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These blog posts are an educational resource for informational purposes only and do not provide insurance, legal, or tax advice. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information. It is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare and insurance information can change, and we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any content. Always confirm details with the carrier, plan documents, CMS, or a licensed professional before acting. Contacting me here will connect you to a licensed broker who is trained and certified to help you review the plan options available in your area. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 11 Medicare Advantage organizations which offer products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800–MEDICARE to get information on all your options.
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Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage: The most important Medicare decision you will make!
Of all the decisions you will make when transitioning your healthcare to Medicare, none is more important than this one: Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage? This article is intended to help you reach the right decision for your individual health and financial circumstances. As with most things Medicare, more information leads to more questions, so feel free to contact me here to discuss your specific situation. It Starts With Original Medicare As a review, Original Medic
Tom Cianflone
Jan 30, 20257 min read
Why my Services Don't Cost You a Dime (or, How I Get Paid)
Let's get right to the point: Using my services as an independent local agent doesn't cost you a thing. Period. Quite often when I'm...
Tom Cianflone
Jun 16, 20222 min read
The Value of the 5 Star SEP
If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan (MA plan, aka, Part C), you know that Medicare rules dictate when you can switch from one plan to another. The most widely known MA enrollment periods are the annual enrollment period (AEP) and the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period (OEP). For more information about them, see my blog posts All About AEP and All About Medicare Advantage OEP. Beyond those annually recurring enrollment periods, there are special enrollment periods (
Tom Cianflone
Oct 112 min read
Medicare Insights 2027, Broward & Palm Beach Counties
Between July and September of each year, independent agents like me are busy re-certifying with the insurance carriers they represent and participating in training events that introduce the plan benefits for the next plan year. CMS guidelines prohibit our sharing any plan details until October 1st. Now that October 1st has arrived, here are some significant changes that will affect Medicare beneficiaries in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida, the general area where I am
Tom Cianflone
Oct 13 min read
All About the High-Deductible Plan G Medicare Supplement
This article provides an overview of Plan G Medicare Supplement (MediGap) insurance with the high-deductible feature. This article will refer to the high-deductible Plan G as HDG. The article will explain: Why there is a lot of interest in HDG in the past couple of years How the HDG plan works, including who pays what and when How to determine if HDG is a good fit for your medical and financial situation As with all things Medicare, the more you explain, the more questions ar
Tom Cianflone
Sep 274 min read
Medicare Trustees Projected 2027 Rates
On June 9, 2026, the Medicare Trustees released their 2026 Medicare Trustees Report, which contains the financial outlook and cost projections for Medicare, including estimates for 2027 and beyond. Remember, the rates listed below are projections only. The rates won't be final until sometime in November, at which point we will announce them here. But for planning purposes, here's what is being projected for plan year 2027 Medicare rates: Part B Monthly Premium Base Rate: Proj
Tom Cianflone
Sep 251 min read
Are You Prepared for the Medicare 2027 Plan Year?
The Medicare landscape is changing and 2027 looks to be another disruptive year for both Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs). Here I will explain major changes to be watching for and offer suggestions on how to prepare. Medicare Part D Subsidies Will End as of January 1st, 2027 You may recall that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA2022) did away with the coverage gap (donut hole) in the design of PDPs and added an annual out-of
Tom Cianflone
Sep 105 min read
How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2027
This is an update to my post How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2026. Part D drug plans were dramatically redesigned starting in 2025 largely due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The most dramatic changes were the elimination of the coverage gap (donut hole) drug coverage stage and the introduction of an annual maximum out-of-pocket cap for prescription drug costs. Here's what to expect of your Part D drug plan in 2027. What is Medicare Part D and Do I Have It? Med
Tom Cianflone
Sep 105 min read
Knock, Knock: It's ANOC!
If you've been enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D drug plan for any length of time, you know about the ANOC: Annual Notice of Change. This is the document from your carrier that describes how your plan will change for the next calendar year starting January 1st. Expect it sometime in September, definitely before October 1st. If Your Plan Will Still be Available in the New Plan Year Assuming the plan you're in this year will still be available in the new plan year
Tom Cianflone
Sep 12 min read
You May Have a Guaranteed Issue Right to a Medicare Supplement for 2027!
