FAQ
Questions people actually ask.
Including the ones agencies usually avoid. If yours is not here, telephone (866) 346-1635 — Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm ET.
Working with us
Does it cost me anything to use Healthbase?
No. The insurer pays us a commission when you enrol, and your premium is the same whether you come through us, another agent, or the carrier directly. Premiums are filed with regulators and carry no agent mark-up.
Do you show me every plan available?
No, and no agent can. We can only quote carriers we are appointed with. For the complete list where you live, use the Medicare.gov Plan Finder or HealthCare.gov, both free.
Will you call me if I do not ask you to?
No. We do not cold-call. You hear from us if you ask us to contact you, and separately you receive text messages only if you tick the optional box — which is never required and never pre-ticked.
Do I have to give a telephone number?
No. The phone field on every form on this site is optional. Give an email address and we will reply that way.
What happens if I decide not to enrol?
Nothing. There is no follow-up campaign and you do not go on a list. Declining is a complete answer.
Medicare
When can I first join Medicare?
Around your 65th birthday, in a seven-month window: the three months before your birthday month, the month itself, and the three months after. Acting in the first half generally starts coverage sooner.
I am still working at 65 — do I need Part B?
It depends on how many people your employer has. Above a threshold the employer plan usually pays first and delaying is generally safe; below it Medicare pays first and delaying can leave claims nobody covers. Get the answer from your plan administrator in writing before deciding.
What is the difference between Advantage and a Supplement?
They are two different roads. Original Medicare with a Supplement means any provider who accepts Medicare, no network, higher monthly cost. Advantage bundles it into one plan, often cheaper monthly, with a network and a service area.
Can I switch from Advantage to a Supplement later?
Sometimes, but not always on the same terms. Outside your initial eligibility period a Supplement can involve medical underwriting, and underwriting can decline. That asymmetry is why the first choice matters.
Do I need a drug plan if I take no medication?
Usually yes, because going without creditable coverage can attach a late-enrollment penalty that generally persists once it starts.
Marketplace
How is my subsidy worked out?
From household size and expected annual income for the coverage year. Household is a tax concept rather than a headcount. The Marketplace decides eligibility, not us.
What happens if I estimate my income wrong?
The advance credit is reconciled against actual income at tax time. Earn more than estimated and some may come back. It is arithmetic rather than a penalty, but it arrives more than a year later.
What do Bronze, Silver and Gold mean?
How the cost is split between you and the plan, not how good the plan is. Bronze costs less monthly and more when you use care; Gold reverses it.
Why does everyone say Silver?
Because help with cost sharing, where you qualify for it, is generally only available on Silver plans. Buying Bronze for the lower monthly figure can mean giving up assistance worth more than the difference.
Dental, vision & hearing
Does Medicare cover dental?
Original Medicare largely does not cover routine dental, vision or hearing aids. Many Advantage plans include an allowance, which is not the same as a full benefit — check what the allowance actually is.
What is a waiting period?
A period after the policy starts during which major work is not covered. If you are buying because you already know you need a crown, this is the whole question.
What is an annual maximum?
A cap on what the plan pays in a year. Once you reach it you pay everything, and major work reaches a modest cap quickly.
Are hearing aids covered?
Usually by an allowance rather than a full benefit. Ask whether it is per aid or per pair, and how often it renews — both vary widely.
Privacy and security
Do you sell my information?
No. We do not sell, rent or share your details with anyone for their marketing — not lead buyers, not data brokers, not advertising networks. We also do not buy lists.
Will you ask for my Social Security number?
Never by telephone or through a form on this site, and no legitimate agency will. Our forms reject text that looks like one rather than storing it.
Can I send you documents through the website?
No — there is deliberately no upload anywhere on this site. If we need paperwork we send a secure link by reply, because medical records should not travel through a general web form.
How do I stop text messages?
Reply STOP to any message, or to (866) 346-1635. It has no effect on your coverage or your standing with us. Full terms are on the SMS Terms page.
You may not need an agent at all
These services are free, independent, and will show you every plan in your area — including plans we cannot sell. If your situation is simple, they may be all you need.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder — every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan where you live. Call1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, TTY 1-877-486-2048.
- Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free one-to-one Medicare counselling from people who sell nothing.
- HealthCare.gov — Marketplace plans and subsidy eligibility, plusfree local Navigators.
We list these because the alternative is you finding out later. If you call us and a free route fits better, that is what we will tell you.
Still have a question?
Telephone and a person answers. No menu, no queue, no cost.
No obligation. We'll tell you if a free option through Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov suits you better. Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm ET.