Medicare help in Connecticut, from people who listen
Choosing a Medicare plan means comparing premiums, doctor networks, drug lists, extra benefits and
out-of-pocket limits, and the choices change every year. At Duric Insurance Group we sit down with you,
learn what matters to you, and compare plans from several insurance companies side by side. Our help is
free, and we explain everything in plain language in English, Bosnian or Spanish.
Medicare coverage we can help you with
Medicare Advantage (Part C). Plans from private insurance companies that cover your
Part A and Part B benefits. Most include prescription drug coverage, and many add dental, vision,
hearing and fitness benefits.
Prescription drug plans (Part D). Stand-alone drug coverage for people with Original
Medicare. We check your exact medications and pharmacy against each plan’s drug list.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap). Plans that work alongside Original Medicare to help pay
deductibles, copays and coinsurance. We explain how they compare with Medicare Advantage.
Dental, vision & hearing. Original Medicare generally doesn’t cover routine dental,
vision or hearing care. See your options.
Important Medicare enrollment dates
Enrollment period
When
What you can do
Initial Enrollment Period
7 months: the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months after you turn 65
Sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B, and choose a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 – December 7
Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes start January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
January 1 – March 31
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, switch to another one or go back to Original Medicare (one change).
General Enrollment Period
January 1 – March 31
Sign up for Part A or Part B if you missed your first chance. Late penalties may apply.
Special Enrollment Periods
After certain life events
Change plans if, for example, you move, lose other coverage, or qualify for Medicaid or Extra Help.
Medigap Open Enrollment
6 months, starting the month you are 65 or older and have Part B
Buy a Medicare Supplement plan without medical underwriting.
How we help, step by step
Free consultation. We talk about your health, your budget, your doctors and your
prescriptions, in person in Rocky Hill or by phone.
Side-by-side comparison. We compare plans from the insurance companies we represent
and check your doctors and medications on each one.
Enrollment. We help you enroll in the plan you choose and make sure nothing is missed.
Year-round support. Questions about a bill, a claim or next year’s changes? Call us.
We review your plan with you every year.
What to have ready
Your red, white and blue Medicare card (or the date you will turn 65)
A list of your doctors and specialists
Your prescriptions, with doses, and your preferred pharmacy
Information about your current plan, if you have one
Medicare questions
Most people first sign up during their Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after. If you are still working and have employer coverage, the rules can be different, so call us and we’ll walk you through it.
During the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, anyone with Medicare can change plans for the next year (the new plan starts January 1). If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also make one change from January 1 to March 31. Some life events, such as moving or losing other coverage, give you a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurance companies and replace how you get your Part A and Part B benefits. Most include drug coverage and many add dental, vision and hearing benefits, usually with a network of doctors. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan works alongside Original Medicare to help pay costs like deductibles and coinsurance, and you usually add a separate Part D drug plan. We explain the trade-offs so you can choose.
That is one of the first things we check. Before you enroll, we look up your doctors in each plan’s network and your medications on each plan’s drug list, so there are no surprises.
Extra Help is a Medicare program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for Part D prescription drug costs. If you think you may qualify, we can explain how it works and how to apply.
