http://www.abtinsuranceagency.com/

Abt Insurance Agency, Austin, TX (2026)

08/27/2026

🚨 Turning 65 soon? Do these 4 things BEFORE Medicare starts—or you could make a mistake that’s difficult (and expensive) to undo.

Medicare isn’t just about picking a plan. Some of the decisions you make when you first become eligible can affect your healthcare and costs for YEARS.

Here are the 4 things I’d do before turning 65:

1️⃣ UNDERSTAND MEDICARE ADVANTAGE VS. MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT

These are two very different ways to structure your Medicare coverage.

Don’t choose based on what your neighbor has, a TV commercial, or which plan has the flashiest extra benefits. Understand the trade-offs—including costs, provider access, networks and what your options may look like if you want to switch later.

2️⃣ KNOW YOUR ENROLLMENT TIMELINE

Your Initial Enrollment Period generally lasts 7 months: the 3 months before you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.

Some people with qualifying employer coverage can delay Medicare. Others shouldn’t. Getting this wrong could mean coverage gaps or late-enrollment penalties.

3️⃣ PREPARE FOR IRMAA

Higher-income beneficiaries can pay more for BOTH Medicare Part B and Part D because of IRMAA.

And because Medicare generally uses income from a prior tax return, new retirees can sometimes be assessed based on income that’s much higher than what they’re earning now.

Know whether IRMAA could apply to you—and whether you may qualify to request a new determination if your income has dropped.

4️⃣ DON’T FORGET ABOUT PART D

“I don’t take any prescriptions” is NOT necessarily a reason to skip Part D.

If you go 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable prescription drug coverage, you could face a late-enrollment penalty when you eventually enroll—and that penalty generally stays with you for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.

You don’t need to become a Medicare expert before 65. But you DO need to understand these four decisions.

That’s exactly why I created my FREE Medicare Checklist.

👇 Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send it straight to your DMs.

08/27/2026

💰 What does Medicare Supplement Plan G actually cover—and how much does it cost?

Plan G is one of the most comprehensive Medigap options available to people who are new to Medicare today.

Here’s the simple version:

You have Original Medicare Parts A & B first. Medicare pays its share of your Medicare-covered healthcare expenses, and then Plan G helps cover most of the remaining gaps.

Plan G covers things like:

✅ Part A hospital deductible
✅ Part A & B coinsurance
✅ Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
✅ Part B excess charges
✅ Limited foreign travel emergency coverage

What DOESN’T Plan G pay?

👉 Your Medicare Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026.

You also continue paying your monthly Part B premium, and you’ll generally need a separate Part D plan if you want prescription drug coverage.

💵 So how much does Plan G cost?

There’s no single Plan G price.

Your premium can vary significantly depending on where you live, the insurance company you choose, your age and other rating factors. And here’s something important: Plan G benefits are standardized, so one company’s Plan G has the same basic medical benefits as another company’s Plan G—but the premiums can be VERY different.
**These example premiums are for a 65 year old female.

Want to know what Medicare might actually cost YOU?

👇Comment GUIDE to get my FREE Medicare Checklist and learn what to do, when to do it, and the biggest Medicare mistakes to avoid.

08/26/2026

🚨 89% of Medicare beneficiaries THINK they understand Medicare. But do they really?

A brand-new 2026 survey from eHealth found that 89% of Medicare beneficiaries say they’re confident they understand their Medicare coverage options.

But when researchers actually tested that knowledge…

😳 Only 13% could correctly identify the basic definitions of Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D.

And it gets worse:

👉 88% didn’t know Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum.

👉 42% didn’t know—or underestimated—the 20% coinsurance beneficiaries generally pay for Part B services when they have Original Medicare alone.

👉 Among people ages 55–64 approaching Medicare, 88% didn’t know about the potential Part B late-enrollment penalty.

👉 And 71% didn’t know they could potentially be denied or charged more for Medigap if they apply after their initial enrollment period, depending on their circumstances and state protections.

