Medicare Advantage
All-in-one plans that often include drug coverage and extras like dental and vision. I'll check your doctors and costs first.
Licensed Independent Medicare Broker
Medicare can feel overwhelming. You don't have to do it alone.
I help East Valley neighbors understand their Medicare choices, one-on-one, at no cost to you.
Questions are always welcome. There's no pressure and no obligation.
Local to you
East Valley roots, with a working knowledge of local doctors, hospitals, and plans.
No cost for my help
My guidance is free to you. You never pay extra to work with me.
One-on-one
No call centers. You get me, from your first question to years down the road.
“My goal is for you to leave our conversation feeling confident, not confused.”
About Brooke
Hi, I'm Brooke.
A Mesa, Arizona native, born and raised, with family roots deep in the East Valley's retirement communities. This community has always felt like home, and helping the people here with Medicare is my way of giving back.
Medicare comes with a lot of mail, ads, and deadlines. I slow it all down, explain things in plain language, and help you find coverage that fits your life.
As an independent broker, I work with many insurance companies, so I can compare plans for you instead of pushing just one.
How I Help
Coverage options I can walk you through
Medicare Supplements
Plans that work alongside Original Medicare to help cover the costs it leaves behind, with the freedom to see any doctor who takes Medicare.
Prescription Drug Plans
I'll look up your exact medications and pharmacy so you know what you'll pay before you enroll.
Dental, Vision & More
Standalone dental and other plans that fill in gaps, without changing the coverage you already have.
Helpful Guides
Medicare, one topic at a time
Working Together
Three simple steps
Reach out
Text or call me. We'll find a time to meet in person, by phone, or on video.
Review together
We'll go over your doctors, prescriptions, and budget, and see which plans fit best.
Choose with confidence
If a change makes sense, I'll help you enroll, and I'm here for questions all year.
Service Area
Proudly serving Maricopa County
Based in Mesa and happy to meet you wherever is easiest.
MesaGilbertChandlerQueen Creek
TempeScottsdalePhoenixFountain HillsSun Lakes
Let's Talk
Questions? Text me.
Send a quick text with your question or a good time to talk. I'll get back to you personally.
Text or call
480-660-9706
Email
Brooke@cpathins.com
How the parts of Medicare fit together
Medicare has four main parts. Most people choose between two paths for putting them together. Here's a plain-language overview.
The four parts
A, B, C, and D
Hospital coverage
Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A.
2026 deductible: $1,736 per benefit period
Medical coverage
Doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, preventive care, and medical equipment. After the deductible, you usually pay 20%.
2026: $202.90/month standard premium, $283 yearly deductible
Medicare Advantage
Private plans that provide your Part A and Part B coverage, and usually Part D. They typically use networks and copays, with a yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
Prescription drugs
Drug coverage through a private plan. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs and pharmacy network.
Yearly out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026, $2,400 in 2027
Two paths
Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage?
Neither path is best for everyone. The right fit depends on your doctors, health, travel, and budget.
| Original Medicare + Supplement + Part D | Medicare Advantage | |
|---|---|---|
| Doctors | Any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare | Usually a local network (HMO or PPO) |
| Monthly cost | Part B premium, plus Supplement and drug plan premiums | Part B premium, and often a low or $0 plan premium |
| When you get care | Low, predictable costs, depending on the Supplement | Copays and coinsurance, up to a yearly maximum |
| Travel | Works the same across the U.S. | Emergencies covered anywhere; routine care may be limited to the network |
| Extras | Dental and vision through separate plans | Often includes dental, vision, or hearing benefits |
| Changing later | Switching Supplements later may require health questions | Can change plans each year during Annual Enrollment |
Good to know
Supplements are standardized
Medicare Supplement plans are labeled by letter. A Plan G from one company has the same benefits as a Plan G from another. What differs is the price and how the company handles rate increases, so comparing matters.
Good to know
Plans change every year
Medicare Advantage and drug plans can change premiums, copays, networks, and covered drugs each January. Your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change each fall. It's worth a review every year.
Getting ready for Medicare
Your first enrollment decisions matter most. A little planning helps you avoid gaps in coverage and lifelong penalties.
Your first window
The 7-month Initial Enrollment Period
It includes the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.
3 months before2 months before1 month beforeBirthday month1 month after2 months after3 months after
Signing up in the months before your birthday month helps your coverage start on time.
Which applies to you?
Common situations
You'll be enrolled automatically
If you already get Social Security benefits, you're usually enrolled in Parts A and B automatically, and your Medicare card arrives in the mail before you turn 65.
You'll need to sign up
Apply for Medicare through Social Security at ssa.gov, by phone, or at a local office during your enrollment window.
Your employer's size matters
With coverage from an employer with 20 or more employees, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. With a smaller employer, Medicare usually pays first, so you'll likely need Parts A and B at 65.
Plan ahead for contributions
You can't contribute to an HSA once your Medicare starts. Part A can be backdated up to 6 months when you enroll after 65, so stop contributions ahead of time.
