Explore your options
Compare options, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and prescription plans.
Find a Licensed Medicare agent in Illinois
Connect with Medicare agents in Illinois
Noah Wilson
Toni Aldridge
Kevin Hatfield
Shannon Davis
Tyler Eby
Kayla Torry
Brandon Kauffman
Calvin Fritz
Sara Morrissey
Matt Willenborg
Why work with a Medicare agent
Enroll in Medicare
Get the help you need to enroll in Medicare, from Original Medicare to supplemental coverage.
Use your coverage
Receive extended support to help you use your plan effectively, find doctors, and get savings.
A Snapshot of Medicare in Illinois
In Illinois, 57% of Illinois Medicare beneficiaries have Original Medicare. 43% of Illinois' Medicare beneficiaries have Medicare Advantage or other Medicare health plans. If you're considering your options for Medicare coverage, you should start by thinking about the doctors you see and the care you need. You also should think about what prescriptions you take and how much room you have in your budget.
Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A and Part B. Part A is your hospital insurance, and Part B is your medical insurance. You can add a separate Part D drug plan. If you're eligible, you can buy Medigap insurance to help you pay your share of covered medical bills. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, a private insurer provides your Part A and B coverage. Medicare Advantage plans usually include drug coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer dental, vision, or hearing benefits.
If you travel out of state to see doctors, you should check to see where your coverage works. With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital nationwide as long as they accept Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and service areas for non-emergency care. You should check to see whether your doctors are in network. You may need referrals or prior authorization for certain services.
If you're thinking about the cost of Medicare, you need to consider more than just the monthly premium. Original Medicare alone doesn't have an annual out-of-pocket limit. Medigap can help you reduce expenses such as coinsurance. Medicare Advantage sets an annual out-of-pocket limit for covered Part A and Part B services. Before you choose a plan, compare the copayments and deductibles to make sure you understand your total costs for healthcare.
How to apply for Medicare in Illinois?
Medicare eligibility in Illinois follows the same nationwide rules as everywhere else in the country. You qualify for Medicare as a US citizen if you meet one of these criteria:
- You're 65 or older
- You have a qualifying disability, such as End-Stage Renal Disease or ALS
- You've received SSDI for 24 months or more
Enrolling in Illinois takes three key steps:
- Sign up for Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)
- Decide on your supplemental coverage:
- Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- Part D (prescription drug coverage)
- Confirm your doctors are in network, update your pharmacy with your new plan, and activate any additional benefits included with your coverage
FAQs
Is there a cost to using a Medicare agent in Illinois?
If you need help understanding all your plan options, Chapter's licensed agents provide free, unbiased guidance. One of our agents can help you compare Original Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Part D plans. Our agents receive the same compensation regardless of what plans they recommend to you.
What Medigap switching rights do Illinois residents have around their birthday?
If you have a Medigap policy, and you're between the ages of 65 and 75, you may be able to switch to a different Medigap plan. The Birthday Rule gives eligible Illinois policyholders a 45-day window that starts after their birthday to switch to another Medigap plan without going through underwriting. There are a few things to consider before switching. First, you must stay with the same insurer. The new policy must also provide the same or fewer benefits—not more. Before changing your policy, Chapter's Medicare advisors can confirm if you're eligible.
What Medicare cost-assistance programs are available to eligible Illinois residents?
Medicare Savings Programs help qualifying Illinois residents with limited income and resources pay certain Medicare expenses. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program helps with premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments; the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary and Qualifying Individual programs help pay Part B premiums. For prescription expenses, Extra Help lowers costs under Part D, including premiums and deductibles. Eligibility varies by program, so check the requirements even if you think your income is too high.
When can Illinois residents change Medicare coverage?
When you can change your Medicare coverage depends on the type of coverage you already have. If you have Medigap, you are able to drop your plan or change to another Medigap plan at any time. However, if you don't have a guaranteed issue right, insurance companies may require medical underwriting and can deny your application or charge you more based on your health history. For Medicare Advantage and Part D, if you already have a plan or want to enroll in one, you will need a qualifying enrollment period to change your Medicare coverage. The most used enrollment period is the annual Open Enrollment Period, which occurs every year, from October 15 through December 7. During Open Enrollment, you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, switch between different Medicare Advantage plans, enroll in Part D, or switch Part D plans. Any new plans you wish to enroll in must receive your enrollment form by December 7. Your new plan benefits will begin on January 1.
