FAQs
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To your Medicare Advantage questions
Medicare Basics
Medicare Part A and Part B are known as Original Medicare, and are managed by the federal government. Original Medicare will pay a share of the cost for covered services, and you will pay the remaining balance, known as out-of-pocket cost. Original Medicare does not include Part D drug coverage or supplemental benefits like dental, vision and hearing. Medicare Part A acts as hospital insurance. It helps pay for inpatient care in hospitals, hospice care, home health care and care provided in a skilled nursing facility if you meet certain requirements. Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A. Medicare Part B provides medical insurance. It helps cover doctor visits, procedures without overnight hospital stays, and some preventive care. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B, based on income. The monthly premium for Part B is typically automatically taken out of your Social Security check.
Medicare has four parts – Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.
Medicare Part A and Part B are known as Original Medicare, and are managed by the federal government.
Part C, known as Medicare Advantage, integrates Medicare Part A and Part B, and many times Part D drug coverage, into one easy-to-use plan. These plans also include a maximum-out-of-pocket limit, which is the most you’ll pay each year for coverage services. Medicare Advantage plans are only available through private health insurers like WyoBlue Advantage and, depending on your plan, may provide extra coverage.
Part D is Prescription Drug Coverage. Medicare Part D plans helps cover the cost of prescriptions, since Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs. Stand-alone Part D plans are managed by private Medicare-approved insurers and are often paired with Original Medicare or Medicare supplement plans.
Coverage
Yes, you’re choosing to work with a private insurer, contracted by the government to provide your Original Medicare benefits through your Medicare Advantage Plans.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can maximize your coverage by staying in-network for services, getting covered immunizations and preventive health screenings, and utilizing the extra benefits. Many plans also offer rewards and incentives for getting care, like your Annual Wellness Visit.
Premiums and co-pays differ depending on the Medicare Advantage plan you choose. Plan premiums for the upcoming year will be available on October 1, 2025.
Yes. You can more accurately predict the cost of your annual care on a Medicare Advantage plan.
Many Medicare Advantage plans include these benefits, and more.
Yes, many offer emergency and urgent care coverage worldwide. You may pay higher deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket maximums if services are out-of-network. If you will likely travel outside of your plan’s local provider network, consider a plan with a large national network of doctors and hospitals. It may save you money.
Medicare Enrollment
You can first enroll in Medicare and add on a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after your birthday month.
If you did not sign up during your IEP, you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the General Enrollment Period between January 1–March 31 each year if both of these apply:
- You didn’t sign up when you were first eligible.
- You aren’t eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (see below).
You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment in Part A and/or a higher premium for late enrollment in Part B.
Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment is through the Social Security Administration, and can be done online, over the phone, or in-person.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan directly with the carrier of your choice, like WyoBlue Advantage, online, or over the phone, with a sales agent. Enrollment for WyoBlue Advantage will be available starting October 15, 2025, for a plan that begins January 1, 2026.
You can enroll, change, or drop your Medicare Advantage coverage for the next calendar year during the Annual Enrollment Period, which takes place each year between October 15 – December 7.
Yes. If you have a qualifying life event like moving out of your current plan’s service area or if your insurer leaves the market, you may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Durning this time, you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan.
No. If your Medicare Advantage plan includes Part D drug coverage, you’ll have to use that plan’s coverage. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and enroll in stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan, you’ll be automatically disenrolled from the Medicare Advantage plan and returned to Original Medicare.
Yes. In most cases, you must continue to pay your monthly Part B premium.