Medicare FAQs for Jackson Seniors

No. Insurance companies pay agents when someone enrolls. You pay the same premium whether you go through us or sign up yourself.

You get a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period built around your 65th birthday: three months before your birthday month, the month itself, and three months after. Enroll during that stretch and your coverage starts without a gap. Wait longer and a late penalty may apply. Read more on turning 65 in Jackson.

On Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, you can use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. On Medicare Advantage, you're limited to the plan's network. Around Jackson, doctors practice with UMMC, Baptist, St. Dominic, Merit Health and independent clinics, and one plan may include a few of them and leave out others. We look up your doctors in each plan's current directory before you enroll.

Medigap has a higher monthly premium, covers most of what Original Medicare leaves unpaid, and has no network. Advantage plans tend to cost less per month, charge copays when you get care, use a network, and often include dental, vision or a fitness benefit. Your doctors, your prescriptions and your budget will usually make the choice clear. See Advantage vs. Medigap.

If you didn't have coverage through a current job (yours or your spouse's), the penalty is 10% of the standard Part B premium for every full 12-month period you went without Part B while eligible. For most people, that surcharge stays for as long as they're on Part B. Our Part B penalty calculator gives you an estimate.

In most cases, yes. After you become eligible, a gap of 63 days or more with no creditable drug coverage adds a late penalty to your Part D premium. That penalty sticks for as long as you carry drug coverage. An inexpensive plan you rarely use almost always costs less than that penalty would. See Part D drug plans.

Not necessarily, but look your plan over every fall. Networks, drug tiers and copays can all change on January 1. A quick phone review tells you whether your doctors are still in and your drugs still cost what you expect. See Annual Open Enrollment.

That depends on the plan. The large hospitals in the area include UMMC's University Hospital, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center, St. Dominic Hospital, Merit Health Central in Jackson and Merit Health River Oaks in Flowood. Lots of people choose a plan around where their longtime doctor practices. Since hospital contracts can shift each year, we look at the latest ones with you before you sign up.

Yes. In Mississippi, Medigap insurers must sell to people younger than 65 who get Medicare due to a disability. Once your Part B is in place, you get a six-month Medigap open enrollment window. Under-65 buyers often pay more, so we'll find out what's available to you. You can also reach Mississippi SHIP, which offers free Medicare counseling statewide, at 844-822-4622.

Usually not. Mississippi has no birthday rule or anniversary rule for Medigap. Once your six-month open enrollment window ends, a company can ask health questions before it sells you a new policy, unless you have a federal guaranteed-issue right, like losing other coverage. That makes your first choice of plan letter worth some thought. See Medicare Supplement plans.

Yes. We help people across Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties, from Clinton and Byram to Ridgeland, Madison, Flowood, Brandon and Pearl. If you spend part of the year out of state, we'll factor that in. See every service area.