Medicare help in Florida, free to you. Instant Health Help is a licensed health insurance agency based in Orlando and Kissimmee. Our agent, Lobsang Rivas (NPN 18838086), helps people anywhere in Florida compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Part D plans by phone, by video, or in person in Central Florida, in English or Spanish. We check your doctors and prescriptions first.
- Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Changes start January 1.
- Florida plan choices depend on your county and ZIP code, so a plan your neighbor in another county has may not be offered where you live.
- Help paying for Medicare exists in Florida: Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help and Medicaid for people who qualify.
Compare Medicare plans in Florida
- Medicare AdvantageMedicare Advantage plans in FloridaHMO, PPO and Special Needs Plans, and how to compare them.
- MedigapMedicare Supplement plans in FloridaPlan G vs Plan N, and when you can switch.
- OrlandoMedicare Advantage plans in OrlandoHow to compare plans offered in Orange County.
- En españolAgente de Medicare en españolAyuda con Medicare en su idioma, en Orlando y Kissimmee.
- Local agentMedicare agent in OrlandoEnrollment help and annual plan reviews in Orlando.
- Local agentMedicare agent in KissimmeeMedicare help in Kissimmee and Osceola County. Hablamos español.
More local help
Medicare enrollment dates in Florida
Medicare is a federal program, so the dates are the same in Pensacola, Orlando and Miami. What changes by county is the list of plans.
| Window | Dates | Who it’s for | What you can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Enrollment (AEP) | Oct 15 – Dec 7 | Everyone with Medicare | Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan; change Part D; go back to Original Medicare. Starts Jan 1. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | People already in a Medicare Advantage plan | One switch to another Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare (you can add Part D). |
| Initial Enrollment (IEP) | 7 months | People turning 65 | The 3 months before your birthday month, that month, and the 3 months after. |
| General Enrollment | Jan 1 – Mar 31 | People who missed Part A or Part B sign-up | Sign up for Part A and/or Part B; coverage starts the month after you sign up. Late penalties may apply. |
| Special Enrollment Periods | Varies | Life events | Moving, losing job-based coverage, getting Medicaid or Extra Help, and other events can let you change plans outside the windows above. |
Getting ready for this fall? Use our Annual Enrollment prep checklist, the Oct 15 to Dec 7 checklist, and AEP vs OEP: what is the difference?
The parts of Medicare, in plain English
| Part | What it covers | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Hospital stays, skilled nursing after a hospital stay, hospice, some home health | Most people pay no Part A premium if they or a spouse worked about 10 years. |
| Part B | Doctor visits, outpatient care, tests, durable medical equipment, preventive care | Has a monthly premium; higher incomes pay more (IRMAA). |
| Part C (Medicare Advantage) | Private plans that replace Original Medicare for Parts A and B, usually with drug coverage | Networks (HMO or PPO), copays and a yearly out-of-pocket limit. Extras like dental or vision vary by plan. |
| Part D | Prescription drugs | Each plan has its own drug list and pharmacy network. There is a yearly cap on out-of-pocket drug costs, set each year. |
| Medigap (Medicare Supplement) | Helps pay the costs Original Medicare leaves you, like deductibles and coinsurance | Works with Original Medicare only. Usually paired with a separate Part D plan. |
Start with Medicare basics or Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage.
Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement?
This is the biggest choice most Floridians make. Advantage plans can cost less each month, but you use a network and pay copays as you go. A Supplement usually costs more each month but makes costs more predictable and lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare, which matters if you travel or split the year between states.
- Medicare Advantage vs Supplement in Orange and Osceola County
- Medicare Advantage HMO vs PPO in Florida
- Medigap Open Enrollment in Florida: your one-time 6-month window
- Snowbird Medicare: Advantage vs Supplement for travel
- Medicare Advantage plan changes next year: what to check
- En español: Medicare Advantage o Suplemento en Florida
What we check before you switch
- Your doctors and hospitals. Networks differ by plan and county. We check each doctor in the plan’s own directory, then suggest you confirm with the office. See how to check if your doctor is in network.
- Your prescriptions and pharmacy. We price your exact drug list. See review your Part D drug list and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
- Your plan’s changes for next year. Your Annual Notice of Change arrives each fall. See what to do with your ANOC.
