Medicare in Michigan

Need help? Get in touch with us at 616-896-4600 or you can fill out our Medicare Questionnaire and we will contact you within 1-2 business days. 

About Medicare Insurance

IEP (Initial Enrollment Period) Info:

What is an IEP?

Your IEP is a 7-month period, including the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months following your 65th birthday. The date when your Medicare insurance coverage begins depends on when you sign up.

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AEP (Annual Enrollment Period)

AEP is the time when individuals can change their Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. You can also switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage. AEP starts October 15 and ends December 7.

OEP (Open Enrollment Period)

OEP is the time when individuals can make a single change to their Medicare plan. You can also use this time to sign up for Medicare for the first time if you did not sign up during your initial enrollment period. OEP starts January 1 and ends March 31.

SEP (Special Enrollment Period)

When You Can Join or Switch Plans

• Move out of your plan’s service area
• Plan leaves Medicare program or reduces its service area
• Leaving or losing employer or union coverage
• You enter, live at, or leave a long-term care facility
• You have a continuous SEP if you qualify for Extra Help
• Losing your Extra Help status
• You join or switch to a plan that has a 5-star rating
• Retroactive notice of Medicare entitlement
• Other exceptional Circumstances

Part A, B, C, & D

Part A: Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. 

Part B: Helps cover services from doctors and other health care providers. Helps cover outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), and many preventative services such as vaccines and yearly wellness visits. With Part B, you will pay the Part B premium. Currently, the Part B premium rate is under $200/month for most Medicare individuals (click HERE to learn more). This comes out of your social security each month. 

(Note: Just having parts A & B
is called Original Medicare)

Part C: Medicare Advantage —> Bundles Part A, B, and D. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. Medicare pays these companies to cover your Medicare benefits. Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits such as Dental, Hearing, Vision, Over-the-Counter benefits, and more! 

Part D: Drug Coverage —> Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. You can join a stand-alone drug plan to go along with your Part A & B. (These will be sold by private insurance companies) or, you can get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. 

YouTube Video Series on Medicare: Medicare & You

Shield Insurance Agency provides Medicare consultations to help walk you through the process of choosing a plan that fits your individual needs. We represent several companies including HAP, Priority Health, Blue Cross, and Trinity. Whether you prefer to come in for an office visit or by phone/email, we are here to help! 

Need help? Get in touch with us at 616-896-4600, or you can fill out our Medicare Questionnaire and we will contact you within 1-2 business days.