Aging into Medicare is unsettling at best and most would appreciate having someone to help them navigate through the fog surrounding it.

Here are a few words to get you started:

Go online to, www.medicare.gov, Medicare’s online presence, to discover everything you’ve wanted to know but were afraid to ask about Medicare… A website which is easy to navigate for us non-geek computer users. It’s all there for you….tells you the who, what, where, when and how regarding Medicare.

Assuming you are closing in on Age 65, you may complete your Medicare Enrollment as early as three (3) months prior to your age 65 Birthday Month. (Your Medicare enrollment would go into effect on the first day of your age 65 birthday month…with a couple of exceptions.)

If you are covered by Group Health Insurance and intend to continue working past age 65, have a talk with whoever administers your company’s group health insurance. It is generally best to enroll in Medicare Part A, only, while continuing your group health insurance coverage. (See Medicare.gov for the details.)

I just mentioned Medicare Part A, so what is that? Original Medicare Part A provides benefits for hospital, skilled nursing facilities, blood transfusions and hospice care. Part B of Medicare provides “outpatient” healthcare benefits …healthcare treatments needed when not an admitted patient in a hospital….other than outpatient prescription drugs.

Original Medicare did not provide outpatient Rx benefits. However, several years ago, an outpatient Rx benefit was added to Medicare, and designated as Medicare Part D.

Is there a Medicare Part C? Yes there is. It came along in the 1990’s and is referred to as “Medicare Advantage”. Essentially, under Part C of Medicare a Medicare Beneficiary may contract with a qualified health insurance company to provide his/her Medicare Benefits. (Find more about Medicare Advantage at www.medicare.gov.)

Broken down into its parts Medicare begins to come into better focus.

If you live in Florida and want to get a better handle on Medicare, send me an e-mail at, ksmith@kensmithinsurance .com

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