THIS is why I make these videos.

Medicare isn’t something you want to think you understand.

A mistake with your enrollment timing, prescription coverage, or choice between Medicare Advantage and Medigap can potentially affect your healthcare AND your wallet for years.

I’ve spent more than a decade helping people navigate Medicare, and my team and I help people across the country understand their options before they make these decisions.

So if you’re turning 65, retiring, already on Medicare—or helping a parent navigate it—don’t wing it.

👇 Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist that walks you through what to do, when to do it, and the biggest mistakes to avoid.

📞 And if you want someone to actually walk through YOUR situation with you, visit AbtInsuranceAgency.com to schedule a FREE Medicare consultation with our team.

You don’t need to become a Medicare expert. You just need to make sure you have one in your corner.

08/25/2026

🚨 4 Medicare deadlines you DON’T want to mess up.

Some Medicare mistakes can cost you money for YEARS—and one can affect your ability to get the Medigap coverage you want later.

Here are 4 steps to protect yourself:

1️⃣ KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO ENROLL IN MEDICARE PART B.

Turning 65 doesn’t necessarily mean you have to enroll immediately if you have qualifying employer coverage.

But if you don’t have coverage that allows you to delay Part B, missing your enrollment window could result in a late enrollment penalty that’s generally added to your premium for as long as you have Part B.

2️⃣ DON’T FORGET ABOUT PART D—even if you don’t take prescriptions!

If you go 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable prescription drug coverage after you’re eligible, you could face a Part D late enrollment penalty later.

And that penalty is generally added to your premium for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.

3️⃣ SAVE PROOF OF YOUR PRIOR COVERAGE.

If you’re delaying Medicare because of employer coverage, keep your documentation.

And if you’re delaying Part D because you have other creditable drug coverage, SAVE your Notice of Creditable Coverage.

You may need to prove later that you had qualifying coverage.

4️⃣ DON’T MISS YOUR MEDIGAP OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD.

This one isn’t technically a “late enrollment penalty”—but the consequences can potentially be even bigger.

Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period generally lasts 6 months beginning the first month you’re 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B.

During this window, you can buy any Medigap policy sold in your state regardless of your health.

After that window closes, depending on your state and circumstances, you may face medical underwriting and could potentially be charged more or even denied a Medigap policy. (Medicare)

Medicare is MUCH easier when you know the deadlines before you reach them.

👇 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist that walks you through what to do, when to do it, and the Medicare mistakes you want to avoid.

08/25/2026

🚨 If you’re on Medicare, this may be one of the most important Annual Enrollment Periods we’ve seen in YEARS.

The 2027 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15–December 7, 2026—and this is NOT the year to throw your Medicare paperwork in a drawer and assume everything will stay the same.

We’re already seeing signs of significant disruption in the Medicare Advantage market.

Humana alone has announced targeted Medicare Advantage plan exits expected to affect approximately 600,000 members for 2027. Other insurers are also reducing their footprints or discontinuing certain Medicare Advantage products.

And even if YOUR plan isn’t going away, you could still see changes to:

💰 Premiums and copays
🏥 Provider networks
💊 Prescription drug coverage and costs
🦷 Dental, vision and other extra benefits
📈 Maximum out-of-pocket limits

Industry experts have also warned that some Medicare Advantage plans may reduce supplemental benefits for 2027 as insurers respond to rising medical costs and financial pressures.

So PLEASE read your Annual Notice of Change this fall.

That document tells you exactly what’s changing with your current plan for January 1.

And don’t just ask:

“Is my plan still available?”

Ask:

“Is my plan still the best option for ME in 2027?”

Check your doctors. Check your prescriptions. Check your costs. Check your benefits. And compare your options BEFORE December 7.

This may be one of those years when doing nothing could be a very expensive decision.

👇 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist to help you know what to review and when.

