Medicare resources
Medicare Resources: Guides, Videos & Local Help
Every official Medicare resource worth bookmarking, gathered in one place — the official guides, the enrollment links, and the walkthroughs that actually make sense of it all. Plus a local Idaho team that's happy to go through any of it with you by Zoom or phone.
Step 1
Understanding Medicare & Working Past Age 65
More Idahoans than ever are working past 65, and the "do I need Medicare yet?" question trips people up constantly. Here's the plain-English version. The size of your employer is what matters most. If you work for a company with 20 or more employees, your group plan stays primary — you can usually delay Part B without penalty as long as that coverage is creditable. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare generally becomes the primary payer at 65, and skipping enrollment can leave you accidentally uninsured for the biggest share of your bills.
One trap catches even careful planners: HSA contributions. Once any part of Medicare starts — including premium-free Part A — you can no longer contribute to a Health Savings Account. And because Part A enrollment can be backdated up to six months when you sign up after 65, you may need to stop HSA contributions up to six months before you enroll to avoid tax penalties. Timing matters, so map it out before you file anything.
When you do retire or leave employer coverage, you get an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to pick up Part B without a late penalty. Don't wait for COBRA to run out, though — COBRA doesn't count as employer coverage for this purpose, and that mistake can mean a lifelong Part B penalty. We walk through the full timeline in our guides to Medicare enrollment periods and turning 65 in Idaho. Or skip the reading and call — this is a five-minute conversation for us.
Step 2
How To Fill Out The Survey 👇
This short walkthrough shows you how to complete the new member survey, which documents to have in front of you, and how to get ready for your appointment — so the meeting itself is quick and easy.
Step 3
Click The Button 👇 To Get Started
This button will open a form for you to share your personal information.
OR call or text us at 208-350-9933 with a valid email address.
Ready to start?
Here's What Happens When You Call Us
Official resources are great homework. But if you'd rather have a person do the heavy lifting, here's exactly how it works — no forms, no pressure, no cost.
1. Call 208-350-9933
Patricia answers — a real person, not a phone tree. Tell her a bit about your situation and she'll set up a time with CarrieAnne or Sophia that works for you. Zoom or phone, whichever you prefer.
2. We gather your details
Your doctors, your medications, your pharmacy, your budget, and what matters most to you — low premiums, travel flexibility, keeping a specific specialist. That list drives everything that follows.
3. We compare, you decide
CarrieAnne breaks your options into her 6 comparison areas, narrows to the best fit, then gives a full presentation of the chosen plan. Questions welcome. Deciding "not yet" is always allowed.
Prefer to talk it through instead? Call 208-350-9933 — same result, more conversation.
Booked an appointment? Complete the Scope of Appointment form first — it takes about two minutes.
Curious how each plan type works first? Start with Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), or Part D drug plans.
Insurance resources
Official Medicare Resources
The government sites that handle enrollment, plus the official guides we hand to clients. We walk you through every one of them, so you never have to figure it out alone.
Plan Comparison, Done For You
Bring your doctors, prescriptions and pharmacy. We compare every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan in your ZIP code for you, at no cost.
Book a free comparison →New to Medicare?
Our plain-language checklist for turning 65 in Idaho: when to sign up and what Parts A, B, C and D cover.
Read the checklist →Official Publications Library
Medicare's full library of free guides — and just below, we've linked the 13 official PDFs we hand to clients most often.
Jump to our top 13 guides ↓Apply Through Social Security
Social Security handles actual Medicare enrollment — apply online in about 10 minutes, no office visit needed.
Apply for Medicare →Extra Help With Drug Costs
A federal program that lowers Part D premiums and copays if your income and resources are limited.
Check Extra Help →Your Health Idaho
Not 65 yet? Idaho's official ACA exchange is where under-65 Idahoans enroll in health coverage and tax credits.
Visit Your Health Idaho →Insurance resources
These Official Government Guides Have Information About the Following:
Here are some resources you may find helpful as you begin the search for the right insurance plan for you. Every link goes straight to Medicare.gov — free to read, save, or print.
Click Links Below to Access Resources
- Enrollment Periods
- What is a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) Policy
- What is an Advantage Plan (Part C)
- What Does a Drug Plan Cover (Part D)
- Coordination of Benefits
- How to Buy a Medigap Policy
- Qualifying for Assistance
- Extra Help Medicare (Part D)
- What Will Medicare Cost?
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
- Hospital Discharge Checklist
All 13 links open official Medicare.gov PDFs in a new tab. Want a printed copy of any of them? Ask at your Zoom or phone appointment — or grab our appointment forms here.
