Inside planning window
You’re entering the window where planning becomes actionable.
At this point, you’re close enough to Medicare eligibility that timing matters — especially if you’re considering Original Medicare with a Supplement. This is the period when guaranteed issue rights, enrollment timing, and plan availability can directly affect your options.
While enrollment may not be required immediately, this is the right time to compare paths, confirm costs, and line up next steps so coverage begins smoothly and without surprises.
Taking action here helps preserve flexibility and avoids last-minute pressure.
Costs shown are based on your expected Medicare effective date, not today’s date. For future enrollment years, pricing reflects the most recent available Medicare benchmarks and may be adjusted when official updates are released.
IRMAA notes: Important note about IRMAA:
Your Part B and/or Part D IRMAA amount is based on a 2-year lookback of your IRS-reported income (MAGI), and Social Security re-checks this each year. That means this surcharge can increase, decrease, or go away next year depending on your income from two years prior.
Why this can change:
If you had a one-time income spike—like a 401(k)/IRA withdrawal, Roth conversion, sale of property, capital gains, bonus/commission year, or other unusually high income—you may see a higher IRMAA even if your income is lower now.
Appeal option (life-changing events):
If your income has dropped due to a qualifying “life-changing event” (for example: retirement, reduced work hours, marriage/divorce, death of a spouse, loss of income-producing property, or employer settlement/pension changes), you can request that SSA use a more current year instead.
To appeal, use SSA Form SSA-44: “Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event.”
(Click the link to open the form.)
IRMAA appeal form: SSA-44
Plan availability:
Your State’s Supplement Rating Type: Mixed
Supplement Notes: Your state allows multiple Medicare Supplement pricing methods. When costs are similar, they generally make sense in the following order depending on your age and long-term goals.
Community Rated
What it means: Everyone pays the same base rate regardless of age.
Why it matters: Best long-term stability, especially for people enrolling later in life.
Key trade-off: Younger enrollees may pay slightly more upfront, but increases tend to be smoother and more predictable over time.
Issue-Age Rated
What it means: Your price is based on your age when you enroll and never increases due to aging.
Why it matters: Strong middle ground—locks in your age without subsidizing much older enrollees later.
Key trade-off: Premiums can still rise due to inflation or claims, but not because you get older.
Age-Attained Rated
What it means: Your price increases as you age.
Why it matters: Often cheapest at first for younger enrollees.
Key trade-off: Typically the most expensive over time due to built-in age increases plus carrier rate hikes.-Age Rated
What this means for your cost:
Your price is based on your current age and increases as you get older, in addition to any inflation or carrier-wide rate increases.
In plain terms:
Premiums tend to rise over time as you age.
NOTE: You only choose ONE supplement plan. There are other supplement plan options, but these are the most commonly enrolled, and for good reason.
Projections aim to be conservative, confirm pricing for your exact medications on Medicare.gov.
Those on MAPD, or MA-Only will not pay for their drug plan, but will pay copays for medications and for any Part D IRMAA.
NOTE: This is often a conservative estimate. This portion of the cost estimate is solely designed to give you an idea of medication expenses. Many people find lower costs after
confirming exact medications and pharmacies on Medicare.gov.
Simplified “At-A-Glance” Cost Breakdown
This simplified view combines add-ons so you can compare options faster.
Part A: $0.00
Part B (base + IRMAA): $284.10
Plan G: $140.00
Part D premium (base + brand premium): $22.00
Estimated monthly total (Plan G path): $446.10
Projected monthly copays (separate): $6.00
Projections aim to be conservative, confirm pricing for your exact medications on Medicare.gov.
Part A: $0.00
Part B (base + IRMAA): $284.10
Plan N: $100.00
Part D premium (base + brand premium): $22.00
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Estimated monthly total (Plan N path): $406.10
Projected monthly copays (separate): $6.00
Projections aim to be conservative, confirm pricing for your exact medications on Medicare.gov.
Part A: $0.00
Part B (base + IRMAA): $284.10
Plan High Deductible G: $46.67
Part D premium (base + brand premium): $22.00
Estimated monthly total (Plan HDG path): $330.77
Projected monthly copays (separate): $6.00
Part B (base + IRMAA): $284.10
Part D IRMAA (if applicable): $14.50
Estimated MAPD monthly cost: $298.60
Projected monthly copays (separate): $6.00
Note: Many Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plans have a $0 plan premium, meaning there is no additional MAPD plan premium beyond the costs outlined above. Some plans may reduce your Part B premium, while others may increase your total monthly cost depending on plan design. Copays and provider network rules apply and vary by plan.
Projections aim to be conservative, confirm pricing for your exact medications on Medicare.gov.
Enrollment steps can usually be adjusted if circumstances change — the goal is sequencing correctly, not locking in decisions prematurely.