The Benefits Bridge

The 4 parts of Medicare

Part A - Hospital:

Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice. Most people pay $0 premium because they paid in through work.

Part B - Medical:

Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment. Has a monthly premium.

Part C - Medicare Advantage:

A private all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare. Often includes drug coverage and extras like dental or vision.

Part D - Prescription Drugs:

Covers your medications. You add it to Original Medicare, or it may be built into an Advantage plan.

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement: which fits you?

This is the choice that trips most people up. Here’s the honest version.

Medicare Advantage (Part C): Lower or $0 premium, copays as you use it, a network of providers, and often extra benefits. Good if you want lower upfront cost and don’t mind a network.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap): Higher premium, but it covers most of what Original Medicare doesn’t, with the freedom to see any doctor that takes Medicare and very predictable costs. Good if you want maximum flexibility and fewer surprises.

There is no single "best" plan, only the best plan for your health, your doctors, and your budget. That’s exactly what we sort out on a call.

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WHEN TO ENROLL (AVOID THE PENALTY)

Timing matters. Missing your window can cost you for life.

Initial Enrollment: Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday (3 before, your birthday month, 3 after).
Special Enrollment: Already past 65 and still working? You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period when you retire.
Annual Enrollment: Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year, when you can change plans for the coming year.

Wait too long without other credible coverage and you can face a lifelong Part B or Part D penalty.

Get a real comparison, not a sales pitch!

Use my secure quote tool to see plans in your area, or book a call and we’ll review them together.

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The Benefits Bridge

Navigating Health & Life Insurance Doesn’t Have to Be Hard.

Shannon T. Smith, Independent Insurance Agent

Licensed in: FL, GA, LA, MD, MI, MO, NE, NC, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA. Don’t see your state? Let’s chat.

NPN: 20768229 | Shannon T. Smith / The Benefits Bridge is an independent insurance agent.

Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (24 hours a day / 7 days a week), or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.

The Benefits Bridge is a private insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), or any other government agency.

This is a solicitation for insurance. By submitting information on this site, you agree a licensed agent (Shannon T. Smith) may contact you by phone, email, or text.

Turning 65? Let’s make Medicare make sense.