Medicare Plans and Help in Westchase, FL

Westchase has 28 villages under one community association, and no hospital inside its borders. Nearby choices include AdventHealth Carrollwood on Dale Mabry Highway, BayCare's St. Joseph's Hospital toward downtown and HCA Florida South Tampa Hospital on Swann Avenue. Each belongs to a different system, so your plan's network matters.

About one in eight Westchase residents was 65 or older in 2020, so many people call us when they or a parent first turn 65. Start with the Initial Enrollment Period, the seven months around your 65th birthday month. If you are still working with employer coverage, you may be able to delay Part B without a penalty. We check that with you before you decide.

Once you enroll, the choice is usually Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement. Advantage plans often have low premiums and a network to follow. A Supplement costs more each month but works with any provider who accepts Medicare. If your doctors are with BayCare and your specialist is with AdventHealth, check both in any Advantage plan before you sign.

The Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library on Countryway Boulevard has free computers for Medicare.gov and Social Security tasks. The Town 'N Country Senior Center on Paula Drive is the nearest county senior center. HART can tell you which routes run near you at 813-254-4278. For free one-on-one Medicare counseling, call Florida SHINE at 1-800-963-5337.

Want a second set of eyes on your coverage? Call us for a free plan review. We check your doctors, your drugs and your budget against the plans we offer in Westchase, all over the phone. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. That is the time to recheck whether your doctors stay in network next year.

Next steps: compare Medicare Advantage with Medicare Supplement plans, check your Part D drug costs, or map your turning-65 timeline.