Fair Square Medicare Wordmark

What People Don't Realize About Medicare

Cover image
By Daniel Petkevich
Mar 27, 2023

Avoid these pitfalls, and save money on your healthcare spending

Our team of experts has seen and done it all when solving the puzzles of Medicare. Here's what they say are the most common issues new to Medicare beneficiaries experience:

Stay Up to Date on Medicare!

Join the Fair Square Medicare Newsletter to stay informed on cost savings, changes to Medicare, and other valuable healthcare information.

1. Misunderstanding the Part D Deductible

"Many PDP plans are marketed as having a single deductible, but if you read the fine print, you'll see that some plans cover tier 1 and tier 2 drugs before the deductible is met."
Your deductible may vary with your choice of Part D plan. Deductibles cannot be higher than $590 per calendar year in 2025.

2. Missing out on Over-the-Counter Benefits

Some of our clients do not realize their Medicare Advantage plan might give them credit (sometimes ranging between $20-$300) to use for over-the-counter purchases of everything from daily supplements to wearable fitness trackers.
Check out our online OTC Catalog for some of the top insurance carriers:

3. Not adding the Part B premium to the Medigap/Medicare Advantage premium

You've probably seen "$0 premium" marketing for Medicare Advantage plans. But paying $0 per month is extremely rare. At the very least, you should expect to pay the standard Part B Monthly Premium of $185 in 2025. The standard premium is added to your Medicare plan monthly premium amount.

4. Higher-income beneficiaries paying more through IRMAA

Check out this chart to see how your income might affect your monthly Part B and Part D premiums:
Visual asset.
If you're interested in doing a deep dive into IRMAA and what it means for you and your family,

check out this article

.

Medicare can be confusing, but we're working to simplify it. Our licensed advisors are here to take your call. Click the button below, or dial (888) 454-2383.

Stay Up to Date on Medicare!

Join the Fair Square Medicare Newsletter to stay informed on cost savings, changes to Medicare, and other valuable healthcare information.

Recommended Articles

Health insurance form on a table with pen, calculator and glasses stock image
What You Need to Know About Creditable Coverage
Jan 18, 2023
stack of books stock image
Do You Need Books on Medicare?
Apr 6, 2023
Upset senior woman crying stock photo
Does Medicare Cover Nuedexta?
Nov 30, 2022
Cover image
Estimating Prescription Drug Costs
May 25, 2020
Cover image
Should You Work With A Remote Medicare Agent?
Sep 20, 2023
Cover image
Does Medicare cover Hyoscyamine?
Nov 30, 2022
A doctor with a clipboard consults a female patient with cancer
Does Medicare Cover Inqovi?
Jan 11, 2023
senior couple doing yoga stock image
13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Columbus
Mar 8, 2023
HIFU treatment stock image
Is HIFU Covered by Medicare?
Nov 21, 2022
Nasal spray stock image
Can Medicare Help with the Cost of Tyrvaya?
Jan 12, 2023
Senior person holding tissue roll near a toilet bowl, using walker to walk to the bathroom stock photo
Does Medicare Cover Oxybutynin?
Dec 2, 2022
Saving money against a stopwatch stock image
What is the 8-Minute Rule on Medicare?
Dec 21, 2022
Kidney stone stock image
Does Medicare Cover Kidney Stone Removal?
Nov 23, 2022
cartoon hospital and male doctor stock image
Can I Have Two Primary Care Physicians?
Oct 3, 2022
scleral lenses
Does Medicare Cover Scleral Lenses?
Dec 5, 2022
COVID-19 at home test stock image
Does Medicare Cover COVID Tests?
Dec 21, 2022
Vitamin in a syringe stock photo
Does Your Medicare Plan Cover B12 Shots?
Aug 15, 2022
Orthopaedist at work treating a bunion, stock photo
Does Medicare Pay for Bunion Surgery?
Nov 29, 2022

More of our articles

13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Indianapolis

13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Philadelphia

13 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Phoenix

14 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Nashville

14 Best Ways for Seniors to Stay Active in Seattle

14 Best Ways to Stay Active in Charlotte

2024 Fair Square Client Retention and Satisfaction Report

Are Medicare Advantage Plans Bad?