There are only a handful of situations in which you can get a Medicare Supplement policy without having to pass medical underwriting. To pass medical underwriting you have to be able to answer "no" to around a dozen questions about diagnoses that run the gamut of diseases common to the senior population. The older you get, the less likely it is that you can pass medical underwriting and get a Medicare Supplement. So, if a guaranteed issue right comes your way unexpectedly, yo
Tom Cianflone
Sep 12 min read
Do You Have a First-Diagnosis Cash Cancer Policy?
To prepare, not to scare. That's what this article is about: being prepared in the event of a cancer diagnosis. Statistically, In the United States, the lifetime chance of being diagnosed with cancer is about 38.9%, which is roughly 1 in 3 people. That level of risk is one reason many people consider a first-diagnosis cash cancer policy to cover the non-medical costs of a diagnosis. Non-Medical Costs Associated with a Cancer Diagnosis While you may have great health insurance
Tom Cianflone
Jul 242 min read
All About Medicare Part B Excess Charges
Who Is This Article For? This article is for anyone who is on Original Medicare with a Medicare supplement that does NOT cover Medicare Part B excess charges, for example, Plan N. Plan N does not cover Medicare Part B excess charges so it is important to understand what they are and how to avoid them. As it turns out, it's pretty easy to avoid Medicare Part B excess charges. (We will refer to them simply as "excess charges" for the remainder of this article.) If you're on a M
Tom Cianflone
Jul 174 min read
Will You Benefit from the CMS GLP-1 Bridge Program?
Starting July 1st the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program rolled out bringing GLP-1 meds (Foundayo®, Wegovy®, Zepbound® KwikPen®) to Medicare beneficiaries for a $50 copay for the specific medical purpose of weight loss. (Until the Bridge Program, Medicare did not cover drugs for the sole purpose of weight loss.) This program is administered by Medicare and is separate and apart from any Medicare drug plan in which you may be enrolled. Your doctor must submit you to the program for
Tom Cianflone
Jul 172 min read
Top 10 Things People Get Wrong About Medicare
Going on Medicare is a big decision. Don't mess it up. Here are the top ten things people tend to get wrong about Medicare. As always, working with a licensed, local, independent agent is the best way to avoid costly mistakes. Contact me anytime with questions . 1. Everyone Must Start Medicare at 65 Even if Only Part A Wrong. If you're in any of the following five circumstances, you should definitely enroll in Medicare at age 65: You get your healthcare through an ACA (aka, O
Tom Cianflone
Apr 129 min read
Enrolling in Medicare in 2026?
Reasons you may decide to enroll in Medicare in 2026: You were born in 1961 and so will be turning 65 in 2026. If you are working for an employer with more than 20 employees and you are covered by employer group health, you may elect to continue working past 65 and continue to be covered by employer group health. In that case, you do not have to enroll in Medicare. If that is not the case, enrolling in Medicare is a must to avoid late enrollment penalties that will follow you
Tom Cianflone
Apr 12 min read
2026 Medicare Rates Announced
On November 14, 2025 , CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) announced the Medicare rates for 2026 as follows: The Part B monthly premium base rate in 2026 will be $ 202.90 ( up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025 ). The base rate applies if your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago was $109,000 or less if you filed your taxes individually or $218,000 or less if you filed your taxes jointly. If your MAGI was higher, your
Tom Cianflone
Nov 14, 20251 min read
Broward County Medicare Insights 2026
Between July and September of each year, independent agents like me are busy re-certifying with the insurance carriers they represent and...
Tom Cianflone
Oct 1, 20253 min read
How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2026
This is an update to my post How Medicare Part D Drug Plans Work in 2025 . Part D drug plans were dramatically redesigned starting in 2025 largely due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 . The most dramatic changes were the elimination of the coverage gap (donut hole) drug coverage stage and the introduction of an annual maximum out-of-pocket cap for prescription drug costs. Here's what to expect of your Part D drug plan in 2026. What is Medicare Part D and Do I Have It? M
Tom Cianflone
Aug 25, 20255 min read
2026: Another Tough Year for Medicare Advantage Plans
These recent headlines all tell the same story: Medicare Advantage plans are scaling back More insurers expect to pull some Medicare...
Tom Cianflone
Aug 25, 20253 min read
"Under Observation": Two Words that Could Cost You Thousands
If you get your medical benefits through Original Medicare (OM) with a Medicare supplement (MediGap plan), you need to know about the...
Tom Cianflone
Jul 23, 20253 min read
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