and CT even though some do not provided compensation.
● Beneficiaries may also ask for help with plan choices in New London County by calling:
+ Medicare.gov or
+ CT's State Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
< - - > This help, however, is not from a licensed or certified professional.
CMS's marketing regulations also require that any discussion during a telephone call about the coverage details of a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan, or on enrolling must be recorded.
BTW, face-to-face conversations about plan details are the most effective way to help you, and they do not have to be recorded.
Note: CMS regulations also indicate that information created to describe Medicare Plans that does not mention company names, or specific plan benefit details, or plan costs is considered communication, not marketing material.
I am pleased to advise that the information on this website qualifies as a communication and does not require approval.