Avoid penalties
Late enrollment penalties
Part B: 10% added to your premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn't, unless you had qualifying employer coverage.
Part D: A penalty applies if you go 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage.
In most cases, these penalties last as long as you have Medicare.
Before we meet
A simple checklist
- Your doctors and specialists
- Your prescriptions and doses
- Your preferred pharmacy
- Any current coverage through work or a spouse
- Whether you travel or spend part of the year away
Medicare enrollment periods
Medicare has set times to sign up or make changes. Knowing which one applies to you can save you from waiting a year or paying a penalty.
- 7 months around 65
Initial Enrollment Period
Your first chance to sign up for Parts A and B, and to choose a Medicare Advantage or drug plan.
- By September 30
Annual Notice of Change arrives
Medicare Advantage and drug plans mail members a summary of next year's changes. Read it before Annual Enrollment.
- Oct 15 – Dec 7
Annual Enrollment Period
Anyone with Medicare can switch, join, or drop Medicare Advantage and drug plans. Changes start January 1.
- Jan 1 – Mar 31
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
Already on a Medicare Advantage plan? You get one change: another Advantage plan, or back to Original Medicare with a drug plan.
- Jan 1 – Mar 31
General Enrollment Period
Missed your Initial Enrollment Period? You can sign up for Parts A and B here. Coverage starts the month after you sign up, and late penalties may apply.
- 6 months from Part B
Medigap Open Enrollment
Starts the month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It's your best chance to buy any Medicare Supplement without health questions.
- Anytime, with a life event
Special Enrollment Periods
Moving, losing employer coverage, moving into a nursing home, or qualifying for help with costs can open a window to make changes.
Moving to, from, or within Arizona
A move can affect your Medicare coverage, especially if you have a Medicare Advantage or drug plan. Here's what to know before the boxes are packed.
Goes with you
Original Medicare works anywhere in the U.S. A Medicare Supplement generally moves with you too, though your premium may change based on your new address.
Tied to where you live
These plans cover specific service areas. If you move out of your plan's area, you'll need to choose a new plan.
You get a special window
If you tell your plan before you move, your window starts the month before your move. Either way, it lasts through 2 full months after you move.
Moving within your area
Even if you stay in your plan's service area, a new address with different plan options also gives you a window to switch.
Moving checklist
Before and after you move
- Update your address with Social Security. Medicare uses the address on file there.
- Check whether your doctors and pharmacy are in network near your new home.
- Call your plan to let them know your moving date.
- Review your options before your special window closes.
Part-year residents
Snowbirds and travelers
Spending part of the year out of state? Medicare Advantage covers emergencies anywhere in the U.S., but routine care is often limited to a local network. Some people prefer a PPO or Original Medicare with a Supplement for more flexibility.
New to the East Valley? I can help you find plans that include local doctors and hospitals.
Help paying for Medicare
Many people qualify for help and never apply. If your budget is tight, these programs are worth checking.
Medicare Savings Programs
Arizona's QMB program can pay your Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. The SLMB and QI programs pay your Part B premium. Arizona looks at income, not savings, for these programs. You can apply through Health-e-Arizona Plus.
Extra Help with drug costs
Extra Help lowers Part D premiums and copays. If you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program, you automatically qualify for Extra Help too.
IRMAA appeals
If your income dropped because you retired or stopped working, you can ask Social Security to use your newer income to lower your Part B and D premiums, using Form SSA-44.
Spread out drug costs
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you pay your drug costs in monthly amounts instead of all at once at the pharmacy.
Free, unbiased counseling is also available from the Arizona State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-432-4040.
Common questions
Quick answers to the questions I hear most. Don't see yours? Text me anytime.
Does it cost anything to work with you?
No. My help is free to you. I'm paid by the insurance company if you enroll in a plan, and the price of a plan is the same whether you use a broker or not.
When can I sign up or change my plan?
Most people first sign up during the 7 months around their 65th birthday. After that, you can make changes during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), and Medicare Advantage members get another chance January 1 – March 31. Life events like moving or losing employer coverage can open other windows.
What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and a Supplement?
Medicare Advantage replaces how you get your Original Medicare benefits and usually uses a network. A Supplement works alongside Original Medicare to help pay your share of costs. The right fit depends on your doctors, health, travel, and budget.
I'm still working at 65. Do I need to sign up?
It depends on the size of your employer and your coverage. Some people can delay parts of Medicare without a penalty. Let's look at your situation before you decide.
What should I have ready before we meet?
Your Medicare card, a list of your prescriptions and doses, your doctors' names, and your preferred pharmacy. If you already have a plan, bring any recent letters from it.
Let's find a time to talk
Share a few details and I'll reach out personally to set up a time, in person, by phone, or on video. There's no cost and no obligation.
Thank you! I'll be in touch soon.
I've received your request and will reach out personally, usually within one business day. If it's time-sensitive, feel free to text me at 480-660-9706.
Have a question about your situation?
I'm happy to walk through it with you, one-on-one, at no cost to you.