📞 And if you’d like help reviewing your Medicare coverage for 2027, visit AbtInsuranceAgency.com to schedule a FREE consultation with my team.

MedicarePartD MedicareChanges MedicareTips

08/24/2026

🚨 Think you’re STUCK on Medicare Advantage because you can’t pass Medigap medical underwriting? Not always.

In many states, switching from Medicare Advantage to a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan can require medical underwriting.

BUT there are certain situations where you may have guaranteed-issue rights that let you get certain Medigap plans without medical underwriting.
Here are 4 big ones you should know:

1️⃣ TRIAL RIGHT #1: You chose Medicare Advantage when you first became eligible for Medicare at 65.

If it’s your first time in Medicare Advantage and you decide within the first 12 months that it isn’t for you, you may have a trial right allowing you to return to Original Medicare and buy certain Medigap coverage without underwriting.

2️⃣ TRIAL RIGHT #2: You dropped Medigap to try Medicare Advantage for the first time.

If you had a Medigap policy, dropped it to join Medicare Advantage for the first time, and you’ve been in the Advantage plan for less than a year, you may have a trial right to switch back.

Depending on availability, you may be able to get your previous Medigap policy back—or certain other Medigap coverage if that policy isn’t available.

3️⃣ YOU MOVE OUT OF YOUR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN’S SERVICE AREA.

If you legitimately move somewhere your current Medicare Advantage plan doesn’t operate, you’ll generally get a Special Enrollment Period to leave the plan—and federal Medigap guaranteed-issue protections may apply when you return to Original Medicare.

4️⃣ YOUR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN LEAVES MEDICARE OR DOESN’T RENEW ITS CONTRACT.

If your plan terminates or doesn’t renew its Medicare contract, you may have the opportunity to return to Original Medicare AND have guaranteed-issue rights for certain Medigap plans.

⚠️ This is important: Guaranteed issue doesn’t necessarily mean you can choose every Medigap plan from every company, and your rights and deadlines can vary depending on the situation and your state’s laws.

👇 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist to help you understand Medicare Advantage, Medigap and the enrollment rules you need to know.

08/24/2026

💰 Your income can make your Medicare Part D plan more expensive—even if you picked a $0 premium plan.

It’s called IRMAA: the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.

For your 2026 Medicare premiums, Social Security generally looks back TWO years at your 2024 Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

Here’s how the 2026 Part D IRMAA brackets break down:

👤 SINGLE FILERS — 2024 MAGI

Up to $109,000 → $0 IRMAA
$109,001–$137,000 → +$14.50/month
$137,001–$171,000 → +$37.50/month
$171,001–$205,000 → +$60.40/month
$205,001–$499,999 → +$83.30/month
$500,000+ → +$91.00/month

💍 MARRIED FILING JOINTLY — 2024 MAGI

Up to $218,000 → $0 IRMAA
$218,001–$274,000 → +$14.50/month
$274,001–$342,000 → +$37.50/month
$342,001–$410,000 → +$60.40/month
$410,001–$749,999 → +$83.30/month
$750,000+ → +$91.00/month

⚠️ And remember: this is IN ADDITION to your actual Part D plan premium. IRMAA can also increase what you pay for Medicare Part B.

But here’s something REALLY important:

If your income has dropped because of a qualifying life-changing event—like retirement, stopping work, reducing your hours, divorce or the death of a spouse—you may be able to ask Social Security to lower your IRMAA using Form SSA-44.

So don’t automatically assume the IRMAA amount on your Medicare notice is what you’re stuck paying.

👇 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist to help you navigate Medicare costs, enrollment deadlines and some of the biggest mistakes to avoid.

📞 Want personalized Medicare help? Visit AbtInsuranceAgency.com to schedule a FREE consultation with my team.

08/22/2026

🚨 Under 65 and on Medicare because of a disability? Here’s a Medigap rule that surprises a LOT of people.

