The Parts Of Medicare: Your Guide to the Right Coverage

What Problem Do We Solve?

Navigating Medicare for the first time—or reassessing your plan during Annual Enrollment—can be overwhelming. Our clients in Westchester and throughout NY miss out on better benefits or overpay because they don’t understand Parts A, B, C, D; compare Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare; choose the right supplements; or stay ready for open enrollment.

Aging Solutions Management NY provides step‑by‑step, fiduciary‑level guidance. We clarify your options, simplify comparisons, and tailor recommendations—saving you time, stress, and unwanted costs.

Understanding Parts A, B, C, and D – Start With a Solid Foundation

Think of Medicare as a puzzle with four main pieces. Understanding what each piece covers is the first step toward building a comprehensive healthcare plan for your retirement.

Medicare is not Medicaid but is your primary health insurance in retirement. You have to address the Medicare decisions within 9 months of your 65th birthday in most cases. Let Aging Solutions Management help you with the decisions on the parts and plans of Medicare.

• Part A (Hospital Insurance):

This is your foundation, covering inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. For most people who have worked and paid Medicare taxes, Part A is premium-free.

• Part B (Medical Insurance):

This part covers your day-to-day medical needs, including doctor’s visits, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. You’ll pay a monthly premium for Part B.

• Part C (Medicare Advantage):

These are all-in-one alternatives to Original Medicare, offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans bundle Parts A, B, and usually Part D (prescription drug coverage) into one plan. They often have lower out-of-pocket costs but may have network restrictions (HMOs or PPOs). For 2025, there are 280 Medicare Advantage plans available in New York, so it’s more important than ever to have expert guidance to find the right one for you.

• Part D (Prescription Coverage):

This is your standalone prescription drug plan. It helps cover the cost of your medications. For 2025, a significant change is the new $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, which can provide substantial savings for those with high medication expenses.

Our unique approach:

We explain how each piece works together, tailored to eligibility timing (typically within 9 months of 65th birthday).
Real‑world scenarios: hospital bills, doctor visits, drug costs—and how different parts apply.

Comparing Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: Which One Is Right For You?

One of the most critical decisions you’ll make is whether to stick with Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or choose a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). Each has its pros and cons, and the best choice depends on your individual circumstances.

Original Medicare: Offers the freedom to see any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, anywhere in the U.S. While this flexibility is a major plus, it’s important to know that Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything. However, it does have gaps in coverage, which is why many people purchase supplemental insurance, often called Medigap.
Medicare Advantage: Provide a more managed approach to your healthcare. They typically operate as either an HMO or PPO, with a network of local doctors and hospitals. While these plans often have lower monthly premiums and may include prescription drug coverage, you’ll have co-pays for services and will need to use providers within the plan’s network to keep costs down. In New York for 2025, there are 280 Medicare Advantage plans available, with an average monthly premium of $42.90.

Why clients trust us:

We review provider networks, star ratings, OOP max, and drug formularies in local Westchester plans .
We highlight Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for dual‑eligible or institutional care—about 41 plans in Westchester with $0 premium options for dual eligibility in 2025. Medicare Advantage NY

Choosing Supplemental Insurance and Prescription Drug Plans

Once you understand A, B, C, D, the next step is choosing:

Once you’ve decided between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, the next step is to tailor your coverage to your specific needs.

If you opt for Original Medicare, a Medigap (Supplemental Insurance) policy can help cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and coinsurance. There are 10 standardized Medigap plans available in New York for 2025, each offering a different level of coverage.

When it comes to prescription drug plans (Part D), it’s crucial to choose a plan that covers your specific medications. The “best” plan isn’t just about the monthly premium; it’s about the total cost, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for your prescriptions. The maximum Part D deductible for 2025 is $590.

Our approach:

We help compare costs: premiums, copays, deductibles, coinsurance—and your actual drug regimen.
We ensure guaranteed-issue rights during your Medigap open enrollment (especially important in New York where state laws support guaranteed issue)

Annual Enrollment and Plan Changes – Be Ready for 2025

Key dates: Oct 15–Dec 7, 2025 is Medicare Open Enrollment. A second enrollment window (Jan 1–Mar 31) may allow plan switches if needed.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period, which runs from October 15th to December 7th, is your annual opportunity to review and make changes to your coverage for the coming year. During this time, you can:

Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice-versa
Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Enroll in, switch, or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan

It’s crucial to review your current plan’s “Annual Notice of Coverage,” which you should receive in September. This document will outline any changes to your plan’s costs, provider network, and drug formulary for 2025. The Open Enrollment Period for NY State of Health begins November 1, 2024, and for coverage to start on January 1, 2025, you must enroll by December 15, 2024.

Our process:

We review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) when it arrives, explain its impact, and recommend alternatives early—well before Thanksgiving rush.
Personalized plan modeling, including cost estimates for upcoming year.
Ongoing support if mid‑year adjustments or life changes occur.

💡 Why Choose Aging Solutions Management NY?

Fiduciary‑level, fee‑based advice: we act in your best interests without commission bias.
Local expertise in Westchester & NY: deeply familiar with NY State regulations, SNP eligibility, Medigap laws, and Westchester‑specific plan options.
Holistic planning approach: from Medicare to Medicaid planning, Social Security, IRAs, housing, and long‑term care—all in one seamless strategy.

✅ Make Your Move Now

If you’re approaching Medicare eligibility—or looking to update your coverage for 2025 Open Enrollment in Westchester or NY State—connect with Aging Solutions Management NY today. We’ll help:

Understand Parts A, B, C & D clearly,
Compare Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare + supplement & Part D,
Choose the right supplement or Part D drug plan,
Navigate Annual Enrollment successfully.

Share this page with your loved ones—they deserve to make confident Medicare decisions too. Together, we bring peace of mind and financial clarity to retirement planning:

Why Aging Solutions Management NY?

Trusted fiduciary guidance
Deep familiarity with local NY plans
Personalized strategies that reflect real costs & benefits
Full support through enrollment and beyond

Let Aging Solutions Management NY be your partner—to build a Medicare plan that works for you, not against you. Share this resource with family and friends—they’ll thank you later.