YOUR MEDICARE SEASON SURVIVAL GUIDE: PART 1 — ORIGINAL MEDICARE

Medicare touches nearly 70 million Americans, but it's shockingly easy to get lost in its rules, deadlines, and penalties. This episode kicks off a 4-part Medicare Month series to help you navigate it with confidence.

Amy sits down with Diane Omdahl, RN, MS — a registered nurse and Medicare expert with more than 30 years of experience, co-founder of 65 Incorporated and creator of the i65 Medicare guidance software. Diane breaks down the basics of Original Medicare: what it covers, who qualifies, the enrollment windows that can make or break your budget, and the penalties that follow you for life if you miss them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Medicare is and how it differs from Medicaid

• Who qualifies for Medicare and at what age

• What Original Medicare covers — and the big things it doesn't

• The ABCs (and D) of Medicare: Parts A, B, C, and D explained

• Why your Initial Enrollment Period matters and how to calculate yours

• The late enrollment penalties that can follow you for life

• What Medicare actually costs — because "zero premium" doesn't mean free

• Where to find free, unbiased help if you get stuck

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why Medicare matters and what this series will cover

02:32 – What is Medicare, and how is it different from Medicaid?

03:33 – Who qualifies for Medicare, and at what age?

04:38 – What Medicare covers — and what it doesn't

05:47 – The ABCs (and D) of Medicare: Parts A, B, C, and D explained

09:08 – How to enroll in Medicare and your additional coverage options

11:08 – Your Initial Enrollment Period and how to calculate it

13:15 – Late enrollment penalties and what triggers them

17:29 – What Medicare actually costs — zero premium doesn't mean free

21:25 – Where to find free, unbiased help (SHIP counselors)

25:18 – The biggest tip Diane gives every new Medicare enrollee

27:02 – Open enrollment: what current beneficiaries need to do every year

34:12 – Key takeaways

Resources mentioned:

• 65 Incorporated — unbiased, expert Medicare guidance from Diane and her team: https://www.65incorporated.com

• Free Medicare Initial Enrollment Period Calculator: https://www.65incorporated.com/when_can_i_sign_up_for_medicare/

• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free, unbiased Medicare counseling in your state: https://acl.gov/programs/connecting-people-services/state-health-insurance-assistance-program-ship

This episode is sponsored by Naborforce, connecting older adults with vetted, caring companions for rides, errands, tech help, and more. Learn more at naborforce.com.

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