Medicare insights from Irene Botouroglou.
Below are in-depth guides to the most common Medicare questions I hear from Florida clients. Each is researched, dated, and written for actual humans — not search engines. If your question isn’t covered here, book a free 30-minute call and we’ll work through it together.
Latest guides
What Does Medicare Actually Cost in Florida? A 2026 Breakdown
Published June 3, 2026 · 13 minute read
A plain-English look at what Medicare really costs in 2026 — the four parts of your bill, the standard Part B premium, the Part A hospital deductible, the high-income IRMAA surcharge and its brackets, the new $2,100 Part D drug cap, and the Florida programs (Extra Help, QMB/SLMB/QI) that can wipe out most of these costs if money is tight. Includes the actual 2026 numbers and an illustrative monthly estimate.
Medicare for Greek-Speaking Seniors in Tampa Bay — Οδηγός Medicare στα Ελληνικά
Published June 3, 2026 · Bilingual (English / Ελληνικά)
A bilingual guide for the Greek-American community of Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, and Tampa Bay — the four parts of Medicare, enrollment timing, and the free Greek-language help that exists, explained in both English and Greek. Πλήρης οδηγός για το Medicare στα Ελληνικά, με δωρεάν συμβουλευτική στη γλώσσα σας.
What Medicare Doesn’t Cover in Florida (2026)
Published June 3, 2026 · 12 minute read
The coverage gaps that surprise people — long-term custodial care, routine dental, vision and hearing, foot care, care outside the U.S., and drugs off your plan’s formulary. What Original Medicare leaves out, and how Medigap, Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid fill different pieces of the gap.
Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N in Florida (2026): Which Fits You?
Published June 3, 2026 · 13 minute read
The two most popular Medicare Supplement plans, compared side by side — the Part B deductible, Part B excess charges (which Florida allows), Plan N’s office and ER copays, and the premium trade-off. A standardized-benefit explainer to help you see which tends to fit before we talk it through.
How to Read Your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (Florida 2026)
Published May 25, 2026 · 9 minute read
A plain-English guide to your Initial Enrollment Period — the seven-month window around your 65th birthday. When it opens, when your coverage actually starts depending on the month you sign up, what to do if you’re still working past 65, and how to map your own timeline so you don’t trigger a permanent late penalty.
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: A Tampa Bay Senior’s Guide (2026)
Published May 8, 2026 · 12 minute read
A plain-English breakdown of the two main paths through Medicare. Costs, doctor networks, prescription coverage, travel rules, and the Florida-specific Medigap underwriting trap that catches most people off guard. Includes the five questions to ask yourself before deciding, and the patterns I see most often in Tampa Bay clients.
Turning 65 in Florida? A 7-Step Medicare Enrollment Timeline
Published April 27, 2026 · 11 minute read
A practical month-by-month checklist for Floridians turning 65. Walks you through every step — from 9 months before your birthday through your first six months on Medicare — so you don’t miss your enrollment window or pay a permanent late penalty. Covers the seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, choosing between Medicare Advantage and a Medigap plan, and the six-month Medigap guaranteed-issue window.
When Can I Switch Medicare Plans in Florida? A Complete 2026 Guide
Published April 21, 2026 · 10 minute read
The complete guide to Medicare enrollment periods for Florida residents. Covers the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP), Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), General Enrollment Period (GEP), and every Special Enrollment Period — when each window opens, what changes you can make, and the deadlines that matter.
Want a guide on a specific topic?
If there’s a Medicare question you’d like covered — Special Enrollment Periods, Part D drug coverage, ACA Marketplace timing, dual-eligible plans, or anything else — let me know and I’ll consider it for a future post.
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