Medicare can be confusing and complex, yet most of us will have to navigate it someday. In short, Medicare is the federal insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.  

Medicare has four main "Parts" that cover specific services. These are:

• Part A for hospital insurance. This is for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some health care services. 
• Part B for medical insurance. This covers certain doctor's services, outpatient care, medical supplies and preventative services.
• Part C aka Medicare Advantage. This is Medicare through a health care provider.
• Part D for prescription drug coverage. Part D adds prescription drug coverage to original Medicare and Medicare-related plans.

To help you navigate the journey through Medicare, AAA Western and Central New York is offering online Medicare workshops free of charge. With so many questions surrounding Medicare, our in-house agent, Elizabeth Sciria, will host upcoming Medicare webinar sessions to answer questions for AAA members and nonmembers alike:

July 15 – Medicare 101 at 10:00 a.m.
July 16 – Medicare Retirement at 10:00 a.m.
July 29 – Medicare 101 at 10:00 a.m.
July 30 – Medicare Retirement at 10:00 a.m.

Anyone interested in attending these virtual events can sign up online in advance. 

Navigating the Medicare process alone can be difficult, and it can be time consuming. By taking part in a free workshop, you're talking to someone who's AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans) licensed, gets recertified, and licensed annually to understand Medicare plans. Unless the average consumer is doing that, they're not going to know as much as about insurance as a professional.

To learn more about Medicare, make an appointment by calling (716) 929-3643, sign up for one of AAA’s Medicare Workshops, with the link above, or email Elizabeth Sciria at esciria@nyaaa.com. For those who have more questions about Medicare, check out our FAQ section here.