Before we meet: how to prepare for your consultation

A short list of what to have ready before a free consultation: Medicare card, list of doctors and prescriptions, pharmacy, travel pattern, and budget. It makes the conversation faster and more concrete.

Medicare enrollment 2026, calendar of windows and common Polish-American situations

A calendar of IEP, AEP (October 15 to December 7), MA-OEP, and SEP for 2026, with the situations we see most often in our community.

Medicare facts vs. myths, the eight most common misconceptions

"Medicare covers everything," "I can change plans whenever I want," "every doctor takes every Medicare." Eight myths that circulate in Polish-American families, and what the program actually says.

When an adult child helps their parents with Medicare

The most common pattern we see: a son or daughter calling about Medicare for their Polish-speaking parents. How to work with an agent when your parent doesn't speak English, and what your parent should do themselves.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP), when you can change plans outside AEP

Moves, loss of employer coverage, Medicaid, a 5-star plan. The most common situations where you don't have to wait until October.

What changes in Medicare year over year, and where to check

Part B premiums, IRMAA, the ANOC letter, network and formulary changes. What's worth checking every year, even if your parent likes their current plan.

Telehealth in Medicare, when a doctor visits by screen

Video visits instead of in-office. When it works, when it doesn't, how to prepare, and what it costs.

Polish-speaking Medicare help in Chicago, where to look

Polish-speaking doctors, pharmacies, parishes, agency offices. A practical map of where to get help in Polish, and what to avoid.

What Medicare doesn't cover, the gaps worth knowing

Dental, vision, hearing, long-term care, care outside the U.S. A summary of the gaps in Original Medicare and four ways to close them.

Does Medicare cover dental? What to know before the visit

Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental. Exceptions, Medicare Advantage plans with dental, standalone DVH plans, and the indemnity approach.

Indemnity (cash-benefit) plans, when they make sense and when they don't

Policies that pay cash after a hospital stay, cancer diagnosis, or accident. When they close real gaps, and when they just duplicate existing coverage.