Medicare Enrollment
Medicare Agent vs. Enrolling on Your Own: What's the Difference?
Yes, you can enroll in a Medicare plan on your own. Medicare.gov gives you tools to research available plans, compare costs and coverage, and enroll.
But enrolling is only one part of the process. You still have to compare plans, check your doctors and prescriptions, understand the coverage, and keep up with changes from year to year.
A licensed independent Medicare agent can help with that process. Independent agents can work with multiple insurance carriers and use professional comparison tools to help compare available plans from the insurance companies they represent based on your healthcare needs and budget.
Medicare Agent vs. Enrolling on Your Own
| Licensed Independent Medicare Agent/Broker | Enroll on Your Own | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost for help | $0 to you for the agent's Medicare plan enrollment assistance. | $0, but you handle the research and enrollment yourself. |
| Shopping & comparing plans | Works with multiple insurance carriers and uses professional comparison tools to help compare available plans from the insurance companies they represent based on your healthcare needs and budget. | You research and compare available plans and insurance carriers yourself. |
| Doctors & prescriptions | Helps check how your doctors, prescriptions and preferred pharmacies fit with the options you're considering. | You research and verify your doctors, prescriptions and pharmacies yourself. |
| Enrollment | Helps you understand your options and assists you with enrollment. | You choose your coverage and complete the enrollment yourself. |
| ANOC & annual changes | When your Annual Notice of Change arrives, you have an agent who can help you understand important changes to your coverage. | You review your ANOC and determine how the changes may affect you. |
| Language support | Depending on the agent or agency, you may be able to get help in the language you're most comfortable speaking. | You may need to use translated resources or find language assistance when researching and enrolling. |
| Ongoing support | You have a licensed agent you can contact throughout the year when questions about your coverage come up. | You contact Medicare or your insurance carrier directly when you need help. |
Why Work With an Independent Medicare Agent?
There can be a lot more to comparing Medicare coverage than looking at a monthly premium. Your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacies, healthcare needs and budget can all matter when you're reviewing your options.
An independent Medicare agent can work with multiple insurance carriers rather than representing only one company. That gives the agent the ability to help compare available options from the insurance companies they represent.
Independent doesn't mean every plan from every insurance company is available through that agent. No agent necessarily represents every plan or insurance company available in your area.
Does It Cost Money to Work With a Medicare Agent?
There is no separate fee to you for our Medicare plan enrollment assistance.
Insurance companies may compensate licensed agents and brokers for eligible Medicare plan enrollments under CMS rules. Agents and brokers must also meet applicable state licensing, annual Medicare training and marketing requirements.
In other words, getting help from a licensed agent doesn't mean you have to write the agent a check for helping you enroll.
Your Coverage Can Change From Year to Year
Choosing coverage isn't necessarily a one-time decision that you never look at again.
If you're enrolled in a Medicare health or drug plan, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall. The ANOC explains changes in coverage, costs and other plan details that will take effect in January.
A change doesn't automatically mean you should switch plans. But it is important to understand what's changing and whether your coverage will continue to meet your needs.
This is one reason ongoing support can matter. Instead of looking at the notice and wondering what it means for you, you have a licensed agent you can contact with questions.
Ongoing Support After You Enroll
For us, the relationship doesn't have to end after the enrollment is completed.
Questions can come up during the year. Your healthcare needs can change. Your plan can change. When that happens, having a licensed agent gives you someone familiar with Medicare whom you can contact instead of always trying to figure out where to start on your own.
An agent can't replace Medicare, your insurance carrier, or your healthcare providers, and some issues may need to be handled directly by them. But your agent can often help you understand where to start and who you may need to contact.
Medicare Help in English or Hmong
Understanding Medicare can be difficult enough without adding a language barrier.
Golden Milestone Services is a bilingual agency fluent in Hmong and English. If you or a family member would rather discuss Medicare in Hmong, you can speak directly with us in Hmong instead of relying only on translated materials.
Our goal is to help you understand your options so you can make an informed decision about your Medicare coverage.
Should You Use an Agent or Enroll on Your Own?
There's nothing wrong with enrolling on your own. Medicare.gov provides tools that let you research and compare plans, and some people are comfortable handling the process themselves.
The question is whether you want to do all of the research yourself.
If you'd rather have a licensed independent Medicare agent help you compare available options from the insurance companies they represent, consider your doctors and prescriptions, assist with enrollment, and be available for ongoing questions, that's where working with an agent can make a difference.
If you're still working as you approach 65, your Medicare timing may also depend on the type of employer coverage you have. Read our guide on working past 65 and Medicare before making that decision.
You can enroll in a Medicare plan on your own. But you don't have to research everything alone.
Common questions
Do I have to use a Medicare agent?
No. You can research and enroll in a Medicare health or drug plan yourself through Medicare.gov, contact the plan directly, or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Medicare also recognizes trusted agents or brokers as a source of help.
Does it cost money to work with a Medicare agent?
Golden Milestone Services does not charge you a separate fee for Medicare plan enrollment assistance. Insurance companies may compensate licensed agents and brokers for eligible Medicare plan enrollments under CMS rules.
What is an independent Medicare agent?
An independent Medicare agent can represent multiple insurance carriers rather than working for only one insurance company. The agent can help compare available options from the companies they represent based on your individual needs.
What is a Medicare Annual Notice of Change?
The Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, is sent by your Medicare plan each fall. It explains changes in coverage, costs and other plan details that will take effect in January.
Can I get Medicare help in Hmong?
Yes. Golden Milestone Services is a bilingual agency fluent in Hmong and English. Medicare assistance is available in either language.