Jargon, translated
A Quick Medicare Glossary
The eight terms you'll bump into most, in plain English. For more, our FAQ page goes deeper.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Part A | Hospital insurance — inpatient stays, skilled nursing, hospice. Premium-free for most people. |
| Part B | Medical insurance — doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services. Has a monthly premium. |
| Part C | Medicare Advantage — private all-in-one plans that replace how you receive Parts A and B, often with extras. |
| Part D | Prescription drug coverage, sold by private insurers as standalone plans or built into Advantage plans. |
| Medigap | Medicare Supplement insurance — private policies that pay the deductibles and coinsurance Original Medicare leaves behind. |
| MOOP | Maximum out-of-pocket — the yearly cap on what a Medicare Advantage plan can make you pay for covered care. |
| Formulary | A plan's list of covered drugs, sorted into pricing tiers. Always check yours against it. |
| SEP | Special Enrollment Period — a window to enroll or switch plans outside normal seasons after events like retiring or moving. |
Common questions
Medicare Resources FAQ
Why should I work with Personal Touch Ins. & Benefits?
Because we work for you, not for an insurance company. We're an independent Idaho agency that has been helping families since 2005, and we compare plans from nine carriers side by side. CarrieAnne is a member of the NABIP Leading Producers Roundtable and holds CMIP and HAFA credentials, and every recommendation we make is based on your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget. After you enroll we stay on as your agent, so you always have a local person to call. Ready to talk? Call 208-350-9933.
How can you help me find the right plan?
We start by learning what matters to you: your doctors and hospitals, your prescriptions and pharmacy, your monthly budget, and how often you travel. Then we check each plan's provider network and drug list against your information, compare your real yearly costs across the carriers we represent, and narrow it down to the plans that genuinely fit. You get a clear, plain-English recommendation, and the final decision is always yours. Call 208-350-9933 to get your comparison started.
How do I schedule a free consultation?
It only takes a minute. Call or text us at 208-350-9933, email support@ptibidaho.com, or send us a message and we'll call you back. Patricia will set up a time with CarrieAnne or Sophia that works for you. We meet by Zoom or phone anywhere in Idaho, or in person at our Idaho City office by appointment.
What types of coverage can you help me with?
For Idahoans 65 and older, we help with Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and Part D drug plans. If you're under 65, we help with individual and family health plans and short-term medical. We also offer dental, vision and hearing, life insurance and final expense, long-term care, disability, hospital indemnity, and annuities. See all of our services, or call 208-350-9933 and we'll point you in the right direction.
Can you help if I'm on a limited income?
Yes. Many Idahoans qualify for programs that lower Medicare costs, such as Extra Help with prescription drugs or a Medicare Savings Program that can pay the Part B premium, and plenty of people who qualify never apply. During your consultation we'll review whether you may be eligible, help you with the application, and look for plans that keep your out-of-pocket costs low. Personal Touch is a private agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Call 208-350-9933 to find out what you may qualify for.
Can I get coverage if I have a pre-existing condition?
In most cases, yes. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and ACA individual health plans can't turn you down or charge you more because of a pre-existing condition. Medicare Supplement plans are different: your best protection is your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, and outside of it health questions may apply (Idaho's birthday rule gives current Medigap policyholders a yearly window to switch to equal or lesser coverage without them). Life and long-term care insurance are medically underwritten. Timing makes a real difference here, so call 208-350-9933 before you make a move.
Do I have to sign up for Medicare at 65 if I'm still working?
Not always. If you have creditable coverage from an employer with 20 or more employees, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty and enroll later using a Special Enrollment Period. If the employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare typically pays first and skipping it can leave gaps. Call us at 208-350-9933 before you decide — the wrong guess can cost you.
What happens after I enroll?
We stay with you. If you have a question about a claim, a bill, or your ID card, you call us and a real person helps you sort it out. Every year before the Annual Enrollment Period we review your plan against next year's changes, and for Medigap clients we re-shop your rates during Idaho's birthday-rule window. When something changes in your life, we're one call away at 208-350-9933.
Does it cost anything to get help from Personal Touch?
No. Our comparisons, enrollment help, and year-round service cost you nothing — we're paid by the insurance companies at standardized rates, so the price of your plan is the same whether you enroll through us, online, or directly with the carrier. And there's never any pressure or obligation to enroll.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 300 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Done Researching? Let's Compare.
You've got the official resources — now let a local agent turn them into a clear, side-by-side answer. One call, zero pressure, and it costs you nothing. Or send us a message and we'll call you.
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