Medicare, Without the Mailbox Avalanche
Turning 65 should not feel like a part-time job. We help pre-retirees and retirees in New Smyrna Beach and across Volusia County understand how Medicare fits into the larger retirement picture, including the parts, the timing, the tradeoffs, and how it interacts with your income plan and your taxes.
Why This Gets Complicated Fast
The mail starts arriving around your 64th birthday. Glossy brochures. Pamphlets. Phone calls from carriers you have never heard of. Much of it promotes specific products. Very little of it teaches the framework underneath.
A few facts that make the decision harder than it should be:
- Enrollment timing is tied to your birthday, your Social Security filing date, and whether you have employer coverage
- Late enrollment in Part B or Part D can trigger lifetime penalties
- Higher-income retirees pay an extra premium called IRMAA, based on tax return income from two years prior
- Choosing between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy is not a one-time decision. It has long-term consequences
- Your prescription needs and your network needs can change every year. So does Medicare
We do not believe Medicare should be decided in a vacuum. It belongs inside your retirement plan, where your income, taxes, and healthcare costs talk to each other.
How We Help
Our Medicare guidance is educational and planning-focused. We help you:
Understand the parts.
Part A (hospital coverage), automatic for most at 65
Part B (outpatient and doctor visits), requires enrollment and carries a premium
Part C (Medicare Advantage), an all-in-one alternative offered by private carriers
Part D (prescription drug coverage), required unless you have other qualifying coverage
Medigap (Medicare Supplement), private coverage that pairs with Original Medicare
Get the timing right. Initial Enrollment Period, Special Enrollment Periods, and what happens if you delay Part B because you are still working with employer coverage.
Plan around IRMAA. The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount is based on your tax return from two years ago. Roth conversions, capital gains, and large IRA withdrawals can quietly push you into a higher Medicare premium tier. We model this before you act.
Coordinate with your income plan. Healthcare is one of the largest line items in retirement. We help you budget realistically and stress test what happens if costs rise.
Plan for long-term care. Medicare does not pay for most long-term care needs. Steven holds the CLTC® (Certified in Long-Term Care) designation and can walk you through your options.
What You Get
The Medicare piece of our planning work helps you walk away with:
- A clear enrollment timeline based on your birthday, your Social Security filing plan, and any employer coverage
- A general comparison of Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare plus Medigap - how each structure works, the tradeoffs, and what questions to ask a licensed Medicare specialist.
- An IRMAA projection that connects Roth conversions and withdrawal decisions to your future premiums. IRMAA projections are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Individual results will vary based on income, filing status, and tax law, which is subject to change. We do not provide tax or legal advice; consult your tax advisor.
- A long-term care conversation about what Medicare will and will not cover
- A referral to a licensed Medicare specialist when it is time to actually enroll in a specific plan
Steven's role is to make sure the Medicare decision fits the rest of your retirement strategy. Plan-specific enrollment is handled by licensed Medicare insurance specialists we coordinate with.
Who This Is For
This work tends to deliver the most value for households who are:
- Approaching age 65 and want to understand Medicare before the deadlines hit
- Already retired and reviewing whether their current plan still fits
- Still working with employer coverage and trying to decide when to switch
- Higher-income retirees who want to plan around IRMAA
- Couples coordinating two enrollment timelines
If that sounds like you, the next step is a 45-minute conversation. No charge, no pressure.
Why Steven
- RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional®)
- NSSA® (National Social Security Advisor), since Medicare and Social Security timing are linked
- CLTC® (Certified in Long-Term Care), because Medicare does not solve the LTC problem
- CF2® (Certified Financial Fiduciary)
- 15 years of practice, 350+ families guided
- Steven does not hold appointments with or receive compensation directly from Medicare carriers. When plan-specific enrollment is needed, clients are referred to licensed Medicare insurance specialists.
- Local office on North Orange Street, downtown New Smyrna Beach
How to Get Started
Call or book.
Pick up the phone at (386) 402-4626, or schedule online.
Discovery meeting (free).
We review your current accounts, any existing insurance or annuity policies, and where you are in the Medicare timeline. About 45 minutes.
Coordinated planning.
