Medicare, explained at your kitchen table, not from a call center.
Turning 65? Already on Medicare and wondering if your plan still fits? I'm Justin Mack, an independent Medicare insurance agent right here in the Sacramento area. I'll walk you through your options in plain English. No jargon, no pressure, and no cost to you.
- Free consultations
- Independent agent
- 10+ years of Medicare experience
Justin Mack
CA Insurance License #0G3682810+ years helping Medicare beneficiaries
Two situations. One local agent who's
seen them both a thousand times.
New to Medicare
Your mailbox is full of Medicare ads and none of it makes sense. I'll explain how Medicare actually works, what your enrollment deadlines are, and help you compare the plans available in your county, so you can make a confident choice the first time.
Learn the basics first →Annual coverage review
Plans change every year: networks, drug coverage, dental and extra benefits, costs. Your health changes too. I'll review your current coverage line by line and tell you honestly whether it still fits or whether it's worth looking at alternatives.
Request a free review →Independent & no cost to you
I'm independent, which means I'm not employed by any single insurance company. My help costs you nothing. If you enroll in a plan, I'm paid by the insurance company, and your premium is the same whether you use an agent or not.
More about Justin →The four building blocks of Medicare
If you're brand new to this, here's the short version. Each card below links to a longer, plain-English explanation on my Medicare Basics page.
Original Medicare
The federal program itself. Part A helps cover hospital stays; Part B helps cover doctor visits and outpatient care. It generally pays about 80% of approved costs for Part B services, and the 20% you owe has no yearly cap on its own.
What is Original Medicare? →Medicare Advantage (MAPD)
Private plans that bundle your Part A and Part B benefits, and usually drug coverage, into one plan, often with extras like dental and vision. Many have low or $0 monthly premiums, and you typically use a network of doctors.
What is an MAPD plan? →Medicare Supplement
Private plans that work alongside Original Medicare and help pay the deductibles and 20% coinsurance that Medicare doesn't. Higher monthly premium, but very predictable costs and the freedom to see any doctor who accepts Medicare.
What is a Supplement plan? →Prescription drug coverage
Drug coverage from private plans, either built into a Medicare Advantage plan or purchased as a stand-alone plan with Original Medicare. Enrolling late without other drug coverage can mean a lifelong penalty, so timing matters.
How Part D works →| At a glance | Medicare Advantage (MAPD) | Medicare Supplement (Medigap) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Often low or $0 (you still pay your Part B premium) | Higher monthly premium (plus your Part B premium) |
| When you use care | Copays and coinsurance as you go, up to a yearly out-of-pocket maximum | Plan helps pay Medicare's deductibles and 20% share, so costs are very predictable |
| Doctors | Usually a plan network (HMO or PPO) | Any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare |
| Drug coverage | Usually included | Not included. You add a separate Part D plan |
| Extras (dental, vision, etc.) | Often included | Not included |
Neither option is "better." They fit different people, budgets, and health situations. That's exactly what we'll sort out together.
Your first Medicare decision, step by step
Know your window
Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long: the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. Starting early means your coverage is ready on day one.
Enroll in A & B
You sign up for Original Medicare through Social Security (many people are enrolled automatically if already receiving benefits). Still working with employer coverage? You may be able to delay. Let's talk before you decide.
Choose your path
Decide how to handle what Original Medicare doesn't cover: a Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare plus a Supplement and a drug plan. I'll compare the actual plans available in your county.
Review every year
Each fall (October 15 – December 7) you can change plans for the next year. I check in with my clients annually so coverage keeps up with life.
A neighbor who happens to know Medicare inside and out
I've spent more than a decade helping Medicare beneficiaries understand their coverage, first as a Medicare sales representative, then leading and training teams of licensed agents. I hold a California Health & Life license (#0G36828), and I complete AHIP Medicare certification and CMS Medicare compliance training every year.
I live in the Lincoln area with my family, and I work with clients across Placer, Sacramento, Nevada, and Yuba counties, from Roseville and Rocklin to Folsom, Auburn, Grass Valley, Lincoln, and Marysville. Because I'm independent, my job isn't to sell you one company's plan. It's to help you understand your options and choose what genuinely fits your doctors, your prescriptions, and your budget.
Don't navigate Medicare alone.
Whether you're turning 65 or reviewing the plan you already have, a 30-minute conversation can save you confusion, money, and costly enrollment mistakes.
Schedule Your Free Plan ReviewRequest your free, no-obligation consultation
Call or text Justin
(916) 343-8517Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm
Evenings and weekends by appointment
When we talk, have handy:
- Your red, white, and blue Medicare card (if you have one)
- A list of your doctors and any specialists you see
- A list of your prescription medications and dosages
- Your current plan information, if you're already enrolled
Serving Placer, Sacramento, Nevada & Yuba counties