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Navigating Medicare for loved ones

A nurse looks over a senior patient in a hospital bed

Making sure your loved ones get the right coverage means understanding their needs and available options.

Gather information

  • Learn about their medical needs and budget
  • Make a list of current prescriptions and doctors
A senior sitting at a desk with a laptop looks at his prescription bottle

Compare plans

  • Verify all costs and coverage
  • Make sure their doctors and prescriptions are included in the plan network
  • Compare costs against their budget
A senior couple stand at a home countertop looking at a tablet

Understand the difference between plans

To choose the right plan for your loved one, you need to understand how basic Medicare is different from Medicare Advantage.

Medicare (Original Medicare)

  • Part A covers hospitalizations and skilled nursing care.
  • Part B covers routine care, doctor visits and preventive care.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

  • Medicare Advantage plans include Part A and Part B benefits, often with no or low monthly premiums, along with other benefits, too.
  • Limits out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Extra benefits include dental, vision, hearing and wellness services.
  • Prescription drug coverage (Part D) is included. Part D can also be purchased without Medicare Advantage as separate prescription drug coverage.

Understand enrollment periods

  • Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
    • Oct. 15 – Dec. 7
  • Open Enrollment Period (OEP)
    • Jan. 1 – March 31
    • Switch Medicare Advantage (MA) plans or revert to Original Medicare. Switching from Original Medicare to MA during OEP isn't allowed.
  • Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
    • Any date
    • For qualifying events like moving out of the current plan's coverage area

Learn about Medicare

Eligibility

When you turn 65, you become eligible for Parts A and B. Understand enrollment periods and avoid penalties.

4 Parts of Medicare

Know your options for hospital stays, routine care, drug coverage and wellness benefits.

Enrolling

Easily navigate Medicare and Medicare Advantage enrollment with this step-by-step guide.

Switching plans

Does your plan no longer meet your needs? Consider switching during key enrollment periods.

Tailored support and personalized attention

Talk to a Medicare advisor

Speak 1:1 with an advisor for a no-pressure Q&A about your health coverage options.

Attend an event

Prefer a face-to-face discussion? Come to one of our events and ask your questions in person.

Schedule a home visit

Make life simpler — enjoy the personalized convenience of having an advisor visit you at home.

Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and HMO D-SNP plans are offered by Geisinger Health Plan/Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company/Geisinger Quality Options, Inc., health plans with a Medicare contract. Continued enrollment in Geisinger Gold depends on contract renewal. Geisinger Health Plan, Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company, and Geisinger Quality Options, Inc. are part of Geisinger, an integrated health care delivery and coverage organization. Risant Health is the parent organization of Geisinger.

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