Resources
Medicare FAQs
These are the questions we're asked most often at kitchen tables, church halls and over the phone here in the St. Louis metro. If yours isn't answered, call, we'd rather talk it through than have you guess.
- Straight answers, no sales script
- Written for St. Louis and St. Louis County
- Updated as the rules change
Free, no-obligation help from a licensed local advisor.
- Licensed Medicare Advisor
- Serving the St. Louis Metro
- No-Cost Medicare Review
Questions
Answers to what St. Louis seniors ask most
Does it cost anything to work with St. Louis Senior Insurance?
No. Our help is free to you. Insurance companies pay a set commission that is built into plan pricing whether you use an agent or not, so working with us never raises your premium.
When can I first enroll in Medicare?
Most people enroll during a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before their 65th birthday month, the birthday month itself, and the three months after. Enrolling early means coverage starts on time.
Can I keep my current doctors?
With Original Medicare and a Medigap plan, yes, any provider who accepts Medicare. With a Medicare Advantage plan it depends on the network, so we verify your doctors and hospital against each plan's current directory before you enroll.
Is Medicare Advantage better than Medigap?
Neither is universally better. Medigap costs more monthly and almost nothing at the point of care, with no network. Advantage costs less monthly but uses copays and a network, and usually includes drugs and extras. The right answer depends on your doctors, prescriptions and tolerance for variable costs.
What happens if I don't sign up for Part B on time?
Unless you have coverage from active employment, Medicare adds 10% to your Part B premium for each full 12 months you delayed, and that surcharge generally lasts for life. Our Part B penalty calculator gives you an estimate.
I don't take any prescriptions. Do I still need Part D?
Usually yes. Going 63 days or more without creditable drug coverage after eligibility triggers a permanent Part D penalty. A low-cost plan now is almost always cheaper than the penalty later.
Do I have to change plans every year?
No, but you should review. Networks, drug tiers and copays change every January 1. A fifteen-minute review each fall is usually all it takes to confirm you're still in the right plan.
Which hospitals do St. Louis Medicare plans use?
Most local care runs through Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Mercy Hospital St. Louis, along with Family Health Center clinics. Plan contracts with these systems change from year to year, so always confirm for the coming plan year.
Can you help if I'm under 65 and on Medicare due to disability?
Yes. Options differ for under-65 Medicare beneficiaries in Missouri, especially for Medigap. We'll walk through what's actually available to you.
Do you serve towns outside St. Louis?
We work throughout St. Louis County and the surrounding area, including Kirkwood, Clayton, Chesterfield, Webster Groves, University City, Maryland Heights and Florissant.
Still working through the basics? The Medicare overview and the Medicare checklist are the best places to start.
Have a question we didn't cover?
Call and ask. There's no charge and no obligation, plenty of our calls end with 'stay where you are.'