- Total yearly cost, not just the premium: deductibles, copays and the out-of-pocket limit. You can compare on your own with Medicare Plan Finder too.
- Travel and extras: time out of state, dental, vision and hearing.
Help paying for Medicare in Florida
- Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI) can pay your Part B premium and sometimes more. Who may qualify in Florida.
- Extra Help lowers Part D costs for people with limited income and resources. Extra Help in Florida.
- Medicare and Medicaid together: dual eligible basics and D-SNPs. You apply for Florida Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs through MyACCESS; we help you with the application for free. We are not DCF; DCF decides eligibility.
- Veterans: Medicare and VA benefits.
Turning 65 or still working?
- Turning 65 in Florida: your Medicare timeline, step by step
- Turning 65 countdown: when to apply
- Should you delay Part B if you still work?
- Medicare vs ACA when you turn 65 and can I keep Marketplace coverage after 65?
- En español: ¿Cumplir 65? Guía de inscripción a Medicare
Does Medicare cover it?
- Dental care
- Vision and glasses
- Hearing aids
- Durable medical equipment
- Diabetic supplies
- Home health care
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice
- Mental health therapy
- Outpatient surgery
- Physical therapy
Local Medicare help across Florida
We meet in person in Central Florida by appointment and help everyone else in Florida by phone or video. Same licensed agent, same free help.
- Orlando and Orange County: Medicare agent in Orlando
- Kissimmee, St. Cloud and Osceola County: Medicare agent in Kissimmee
- Central Florida: local Medicare help in Central Florida
- Polk County: Lakeland and Polk County · Winter Haven Medicare checklist
- Ocala and Marion County: Medicare help in Ocala
- Anywhere in Florida: licensed Medicare agent in Florida
- Outside Florida (by phone, where we hold non-resident licenses): New York City, Newark, NJ, Detroit
Agent or SHINE counselor?
Both are free. SHINE, Florida’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (1-800-963-5337), gives unbiased counseling and doesn’t sell plans. A licensed agent like us can compare the plans we’re appointed with and help you enroll. Many people talk to both. See Medicare counselor vs licensed agent.
Medicare in Florida: frequently asked questions
When can I change my Medicare plan?
Most people change plans during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, with changes starting January 1. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get one switch from January 1 to March 31. Moving, losing other coverage, or getting Medicaid or Extra Help can open a Special Enrollment Period.
Should I pick Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement?
It depends on your doctors, travel, budget and health. Medicare Advantage plans use networks and copays and often bundle drug coverage and extras. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works with Original Medicare, lets you see any provider that takes Medicare, and usually needs a separate Part D plan. Medigap is easiest to get during your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period; after that, insurers can usually ask health questions.
Is help from a Medicare agent free?
Yes. Our help is free to you. If you enroll in a plan, the insurance company may pay us a commission, and it does not change your premium. Free, unbiased counseling is also available from SHINE, Florida’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, at 1-800-963-5337.
What if I have Medicare and Medicaid?
You may be dual eligible. Florida Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program can help with premiums and cost sharing, and you get Extra Help with drug costs. Dual eligible people can also join Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) and have more chances during the year to change plans. We help you check which plans fit and can help with your MyACCESS application; we are not DCF, and DCF decides Medicaid eligibility.
Do you help in Spanish?
Yes. Lobsang Rivas speaks English and Spanish, by phone, video or in person in Central Florida. Our Spanish guides are listed on our Spanish page.
Talk to a licensed Medicare agent
Bring your Medicare card, your list of doctors, and your prescriptions. We’ll compare options with you, free to you. Hable con un agente de Medicare: atendemos en español.
Medicare disclosures, including the CMS third-party marketing disclaimer, appear in the footer of every page and on our Disclaimers page. Instant Health Help is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
Educational content only. Plan availability, networks and costs depend on your county, ZIP code and eligibility. Instant Health Help is a licensed health insurance agency, not an insurance company. Lobsang Rivas, licensed health insurance agent, NPN 18838086. Florida resident license; non-resident licenses in Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, New York and New Jersey. Disclaimers.