Frequently Asked Questions

No, there is zero cost for any of our services. We are compensated by the insurance carriers for our services. The amount of compensation is basically the same from one carrier to the next, so there are no incentives to sell one carriers’ insurance over another. We work for you to make sure you are on the plan that fits you best.

 If you signed up for Social Security before age 65 (eligibility for full benefits currently begins at age 66), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare parts A and B and receive your card three months before your 65th birthday. Part A covers hospitalization and Part B covers outpatient care, such as doctors’ visits; Part B has a monthly premium of $170.10. 

 If you or your spouse are still working for a firm with 20 or more employees, the employer’s insurance is your primary coverage, and Medicare is secondary. You aren’t required to sign up for Medicare at 65, and you won’t have a late-enrollment penalty if you sign up within eight months of leaving your job. You may decide to delay signing up for Part B. if you work for a company with fewer than 20 employees. Medicare generally becomes your primary coverage at age 65, and you need to sign up for Part A and Part B while you’re still working.  We can help you with this decision.

 No. You must be enrolled in Medicare in order to be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan, Medigap plan, or Medicare Advantage plan. A Medicare Part D prescription drug plan only requires that you be enrolled in Medicare Part A. However, in order to enroll within a Medigap plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, you must first be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

The “Best Plan for YOU” depends on which plan will suit and fit your needs best.  If you sit with ANY Medicare broker, they should ask you these 5 questions in order to truly guide you to the “Best Plan for YOU”. No matter who you talk to, be SURE they ask you these questions!!

• Who are your doctors? Are they contracted with this insurance?
• What are your prescription drugs? The amount of drug cost can change by thousands of dollars from one plan to the next.  Let us help!
• Do you have any chronic conditions? Diabetes? COPD? Congestive heart failure? There are plans specifically designed for these.
• What are your travel habits? Are you here in Indiana all year long with only short trips now and again? Do you travel to other areas for months at a time?  This can impact your plan.

At Medicare Pathways, we have access to all Indiana plans.  Using our services to find an appropriate plan costs you nothing. Not only can we help you find an appropriate plan for you, we will be your advocate during the rest of the year.  Medicare is what we do every single day.

 Tricare, VA, Indiana State Retirement plan, Federal Employee Retirement plan, and even some employer retirement health plans have good benefits.  However, IN State Retirement plan as well as the Federal Employee Retirement plan have a rather high monthly premium for their plans. Some employer retirement insurance plans pay for your premiums on your plan, but most do not. We can help you navigate through the maze of Medicare insurance options.  We have many IN state and federal retirees as clients. The VA and Tricare coverage can be very good depending on where you get your VA or Tricare services.  One of the great things we do for our Vets, is allow them to have BOTH the VA or Tricare as well as a Medicare plan.  It allows you to greatly expand your doctor and hospital network with very little to no premium costs.  Many Vets use their Medicare plan when a service isn’t covered by the VA or at times when they need to get a second opinion