Can I Change Medicare Advantage Plans Any Time? | Medicare Plans

Can Medicare Advantage Plans be Used Out of State?

Costco Pharmacy Partners with Fair Square

Do All Hospitals Accept Medicare Advantage Plans?

Do I Need Medicare If My Spouse Has Insurance?

Does Medicare Cover a Spinal Cord Stimulator?

Does Medicare Cover Air Purifiers?

Does Medicare Cover an FMT?

Does Medicare Cover Breast Implant Removal?

Does Medicare Cover Cartiva Implants?

Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery?

Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Visits?

Does Medicare Cover Disposable Underwear?

Does Medicare Cover ESRD Treatments?

Does Medicare Cover Exercise Physiology?

Does Medicare Cover Geri Chairs?

Does Medicare Cover Hypnotherapy?

Does Medicare Cover Inspire for Sleep Apnea?

Does Medicare Cover Kyphoplasty?

Does Medicare Cover Lipoma Removal?

Does Medicare Cover Macular Degeneration?

Does Medicare Cover Ozempic?

Does Medicare Cover Qutenza?

Does Medicare Cover Robotic Surgery?

Does Medicare Cover Service Animals?

Does Medicare Cover SIBO Testing?

Does Medicare Cover Wart Removal?

Does Medicare Cover Xiafaxan?

Does Medicare pay for Opdivo?

Does Medicare Require a Referral for Audiology Exams?

Everything About Your Medicare Card + Medicare Number

Finding the Best Dental Plans for Seniors

Finding the Best Vision Plans for Seniors

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Medicare

How Are Medicare Star Ratings Determined?

How Do I Sign up for Medicare? A Simple How-To Guide For You

How Do Medicare Agents Get Paid?

How Does the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Affect Your Medicare?

How is Medicare Changing in 2025?

How Medicare Costs Can Pile Up

How Much Does a Pacemaker Cost with Medicare?

How to Apply for Medicare?

How to Deduct Medicare Expenses from Your Taxes

How to Enroll in Social Security

Is Botox Covered by Medicare?

Is Displacement Affecting Your Medicare Coverage?

Is the Shingles Vaccine Covered by Medicare?

Medicare Consulting Services

Medicare Explained

Medicare Guaranteed Issue Rights by State

Medicare Savings Programs in Kansas

Medicare Supplement Plans for Low-Income Seniors

Saving Money with Alternative Pharmacies & Discount Programs

Welcome to Fair Square's First Newsletter

What Are Medicare Part B Excess Charges?

What If I Don't Like My Plan?

What Is a Medicare Advantage POS Plan?

What Is a Medicare Supplement SELECT Plan?

What Is Medical Underwriting for Medigap?

What is the Medicare ICEP?

What To Do If Your Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued

What to Do When Your Doctor Doesn't Take Medicare

What's the Difference Between HMO and PPO Plans?

When Can You Change Medicare Supplement Plans?

Your Medicare One-Stop-Shop

Your guide to Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare Advantage, and Medigap. 100% free.
Get the Fair Square Bulletin

Medicare savings tips, helpful guides, and more.

About

Medicare 101

Current Clients

Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans

Fair Square 2025

Terms of Use
Notice of Privacy Practices

Virgil Insurance Agency, LLC (DBA Fair Square Medicare) and www.fairsquaremedicare.com are privately owned and operated by Help Button Inc. Medicare supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed agent/producer may contact you. Medicare Supplement insurance is available to those age 65 and older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and, in some states, to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or End-Stage Renal disease. Virgil Insurance Agency is a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations and stand-alone PDP prescription drug plans. Each of the organizations we represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal. The plans we represent do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Plan availability varies by region and state. For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov. © 2025 Help Button Inc

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

MULTIPLAN_FairSquareMedicare_01062022_M