Question Center

You need Medicare Part D if you don't have other creditable prescription drug coverage. If you skip Part D without creditable coverage, you'll owe a lifetime late enrollment penalty that's added to your monthly premium once you do enroll.

For most people, Medicare costs include the standard Part B premium, an annual Part B deductible, and either Medigap + Part D premiums or a Medicare Advantage premium. Higher-income beneficiaries pay an IRMAA surcharge on top of Part B and Part D premiums.

IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) is an extra surcharge added to your Part B and Part D premiums when your modified adjusted gross income from two years ago exceeds set thresholds. Social Security calculates it every year based on your most recent IRS tax return.

Yes. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP) runs January 1 through March 31 every year. During that window you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or drop MA and return to Original Medicare (with the option to add a Part D plan). You can only use this window once per year.

Yes. Veterans can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan while keeping their VA benefits. The two don't coordinate benefits — you'll use VA facilities for VA-covered care and Medicare for non-VA providers — but having both gives veterans flexibility to see any Medicare provider outside the VA system.

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care like cleanings, fillings, or dentures. Most Medicare Advantage plans include a dental benefit — the specific allowance, network, and covered services vary by plan.

If you work for an employer with 20+ employees and have creditable coverage, you can usually delay Part B without penalty and enroll later using a Special Enrollment Period. For smaller employers, Medicare pays first — enrolling on time is important to avoid gaps and penalties.