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Need help with Medicare?

  • Looking for a new Medicare Advantage plan?
  • Do you want to see a primary care doctor or specialists in our network?
  • Need help just figuring it out? 

Empire Physicians Medical Group (EPMG) is health care that’s built around you. We offer our patients a network of 56 primary care doctors, 300+ specialists and 4 hospitals.

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Talk to an agent

To find out if you qualify for Medicare, and to learn about Medicare Advantage plans, we can help. We can connect you with a licensed insurance agent.* Call:

Optum Sales Support Center  
Toll-free 1-844-791-4359
Mon.–Fri.:  8 a.m.–5 p.m. PT

An agent can:

  • Meet with you one-on-one. 
  • Answer your questions and explain how Medicare works.
  • Show you how to contact the Social Security office to enroll in Medicare.
  • Talk with you about your current plan and what it covers.
  • Help you keep your doctor and network you know and trust.

There is no obligation to enroll. Bilingual insurance agents are also available.

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Contact Medicare to learn about plans 

You can also contact Medicare to learn about plans: 

  • Visit medicare.gov. 
  • Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Attend a Medicare event

Attend a Medicare event to learn more about Medicare. A sales representative will be present with information and applications. There is no obligation to enroll. To find an event near you, click the link below.

Find event

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Download a brochure: Medicare at-a-glance

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Get a brief look at the basics of Medicare.

View PDF

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Top 10 Medicare facts

  1. Be sure you’re covered by the time you turn 65. Sign up during your initial enrollment period. It starts three months before your birthday month, and ends three months after your birthday month. 
  2. Medicare is divided into three parts: Part A, Part B and Part D.
  3. Original Medicare (Part A and B) is offered through the federal government. 
  4. Original Medicare is the same across the United States.
  5. Part C, known as Medicare Advantage, is a combination of Part A and B.
  6. Part D covers prescription drugs. 
  7. Medicare Advantage (Part C) and prescription drug (Part D) plans are offered by private insurance companies. 
  8. Medicare Advantage (Part C) and prescription drug (Part D) plans may be offered only in certain counties, states or regions.
  9. MediGap, also called a Medicare Supplemental plan, can help pay for costs that Original Medicare doesn’t pay.
  10. You have a lot of choices. But you don't have to figure it out on your own. With help, you can find a plan that’s right for you.
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Medicare FAQs

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  • Medicare is a health insurance program. You may qualify for Medicare if you are: 

    • 65 or older
    • Under age 65 with certain disabilities
    • Any age and have end stage renal disease (this is permanent kidney failure and needing dialysis or a kidney transplant)
    OR

  • If you already have a health care plan, you don’t need to sign up. But it’s a good idea to compare your current plan to a Medicare health plan. Sometimes Medicare plans have lower costs and better coverage. 

    It doesn’t matter if you’re still working or haven’t started getting Social Security checks.

    OR

  • We can connect you with a licensed insurance agent* who can answer your questions. The agent can let you know when to sign up for Medicare and help you find a plan. You can even get help signing up. Call 1-844-791-4359, and we’ll connect you with an agent in your area. 

    OR
  • In general, a plan starts the first of the month after you send in your paperwork. If you sign up during the open enrollment period, your plan will start January 1 of the next year.
    OR
  • A Medicare Advantage plan is known as Part C. It covers everything that Part A and Part B covers. It may also include vision, dental, wellness programs, chiropractors and more. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover prescription drugs.
    OR
  • In general, Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs. (There are a few exceptions.) If you have both Medicare Part A and Part B, you can buy a Part D prescription drug plan. 
    OR

  • The cost depends on the health plan you choose. Medicare is not free. You may need to pay a premium each month, and copays or coinsurance when you get care. You can buy supplemental insurance to help pay for those costs. 

    (Note: You can sign up to pay your premium from your Social Security check.) You may also have a deductible. A deductible is the total amount you pay for your care before your plan starts to pay. 

    When you meet with a licensed insurance agent, be sure to ask these questions:

    • How much are the premiums and other costs? What is the deductible?
    • How will I pay for hospital stays or doctor visits?
    • Is there a yearly limit on what I pay out-of-pocket for medical services?
    OR

  • No. You can switch or drop plans during Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), which takes place in the fall. You may also be able to make changes at other times if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). 

    Examples of an SEP are: You retire and leave an employer or union health care plan; or you move out of your current plan’s service area. Be sure to check your plan each year to see if it still fits your needs.

    OR
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* A representative from Optum Sales Support Center can connect you with a licensed insurance agent in your area to review your health insurance plan options.

Optum Sales Support Center connects Medicare beneficiaries with resources including licensed insurance agents that sell Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans.