When can I first sign up for Medicare?

Most people have an Initial Enrollment Period that runs for seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. Different rules can apply if you are still working, if you qualify through a disability, or if you are covered by another plan.

Do I have to choose between Medicare Advantage and a Medigap policy?

Generally, yes. Medigap policies are designed to work alongside Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are generally not eligible to buy a Medigap policy unless you return to Original Medicare. Which route suits you depends on your doctors, your medications and your budget.

Does Bleu Sky's offer every Medicare plan available to me?

No. We do not offer every plan available in your area, and any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. You can contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE at any time to get information on all of your options.

What should I review each year even if I am happy with my plan?

Plans can change their costs, benefits, provider networks and drug formularies from one year to the next. It is generally worth checking that your doctors are still in network and that your prescriptions are still covered before the Annual Enrollment Period closes.

Is there a cost to talk with an advisor?

No. Consultations are offered at no cost and without obligation. Calling the phone number on this page will direct you to a licensed agent or broker, and submitting a form does not enroll you in any coverage.

Medicare

Medicare guidance, explained without the jargon

Understand your choices before you have to make them.

Whether you are approaching 65, still working past it, or reviewing coverage you already have, a licensed local advisor can walk you through how the parts of Medicare fit together and what that means for you.

Talk With an Advisor Request a Callback Start a Guided Quote

An older woman at her kitchen table reviewing Medicare paperwork with reading glasses and a pen.

Who this is for

Medicare is not one decision. It is a series of smaller ones — which parts you enroll in, whether you add drug coverage, and whether Original Medicare with a supplement or a Medicare Advantage plan suits how you actually use care.

We work with people who are new to Medicare, people who kept employer coverage past 65, and people who have been enrolled for years and want a second look before the Annual Enrollment Period closes.

You are approaching your 65th birthday.
You are working past 65 and weighing your options.
You are already enrolled and want to review your plan.
You are helping a parent or relative make a decision.
You have moved, lost other coverage, or had a life change.

The pieces of Medicare

Each page below explains one part in plain language, including what it generally covers and where the limits are.

Turning 65?

Your Initial Enrollment Period generally opens three months before the month you turn 65. Knowing what to gather — your current doctors, your prescriptions and any coverage you already have — makes the conversation far shorter.

Read the Turning 65 guide

A printable Turning 65 checklist is being prepared and will be published in a later phase.

Four ways coverage can be put together

These are educational descriptions, not recommendations. No single approach is better for everyone, and not every option works alongside every other one.

Original Medicare

Parts A and B together are known as Original Medicare. You can generally see any provider that accepts Medicare, and there is no network to check.

Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage, and it has no annual limit on what you pay out of pocket.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

Private plans approved by Medicare that include Part A and Part B benefits, usually with a provider network. Many plans include drug coverage and may offer extra benefits.

Advantage plans include an annual maximum out-of-pocket limit for covered medical services. Costs, networks and benefits can change each year.

Prescription drug coverage

Part D can be a standalone plan alongside Original Medicare, or built into many Medicare Advantage plans.

Each plan has its own formulary, so the same medication can be covered differently from one plan to the next.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to help pay copayments, coinsurance and deductibles left by Original Medicare. They are standardized, so the same lettered plan offers the same core benefits.

You must be enrolled in Parts A and B, and each policy covers one person. Medigap does not include drug coverage.

Comparing two common routes

A general comparison of Original Medicare with a supplement, and Medicare Advantage
Category	Original Medicare (+ Medigap, + Part D)	Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Who provides the coverage	Medicare provides Parts A and B. Private insurers sell the Medigap and Part D policies alongside it.	A private insurer approved by Medicare provides one plan that includes Part A and Part B benefits.
Choice of providers	Generally any provider that accepts Medicare, with no network to check.	Generally a provider network. Check that your doctors and hospitals participate before enrolling.
Prescription drugs	Usually added as a separate Part D plan.	Included in many, but not all, plans. Review the formulary for your medications.
Out-of-pocket limit	Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. A Medigap policy can help with cost sharing.	Plans include an annual maximum out-of-pocket limit for covered medical services. Part D drug costs are generally separate.
Monthly cost structure	Part B premium, plus a Medigap premium, plus a Part D premium. Amounts vary.	Part B premium, plus any plan premium. Copays and deductibles vary by plan.
Year-to-year changes	Medigap benefits are standardized by plan letter. Premiums and Part D plans can still change.	Costs, benefits, networks and formularies can change each year.
Switching later	You can generally add or change Part D during the Annual Enrollment Period. Medigap eligibility outside your open enrollment window may involve medical underwriting.	You can generally join, switch or drop a plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.

This comparison is educational and general. Actual features, costs and availability depend on the policy, the carrier, your eligibility and where you live.

Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.

Want someone to walk through this with you, using your own doctors and prescriptions?

Consultations are offered at no cost and without obligation. Submitting a form does not enroll you in coverage.

Talk With an Advisor Call (813) 360-1884

How Bleu Sky's helps

Explain your Medicare options and how eligibility generally works.
Review plan costs, benefits and coverage choices among the plans we offer.
Check whether your doctors and prescriptions line up with a plan before you enroll.
Help you understand enrollment periods so you can avoid late enrollment penalties.
Point you to Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE when that is the better source.
Stay reachable after enrollment, not just during it.

What working with us looks like

1
Tell us what you need
Share your situation in a short conversation. No sensitive information required.
2
Review your options
A licensed advisor walks you through the choices available to you in plain language.
3
Choose with confidence
Decide at your own pace. We stay available after you enroll.

What Medicare clients have said

“To the newcomer the Medicare world is vast and navigating the labyrinth of choices is daunting. Chris took the time to explain my options clearly.”
Jay W.
“Chris is very knowledgeable and easy to speak with. She promptly responds to my questions and follows up after enrollment.”
Lynne A.

Reviews are reproduced as published on our customer reviews page. Read all customer reviews.

Medicare: common questions

Where we help

Bleu Sky’s Insurance Solutions is based in Tampa and works with individuals and families across the Tampa Bay area and Florida. We are also licensed in Georgia and New York. Availability, eligibility and coverages vary by state, and not all products are available in every state.

Already a client?

Policy service — billing, claims, policy changes and document requests — is handled separately from new coverage questions. Visit the Client Center or call (813) 360-1884.

Go to the Client Center

Get a clear answer about your Medicare options

Talk with a licensed advisor, request a callback, or start a guided quote. Consultations are free, carry no obligation, and submitting a form does not enroll you in coverage.