2025 Medicare Plans in Bedford Texas

Why Work with Ashford Insurance on Your Medicare?

We usually think of retirement as the time to start winding down and reaping the rewards of a fulfilled career. In retirement, you may expect to have lots of time spent with family, traveling, and doing your favorite hobby. However, there are vital matters to attend to before kicking back and relaxing.

One of those crucial matters is addressing when, and how, to enroll in Medicare. Some people opt to do this on their own, while others rely on a Medicare agency. You will want to choose an Ashford Insurance Agent to guide you through the process. We understand the nuances of the Medicare program and are aware of the variety of plans and how to best maximize the value you receive from them. Our clients enjoy a successful retirement because of our ability to ask questions, listen, and give recommendations based on their specific circumstances. There is no fee for our consultation and we’re the local Texas resource for you on the Medicare program.

At Ashford Insurance, we believe that your future is important and that it is worth protecting. Serving you is our highest priority, and it guides the way that we work with you to select a Medicare plan. 

What is Medicare?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program created in 1965 for people ages 65 and over, regardless of income, medical history, or health status. The program was expanded in 1972 to cover certain people under age 65 who have a long-term disability. Today, Medicare plays a key role in providing health and financial security to 60 million older people and younger people with disabilities. The program helps to pay for many medical care services, including hospitalizations, physician visits, prescription drugs, preventive services, skilled nursing facilities, home health care, and hospice care.

Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage:

There are two common pathways for coverage beyond Original Medicare – Medicare Supplements (aka Medigap) and Medicare Advantage (aka Part C) plans. Where Medigap plans fill in the financial gaps of Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans to replace the cost structure of Original Medicare. 

Both plan options serve to limit financial exposure to medical bills. We have put together an outline of the pros and cons of each below: 

Medicare Supplement (Medigap):

Pros: 

• Extremely robust in coverage. For example, on Plan G your only medical and hospital out-of-pocket expenses are $203 for the Part B deductible
• No referrals are required to see a specialist
• No insurance company network: the only question to ask your doctor is “Do you take Original Medicare?”

Cons: 

• Prices continue to rise year after year. Usually, between 5-7% depending on the insurance company
• You could be denied if you have chronic conditions and try to enroll outside of a guaranteed issue period; this approval process is called medical underwriting
• You will also have to purchase a standalone prescription drug plan since Medicare Supplement Plans do not have this embedded
• No vision, dental, or other extras as seen on Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage:

Pros:

• Low or no premium for the plan
• Comprehensive coverage including hospitalization, medical and prescription drug coverage
• Additional benefits such as dental, vision, and gym membership
• No medical underwriting

Cons:

• May need to stay within a specific network to receive coverage — going out-of-network may not provide coverage
• May need a referral to see a specialist

When Can You Enroll? 

Medicare is primarily geared toward seniors who are turning 65 and specific rules determine how and when to enroll. Enrollment periods are a fancy way to describe the periods when you can adjust your coverage. There is an Initial Enrollment Period for when you first get onto Medicare. Additionally, there are Special Enrollment Periods for certain life events and the infamous Annual Enrollment Period that happens every year in the fall.

If you turn on the TV from October to the end of March, you’ve seen commercials that make you scratch your head and think “Why is Captain Kirk telling me I can get all of my Medicare benefits for free”? There is a lot of confusion that comes up because of these advertisements, but what they are pitching are Medicare Advantage plans which you can make changes to between the middle of October and the end of March.

Becoming a client of Ashford Insurance means that we take the confusion out of this complex topic and help you navigate the timelines of these enrollment periods and to ensure that you enroll in a plan that will serve you well. If you find yourself wondering if now is the time to act on your Medicare, there’s a good chance there’s an enrollment window open for you to do so. We would be grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

Making Your Decision

Though hard to believe, this is just a bite-sized slice of the Medicare pie. In making your decision, you’ll want to work with somebody who has the recipe and knows all the ingredients that go into that pie.

A mistake that many people make when researching Medicare is that they put their contact information on a web form expecting to get pricing for Medicare plans. Instead, they’re slammed with a barrage of phone calls from agents scattered all over the U.S. who are hungry to make a sale.

Ashford Insurance is focused on educating and assisting you through the entire process of enrolling in Medicare and choosing the best plan for you. We have the heart to serve and want to ensure that your transition to Medicare is a wonderful experience.

If you’re interested in speaking with us about your Medicare options, please give us a call at 817-952-3153.