Wise Medi Health

Medicare guidance, plainly spoken

Make your Medicare choices with a clear head and a steady guide.

Wise Medi Health walks you through Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D coverage in plain English, at your own pace, so the decision you make is one you truly understand.

See the enrollment calendar

A note on timing

Gaps in drug coverage can follow you.

Medicare beneficiaries who go 63 or more days without creditable prescription drug coverage may have to pay a late enrollment penalty when they do enroll.

Creditable coverage is prescription drug coverage that meets or exceeds the standards of Original Medicare's prescription drug coverage.

Eligibility

You may be able to enroll if you…

Life changes open new enrollment windows. If any of these sound like you, it is worth a conversation.

  • Turning 65

    You are turning 65 soon or recently had your 65th birthday.

  • Special Enrollment

    You are 65 or older and qualify for a special enrollment period.

  • Dual Eligible

    You have both Medicare and Medicaid.

  • Recently Moved

    You have recently moved to a new area.

  • Losing Coverage

    Your retiree or employer health coverage is ending.

  • Chronic Condition

    You are living with a chronic health condition.

  • Under 65 with Disability

    You have received disability benefits for 24 months or more.

  • Widow or Widower

    Your late spouse was entitled to Social Security.

The Medicare calendar

Four windows worth knowing by heart

When you can sign up or make a change depends on the time of year and your circumstances. Here is the short version.

AEP

Annual Enrollment Period

October 15 - December 7

Each fall, you can:

  • Move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
  • Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
  • Return to Original Medicare
  • Add or drop Part D prescription drug coverage
IEP

Initial Enrollment Period

A 7-month window around your 65th birthday

Your first chance to enroll in Medicare:

  • Opens 3 months before the month you turn 65
  • Includes your birthday month
  • Closes 3 months after your birthday month
  • Enrolling now helps you avoid late penalties
SEP

Special Enrollment Periods

Triggered by qualifying life events

You may qualify for a SEP if you:

  • Move to an area with different plan choices
  • Lose employer or union coverage
  • Qualify for Medicaid or Extra Help
  • Have certain chronic conditions
OEP

Open Enrollment Period

January 1 - March 31

If you have Medicare Advantage, you can:

  • Switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan
  • Leave Medicare Advantage and return to Original Medicare
  • Join a Part D plan when returning to Original Medicare
  • Make one change during this window

Why Wise Medi Health

“Good advice is patient. It listens first, explains clearly, and never rushes you to a decision.”

That is the standard we hold every conversation to.

  1. I.

    We listen before we speak

    Every conversation starts with your doctors, your prescriptions and your routine, not a script.

  2. II.

    Plain words, no jargon

    Deductibles, premiums and Part D tiers explained the way a good friend would explain them.

  3. III.

    Licensed and well trained

    Our agents are licensed and trained across Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Supplement and Part D coverage.

  4. IV.

    Here seven days a week

    Reach us from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., any day of the week, whenever a question comes up.

Further reading

Three chapters most people ask about

Chapter I

Your 65th birthday

What happens during your Initial Enrollment Period, which parts start automatically and which ones you have to choose.

Chapter II

Medicare and Medicaid

If you qualify for both programs, you may be eligible for special plans designed with additional benefits.

Chapter III

Making a change

How and when you can switch or adjust your current coverage, and what to check before you do.

In their words

Notes from the people we have helped

“I had a stack of mail and no idea where to start. Wise Medi Health sat with me on the phone, went through it one page at a time, and I finally understood what I was signing up for.”

Marjorie T.

Youngstown, OH

“My agent never once hurried me. When I called back with the same question twice, it was answered again like it was the first time. That patience meant a great deal.”

Theodore B.

Lancaster, PA

“Losing my retiree coverage had me worried. They explained my special enrollment window clearly and helped me get everything in order before the deadline.”

Bernadette S.

Zanesville, OH

Common questions

Asked often, answered simply

When can I first sign up for Medicare?

Most people first enroll during their Initial Enrollment Period, a 7-month window that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it.

What is the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is run by the federal government. Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurers approved by Medicare and often bundle hospital, medical and drug coverage together.

What happens if I delay prescription drug coverage?

If you go 63 or more days without creditable prescription drug coverage after you become eligible, you may owe a late enrollment penalty when you do enroll in Part D.

Can I change my coverage after I enroll?

Yes. The Annual Enrollment Period each fall and the Open Enrollment Period from January to March let you make changes, and certain life events can open a Special Enrollment Period.

Ready when you are. Not a minute sooner.

Talk with a licensed agent about your Medicare questions, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., 7 days a week.