Medicare Planning
Medicare Is Complicated. We Make It Simple.
Medicare decisions made at 65 can affect your healthcare costs for the rest of your life. The wrong plan choice, a missed enrollment window, or an overlooked penalty can cost thousands of dollars. Hutchison Insurance Group helps you understand your options, compare plans across multiple carriers, and make the right choice for your health needs and budget.
As an independent broker, we are not tied to any single Medicare carrier. We represent multiple carriers and can objectively compare Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Part D drug plans to find the best fit for you — at no cost to you.
Original Medicare at a Glance
Part A
Hospital Insurance
Inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, hospice, home health
Usually $0 (if 40+ quarters worked)
Part B
Medical Insurance
Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, DME
$185/mo standard (2025)
Part C
Medicare Advantage
Bundles A+B+D with private insurer, often adds dental/vision
Varies by plan — often $0 beyond Part B
Part D
Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug coverage through private insurer
Varies by plan — typically $10–$50/mo
* 2025 standard amounts. Actual premiums vary based on income, plan, and enrollment date.
Medicare Options Explained
Medicare Plans — In Plain English
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Plans A, B, D, G, G-HD, K, L, M, N
Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare (Parts A & B) to cover the gaps — including deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and in some cases excess charges. You keep your Original Medicare and add a Medigap policy from a private insurer to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs. Standardized plan letters mean Plan G from one carrier offers the same benefits as Plan G from another — the only difference is the premium.
Key Points:
- Works with any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare nationwide
- No network restrictions — see any Medicare-accepting provider
- Predictable out-of-pocket costs — great for budgeting
- Plan G is the most comprehensive plan available to new enrollees
- Plan N offers lower premiums with modest copays
- High-Deductible Plan G (G-HD) offers lowest premiums with a deductible
Plan G covers everything Original Medicare covers except the Part B deductible ($257 in 2025), making it the most popular Medigap plan for new Medicare enrollees.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
HMO, PPO, PFFS, SNP Plans
Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They bundle Part A (hospital), Part B (medical), and usually Part D (prescription drugs) into a single plan. Most plans include additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness programs. Plans vary significantly by county and carrier.
Key Points:
- Often $0 or low monthly premium (beyond Part B premium)
- Bundled coverage: medical, hospital, and usually drugs in one plan
- May include dental, vision, hearing, and OTC benefits
- Network-based — must use plan's network of providers (HMO) or pay more out-of-network (PPO)
- Annual out-of-pocket maximum limits your total exposure
- Plans change annually — review every year during Open Enrollment
Medicare Advantage plans can offer significant extra benefits, but network restrictions mean you must verify your doctors are in-network before enrolling.
Medicare Part D — Prescription Drug Plans
Standalone PDP
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage through private insurance companies. If you have Original Medicare with a Medigap plan, you add a standalone Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP). If you have Medicare Advantage, drug coverage is usually included. Part D plans have a formulary (list of covered drugs), and costs vary by plan, drug tier, and pharmacy.
Key Points:
- Covers prescription drugs at retail and mail-order pharmacies
- Plans organized into drug tiers — generics cost less than brand-name
- Annual deductible, copays, and coinsurance apply
- Catastrophic coverage kicks in after out-of-pocket threshold is met
- Late enrollment penalty applies if you delay enrollment without creditable coverage
- Compare plans annually — formularies and premiums change each year
Always compare Part D plans annually during Open Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7). The cheapest plan isn't always the best if your specific medications are on a high-cost tier.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
When You Can Enroll or Change Coverage
Medicare has specific enrollment windows. Missing your Initial Enrollment Period can result in permanent late enrollment penalties and gaps in coverage. Understanding your enrollment timeline is critical to making the right decisions at the right time.
Key Points:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7-month window around your 65th birthday
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): Oct 15 – Dec 7 each year — change Advantage or Part D
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan 1 – Mar 31 — switch Advantage plans once
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): triggered by qualifying life events (losing employer coverage, moving, etc.)
- Medigap Open Enrollment: 6-month window starting when you enroll in Part B at 65 — guaranteed issue rights
- Late enrollment penalties: Part B (+10%/year delayed), Part D (+1%/month delayed)
Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the most important window — during this time, insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge more due to health conditions. After it closes, medical underwriting may apply.
Medigap Plan Comparison
Standardized Medigap Plans — What Each Covers
| Benefit | A | B | D | G | G-HD | K | L | M | N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A Coinsurance & Hospital Costs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part B Coinsurance / Copayment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓* |
| Blood (First 3 Pints) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part A Hospice Coinsurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skilled Nursing Coinsurance | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | ✓ | ✓ |
| Part A Deductible | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 50% | 75% | 50% | ✓ |
| Part B Deductible | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Part B Excess Charges | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Foreign Travel Emergency | — | — | 80% | 80% | 80% | — | — | 80% | 80% |
* Plan N pays Part B coinsurance except for copays up to $20 for office visits and up to $50 for ER visits. Plans C and F not available to those newly eligible for Medicare after Jan 1, 2020.
Key Terms