Let's meet to discuss MediCare and how a N L Cty Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement plan will help you! Call today!
Let's meet to discuss MediCare and how a N L Cty Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement plan will help you! Call today!
The regulations on when-to & how to enroll for Part A & Part B are established by Social Security (SS). I call them "rules," and they state individuals:
● Become "eligible" for Part A and Part B the first day of the month when 65.
● Who decide to start coverage at 65 have a seven month period to sign up for Medicare coverage. It's called the Initial Enrollment Period. (IEP) An application can be submitted to SS in either the third, second, or month before 65, or during the month when 65, or in any of the three months after.
● Who worked more than six months after 65 can apply for:
+ MediCare's Part B whenever they want using the rules for what is called the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for leaving an employer medical plan.
[Info on the steps to sign up are on this page !]
There are two exceptions to SS's "you decide when to sign up" rule:
● First - An individual is automatically enrolled in Parts A & B the month eligible if they were receiving SS benefits for four or more months before 65
Note: These individuals can opt out of Part B, if covered by an employer medical plan, and thus not have to contribute to both their employer plan and Part B's monthly cost.
● Second - Individuals under 65 who qualified for SS disability becomes "eligible" for MedicCare and will be enrolled after receiving benefits for 24 months!
Talking to the Local Social Security office is usually best. Surveys report that some individuals received incorrect information when calling Social Security's main 800 number.
When you call the Local office in New London's Shaw's Cove complex at (866) 643-3401, tell them you want to speak to a Retirement representative!
Note: Local SS offices often want to set up telephone appointments.
I suggest asking for a face-to-face appointment with a SS Retirement person to talk about signing up at 65. There are many advantages. Ask about:
● Completing an application for Part B and activating Part A.
● SS's options to pay your share of Part B's monthly cost?
What does Part B cost?
● Your share of Part B in 2025 is $185. This is the base monthly cost. It is 25% of MediCare Part B's overall costs across the US, divided by the number of individuals covered by Part B. [Was $174.70 in 2024]
Some beneficiaries have to pay more for Part B!
● When an individuals AGI on a Single filer's IRS 1040 from two years ago is above 106k or 212k for a Joint filer, the monthly cost will be higher than the Base.
The legislation to charge higher-income individuals a bigger share of Part B's overall cost called it an "income-related monthly adjustment amount" (IRMMA).
Note: Page two on this link shows the amount of the five income-based levels above 2024's 103k base. Each income level adds an additional amount each month to the current years Base amount!
* * FYI: You can also sign up online for MediCare on — This SS page :
● Somewhat complicated, so I recommend being careful.
● It is not recommended if you are over 65 and leaving an employer plan!
Call John at (860) 451-9793 [ Google voice #] if any questions.
A key point: When an individual's application is complete they are called "entitled" [not enrolled ] for coverage that will start the first of their eligible month. They will have MediCare's:
● Part A — inpatient care in a hospital.
● Part B — MD visits and many kinds of outpatient services.
Note: Medicare only covers treatments and services they deemed is medically necessary.
Medicare ID cards have Entitled printed above the date their Part A & B medical coverage started!
Note: There is a picture of the Medicare card on this page.
Each individual's ID card includes their Medicare Beneficiary Identifier. It's a unique number made up of 11 upper-case letters and numbers.
● The ID has four characters — then three more — then four more.
● To avoid confusion between specific numbers and letters, such as the number zero "0" and capital letter "O," the MBI does not use letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z.
Individuals often ask. When to begin receiving Social Security benefits? Financial Advisors indicate there is no standard answer to this question. However, the information on these SS Pubs may be helpful to individuals reaching 65!
● When individuals become fully eligible is on page 3!
● The value of waiting past full retirement age.
In response to many complaints MediCare updated the advertising rules for TV ads. They now say ads:
● Can not ask anyone with MediCare to call, other than during each Falls Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP) (10/1 to 12/7 ) Only individuals turning 65 or leaving an employer medical plan can call other times in the year.
[Details on the times * * to enroll in a Medicare Health Plan are on the red enrollment periods ink at the bottom of this section.]
● Are not to mention a plan's specific benefits unless the plan is available to all individuals in the area with MediCare.
● From a marketing organization, not a Medicare Advantage company, that mentions specific benefits must include the name of the company offering this benefit.
Call if you have any questions about the ads you see!
You 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 work with providers in New London County
Note: Calling John means you are committed 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!
* * Individuals can only enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan or a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) during times set by CMS. The sign-up times 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 # at (860) 451-9793 to meet — If you have questions about any confusing words in the brochures.
We can also discus how:
● MediCare works & interacts with a Medicare Health Plan
● When to and how to sign up!
Note: Calling John is just a commitment to talk ― not to enroll!
Note: Meeting and talking in person is the most effective to help you. Then too, it avoids Medicare's marketing regulations which require any phone call discussion of Medicare Health plan details to be recorded.
● First — Call the Local SS office — ask to talk to 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.
-> 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 $185 in 2025 :
-> This cost is deducted from your SS payment when receiving 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 . Submitting this form:
-> 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 they can't just sign up for Part B whenever they want!
● MDs or other outpatient providers are not paid their "office rate" nor 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 $257 in 2025.
+ 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 $1,676 in 2025.
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, CT or a
● Medicare Supplement in CT
Each plan has options to meet an individual's situation/interest/budget.
It would be nice if someone could say a change of health will not happen 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
+ + Put you in control
+ + Provide peace of mind, knowing you are protected!
Note: A Medicare Health Plan can only be changed once a year, but a "Med. Supp." can be changed anytime!
Bottom line: Owning is priceless whether you'll soon be 65 — or are over 65 and have decided to leave your or a 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 about benefits or enrollment details over the phone has to be recorded.
Then, after thinking about what will be 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 you 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 select a 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 into how New London County plans work! This is unavailable when talking on an 800 #.
John is licensed in CT (# 2276378 ) and does not solicit or sell in other states.
John complies with Medicare's marketing regulations for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans:
Created by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) they 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 by all eight Medicare Advantage (MA) companies that offer plans in New London County in 2025 — the primary area where he helps individuals. He can thus offer beneficiaries any of the 29 regular Medicare Advantage plans (his primary focus) provided by these companies.
● He is also appointed by and is certified with the six Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) companies. Thus, is able to offer all beneficiaries the 14 plans available in New London County and CT even though some do not provided compensation.
● Beneficiaries may also receive help with plan choices in New London County by contacting:
+ Medicare.gov or
+ CT's State Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
< - - > However, this help will not be from a licensed or certified professional.
CMS's marketing regulations require any discussion about plan coverage details or on enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan that takes place during a telephone call to be recorded.
BTW: Face-to-face conversations the most effective way to help you do not have to be recorded.
Note: CMS regulations also state information created to describe Medicare Plans that does not mention company names, or specific plan benefit details, or plan costs is considered communication material. Thus, this website provides communications not marketing material and does not have to be approved.