Getting Medicare before age 65 does NOT automatically mean you’ll have the same Medicare Supplement (Medigap) options as someone turning 65.

If you qualify for Medicare under 65 due to disability, your ability to purchase a Medigap plan can depend heavily on where you live.

📍 Some states require insurance companies to offer at least certain Medigap options to Medicare beneficiaries under 65.

📍 Other states may offer more limited protections—or may not require insurers to sell Medigap policies to people under 65 at all.

And even when a Medigap plan IS available, pricing can sometimes be significantly higher than it is for someone enrolling at age 65.

But here’s an important piece of good news:

🎂 When you turn 65, you generally get a new 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period based on being 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B—giving you another opportunity to purchase Medigap coverage without medical underwriting.

So if you’re under 65 and receiving Medicare due to disability, don’t assume your Medicare Supplement options are the same everywhere.

Your STATE matters.

👇 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist to help you understand your Medicare options and important enrollment rules.

📞 Want to know what Medigap options are available where YOU live? Visit AbtInsuranceAgency.com to schedule a FREE Medicare consultation with my team.

MedicareSupplement MedicareTips

08/21/2026

🚨 “But I have a Medicare Advantage PPO… so I can see ANY doctor, right?”

Not necessarily.

This is one of the biggest misunderstandings I hear about Medicare Advantage PPO plans.

A PPO generally gives you more flexibility than an HMO because you can often receive covered services from out-of-network providers—usually at a higher cost.

BUT here’s the part people miss:

👉 An out-of-network doctor isn’t necessarily required to accept your Medicare Advantage PPO plan.

Even if your plan provides out-of-network benefits, that doesn’t guarantee every doctor or hospital will agree to treat you under that plan or bill the plan for your care.

So when someone tells me:

“I chose a PPO because I want to be able to see any doctor in the country.”

My response is always: verify that first.

Before choosing a Medicare Advantage PPO:

✔️ Check whether your doctors are in-network.
✔️ Ask the provider directly whether they’ll accept and bill your specific PPO plan.
✔️ Understand what you’ll pay for out-of-network care.
✔️ Don’t assume “PPO” means unlimited access to every Medicare provider.

This is also one of the important differences to understand when comparing Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare + Medigap.

The letters P-P-O can give you more flexibility—but they are NOT a guarantee that every provider will take your plan.

👇 Comment GUIDE and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist to help you understand your options before you enroll.

📞 Want personalized help comparing Medicare plans? Visit AbtInsuranceAgency.com to schedule a FREE Medicare consultation with my team.

08/21/2026

💰 Think Original Medicare covers 100% of your healthcare costs? It doesn’t.

If you have Original Medicare Parts A & B, here are the major deductibles and coinsurance amounts you need to know for 2026:

🏥 MEDICARE PART A — Hospital Coverage

$1,736 deductible for each inpatient hospital benefit period.

After that:

➡️ Days 1–60: $0 daily coinsurance
➡️ Days 61–90: $434 per day
➡️ Lifetime reserve days: $868 per day

And here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: the Part A deductible isn’t necessarily once per calendar year. It’s per benefit period, which means it’s possible to pay it more than once in a year.

🏥 SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

For a Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility stay:

➡️ Days 1–20: $0 coinsurance
➡️ Days 21–100: $217 per day

👩‍⚕️ MEDICARE PART B — Doctors & Outpatient Care

You pay a $283 annual deductible in 2026.

After you’ve met it, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most Part B services—and Original Medicare itself generally doesn’t put an annual cap on what you could pay out of pocket.

And THIS is why understanding your additional coverage options matters.

Many people choose either a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy alongside Original Medicare or receive their Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage plan to help manage costs Original Medicare leaves behind.

👇 Comment “GUIDE” and I’ll send you my FREE Medicare Checklist that breaks down Medicare step-by-step and helps you understand your coverage options.

Abt Insurance Agency

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