Capital Risk Insurance Group

A $0 premium doesn’t mean $0 healthcare costs. This is one of the biggest Medicare misconceptions. When reviewing Medicare Advantage plans, look beyond the monthly premium and consider copays, coinsurance, deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket costs, doctor network, prescription coverage and benefits you actually use. Look at the whole plan — not just one number.

If you take prescriptions, don’t compare Medicare plans based on premium alone. Before AEP, make a list of your medications and check whether each is covered, what tier it is on, your expected costs, which pharmacies you can use and whether your preferred pharmacies are included.

Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare aren’t the same thing. If you’re considering changing how you receive your Medicare coverage during AEP, don’t look at just one benefit or one advertised feature. Consider provider access, prescription coverage, out-of-pocket costs, supplemental coverage, your healthcare needs and how you expect to use your coverage.

Your doctor should be on your AEP checklist.
Before choosing or keeping a Medicare plan, make sure your important doctors and healthcare providers are still covered under the network you’re considering.
Especially check:
✔️ Primary care doctor
✔️ Specialists
✔️ Hospitals
✔️ Frequently used facilities
Your healthcare needs should drive your Medicare review — not just the plan’s advertising.
Save this for your AEP checklist.

Medicare mail you shouldn’t automatically throw away. Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) explains important changes to your Medicare plan that take effect in the new year. Look for changes involving costs, coverage, benefits, prescription coverage and other plan details. Before deciding to keep your current plan, make sure you know what’s changing. Save this reminder.

No — you don’t automatically have to change your Medicare plan every year. But that doesn’t mean you should automatically keep it either. Plans can change from year to year, which is why AEP is a good opportunity to review your current coverage and make sure it still fits your needs. Save this for AEP.

Medicare AEP is almost here. 🚨 October 15 marks the beginning of Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period. Before you make any decisions, review your plan changes, doctors, prescriptions and potential costs for the upcoming year. That’s why we’re doing a 15-Day AEP Countdown. Save this series and follow along.

Medicare enrollment isn't’one single deadline.

Three important enrollment windows to understand are:

1️⃣ Initial Enrollment Period — generally a 7-month window around your 65th birthday.

2️⃣ Open Enrollment — October 15 through December 7 each year. This is when you can make certain changes to Medicare health and drug coverage for the following year.

3️⃣ Special Enrollment Periods — available in certain qualifying circumstances, such as losing qualifying employer coverage or moving outside your plan's’service area. The rules depend on your specific situation.

And these aren’t the only Medicare enrollment periods. For example, there are also rules for the General Enrollment Period and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

The biggest mistake is assuming one deadline applies to everyone.

Save this post and follow Capital Risk Insurance Group for more Medicare education.

📘 Get our Ultimate Medicare Planning Guide through the link in our bio.

Don’t choose a Medicare Part D plan by monthly premium alone.

Two plans can cover the same medication but place it on different tiers, use different pharmacy networks, and have different cost-sharing.

Before choosing a plan, check your actual prescriptions and look at:

✔️ Whether each medication is covered
✔️ Which tier it’s on
✔️ Your copay or coinsurance
✔️ Your deductible
✔️ Which pharmacies are preferred
✔️ Your estimated total annual drug costs

For 2026, covered Part D prescription drug out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100, but your costs before reaching that limit can vary substantially based on your medications and plan.

Save this post for Open Enrollment and follow Capital Risk Insurance Group for clear Medicare education without the jargon.

📘 Get our Ultimate Medicare Planning Guide through the link in our bio.

Plan details and costs vary. Always review the current plan information for the year you’re enrolling.

Turning 65? One of the biggest Medicare decisions you’ll make is understanding the difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement (Medigap).

The choice isn’t simply about finding the plan with the lowest premium.

You also need to consider:
- Your doctors and hospitals
- Prescription medications
- Provider networks
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Prior authorization
- Travel
- Your overall healthcare needs

There isn’t one option that works for everyone. The goal is to understand how each type of coverage works so you can make an informed decision.

📘 Get our Ultimate Medicare Planning Guide through the link in our bio.