If we are a fit, your Medicare decisions become part of the broader retirement strategy we build together.
No pressure to buy anything on day one.
FAQ
Do you sell Medicare plans?
No. Steven holds a health insurance license but does not sell Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Part D plans and is not appointed with any Medicare carrier. His role is retirement planning helping ensuring your Medicare timing and coverage decisions are coordinated with your income, tax, and investment strategy. When it is time to enroll in a specific plan, we connect you with a licensed Medicare insurance specialist who handles that process.
What is IRMAA and should I worry about it?
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an additional Medicare premium for higher-income retirees, based on your tax return from two years prior. If you are planning Roth conversions, large IRA withdrawals, or selling a property, we can help you understand the Medicare premium impact before you act.
Should I take Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Medigap policy?
There is no universal right answer. Advantage plans typically have lower premiums and network restrictions. Original Medicare plus Medigap typically has higher premiums and broader provider choice. Your health, your doctors, and your travel patterns all factor in.
I am still working at 65. Do I need to enroll in Medicare?
It depends on the size of your employer and the type of coverage you have. We help you avoid late-enrollment penalties while making the right call for your situation.
Does Medicare cover long-term care?
For the most part, no. Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing or rehab after a qualifying hospital stay, but not extended custodial care. Long-term care planning is a separate conversation and one Steven is credentialed to walk you through.
Are you a fiduciary?
Investment advisory services are offered by Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC (“Signal Wealth”), a Registered Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
Do you work with people who live outside New Smyrna Beach?
Yes. We regularly serve households in Edgewater, Port Orange, South Daytona, Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Orange City, Palm Coast, Sanford, Titusville, Holly Hill, Lake Helen, Glencoe, and the rest of Volusia County.
Get clear on Medicare before the mailbox does the planning for you.
Schedule a Medicare planning conversation or call our New Smyrna Beach office.
Office: 112 N. Orange Street, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00
Compliance Disclaimer
Investment advisory services are offered by Signal Advisors Wealth, LLC ("Signal Wealth"), a Registered Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Steven L. Rich is an Investment Adviser Representative of Signal Wealth. Insurance products and services are offered through New Smyrna Beach Retirement Solutions ("NSBRS"). Signal Wealth does not offer insurance products. NSBRS is not affiliated with Signal Wealth. Additionally, when NSBRS and/or its agents are recommending and/or selling insurance products they are not acting on behalf of Signal Wealth or in a fiduciary capacity, and instead are governed by the applicable insurance rules and regulations. For more information about Signal Wealth, or to receive a copy of our Form ADV or Form CRS, please click here. NSBRS is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or any governmental agency. NSBRS and its agents do not provide tax, legal, or Social Security advice. Clients are advised to consult their tax advisor or attorney regarding tax and legal matters and to contact the Social Security Administration at their local office or online at www.ssa.gov. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation or as investment, tax, or legal advice. None of the information contained herein shall constitute an offer to sell or solicit any offer to buy any security, investment advisory, or insurance product. Investment advisory services are provided in accordance with a fiduciary duty of care and loyalty that includes putting client interests first and disclosing conflicts. Insurance services are subject to a best interest standard, which requires recommendations to be in the client's best interest. Advisors may receive commissions and other compensation for the sale of insurance and annuity products. Annuity guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Any tax savings figures, projections, examples, or multi-year tax projections referenced are hypothetical and provided for illustrative purposes only. They are based on assumptions that may not reflect your individual circumstances, do not represent actual results, and are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes. Individual results will vary. Strategies such as Roth conversions, capital gains harvesting, required minimum distribution planning, and charitable giving are not suitable for all individuals, involve trade-offs, and depend on your specific circumstances and current tax law, which is subject to change. There is no assurance that any strategy will reduce your overall tax liability. Neither Signal Wealth nor NSBRS provides tax or legal advice; consult your qualified tax professional or attorney regarding your situation.
New Smyrna Beach Retirement Solutions may receive compensation in connection with these referrals. This referral arrangement represents a conflict of interest, as it may create a financial incentive to refer clients to particular specialists. You are not required to use any referred specialist and are free to work with a Medicare agent of your choosing.