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Medicare plans in Chadds Ford, PA
Turning 65, retiring, or reviewing your plan? We help people in Chadds Ford and across Delaware and Chester Counties compare Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, and explain how the pieces fit before you decide.
The parts of Medicare, side by side
Medicare is split into parts. Two come from the government, and the rest come from private insurance companies to fill gaps or replace how you get your benefits.
| Part | What it covers | Who provides it | How it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
A Part AHospital insurance |
Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice and some home health care. | The federal government, as part of Original Medicare. | Most people pay no monthly premium if they or a spouse worked about 10 years. You still owe a deductible for each benefit period. |
B Part BMedical insurance |
Doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work and imaging, preventive services and medical equipment. | The federal government, as part of Original Medicare. | A monthly premium and a yearly deductible, then usually 20% of the cost with no yearly cap. This is the gap Medigap is built to fill. |
C Part CMedicare Advantage |
Everything Parts A and B cover, in one plan. Most include drug coverage, and many add dental, vision or hearing benefits. | Private insurance companies approved by Medicare. | Replaces how you get your Part A and B benefits. Plans use networks and have a yearly out-of-pocket limit. About Medicare Advantage |
D Part DPrescription drug coverage |
Prescription drugs on the plan's list (formulary), with costs that depend on the drug's tier and your pharmacy. | Private insurance companies approved by Medicare. | Adds drug coverage to Original Medicare. Joining late without other creditable coverage can mean a lifelong penalty. About Part D plans |
Gap MedigapMedicare Supplement |
Your share of Original Medicare costs, like the Part A deductible and Part B's 20% coinsurance, depending on the plan letter. | Private insurance companies, using standardized plans. | Works only with Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage. Does not include drug coverage, so most people pair it with Part D. About Medigap |
Premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts are set each year by Medicare and by each plan.
Two ways to put Medicare together
Almost everyone ends up on one of these two paths. The right one depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, how often you travel and how you prefer to pay for care.
Original Medicare path
Keep Parts A and B from the government, then add private coverage around them.
- APart AHospital
- BPart BDoctors and outpatient care
- GapMedigapPays much of what A and B leave to you
- DPart DPrescription drugs
See any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, usually with no referrals. Higher monthly premiums, but more predictable costs when you need care.
Compare Medigap plansMedicare Advantage path
Choose one private plan that delivers your Part A and B benefits, usually with drug coverage built in.
CPart C: one Medicare Advantage plan
- APart A benefitsHospital
- BPart B benefitsDoctors and outpatient care
- DUsually Part DPrescription drugs
- +Often extrasDental, vision, hearing or fitness
Lower or even $0 premiums with some plans, plus a yearly out-of-pocket limit. You use the plan's network, and copays add up as you use care.
Explore Medicare AdvantageYou can't use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan. Either way, you keep paying your Part B premium.
Medicare plans we help with
We compare plans from the carriers we're appointed with and show you the differences in plain terms, at no cost to you.
Medicare Supplement (Part B Supplement)
Medigap
Helps pay the deductibles and 20% coinsurance that Original Medicare leaves to you, so big medical bills are more predictable.
Read the Medigap guidePart C
Medicare Advantage
All-in-one plans from private insurers that cover hospital, medical and usually drug costs, often with extra benefits.
Read the Advantage guidePart D
Prescription drug plans
Stand-alone drug coverage to pair with Original Medicare and Medigap, chosen around the medications you take.
Read the Part D guideDates that matter
Medicare runs on enrollment windows. Missing one can mean a gap in coverage, a late penalty or health questions you'd otherwise skip.
Around your 65th birthday
Initial Enrollment Period
Seven months: the three months before the month you turn 65, that month, and the three months after.
First 6 months of Part B
Medigap open enrollment
Starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. You can buy any Medigap plan sold in your area without health questions.
October 15 to December 7
Annual Enrollment Period
Join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Changes start January 1.
January 1 to March 31
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another one or go back to Original Medicare once.
Still working past 65 with employer coverage? Different rules may apply. Call us and we'll help you time it.
A local agent in your corner
Medicare decisions are personal. The plan that works for a neighbor in West Chester may be the wrong fit for you if your specialist is in a different network or your prescriptions sit on a higher tier.
As an independent agency based in Chadds Ford, we sit down with you, look at your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions and budget, and compare the plans we offer side by side. You won't pay more for using us, and we're still here when you have a claim question or want to review your plan each fall.
We work with Medicare clients in Chadds Ford and across Delaware and Chester Counties, including West Chester, Kennett Square, Glen Mills, Media, Concordville, Garnet Valley and Newtown Square.
How a Medicare review works
- We talk through your situationYour birthday, current coverage, doctors and prescriptions.
- We compare your optionsMedigap, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans side by side.
- We help you enrollAt the right time, then check in each year before the fall enrollment period.
Medicare questions we hear often
When should I start looking at Medicare plans?
About three months before the month you turn 65. That's when your Initial Enrollment Period opens, and it gives us time to compare plans so your coverage starts on time.
Do I have to sign up for Medicare if I'm still working?
Not always. If you have coverage through your own or your spouse's current employer, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. The rules depend on the size of the employer, so it's worth a quick call before you decide.
Should I choose Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
It depends on how you use care. Medigap with a Part D plan usually costs more each month but gives you broad access to doctors and predictable bills. Medicare Advantage often costs less each month but uses networks and copays. We'll walk through both with your doctors and prescriptions in mind.
Does it cost more to use an agent?
No. Plan premiums are the same whether you enroll through us or directly with the insurance company. Our help comparing and enrolling comes at no extra cost.
Can I change my plan later?
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can be changed each year from October 15 to December 7. Switching Medigap plans later is possible, but outside your open enrollment period insurance companies can usually ask health questions.
Let's sort out your Medicare options
Call Jackie or send a message, and we'll set up a time to review your plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to get information on all of your options.
Brandywine Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Plan availability, benefits and costs vary by plan and change each year.