Medicare ICHRA

Who to Contact for Medicare and ICHRA Help

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:37:05 GMT

Who should I contact when I have a Medicare or ICHRA (CHOICE) question?

Start with the team that owns the question. The benefitbay Medicare Team can help you identify the right next step when you are unsure.

Quick answer

Contact a benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor for Medicare coverage routes, doctors, prescriptions, plan comparison, and premium questions. Contact HR for ICHRA (CHOICE) eligibility, allowance, and employment-transition details. Contact the authorized benefitbay process for direct payment and documentation questions. Contact Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for official Part A and Part B enrollment. Use a qualified tax or financial professional for HSA and tax guidance.

Contact HR for the employer-benefit facts

HR or the employer benefits team owns employer-specific information. Contact HR to confirm:

ICHRA (CHOICE) eligibility and effective date
Allowance amount and employer plan materials
Employee and dependent eligibility
The end date of a group health plan
What changes when employment ends
Official employer documentation needed for Medicare timing or enrollment

HR does not select your Medicare plan or give individual tax advice, but HR provides the facts the benefitbay Medicare Team needs to support your transition.

Use the approved benefitbay process for payment setup

Once your Medicare coverage is selected, follow the approved benefitbay process for Medicare Number or approval details, premium notices, direct-payment questions, and any required documentation. Do not send sensitive information through an unapproved channel. Do not set up or change a personal payment method without confirming the benefitbay process.

Contact Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for official enrollment

Social Security handles Part A and Part B enrollment for most people. Contact Social Security for application status, official effective dates, Medicare card questions, and Part B enrollment forms. If you or your spouse worked for a railroad or receive railroad benefits, contact the Railroad Retirement Board instead.

Contact a qualified tax or financial professional for tax questions

Talk to a qualified tax or financial professional about HSA contribution timing, tax consequences, retirement income, or personal financial planning. The benefitbay Medicare Team can help identify the Medicare event that creates the question, but it does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.

Use this quick routing guide

If your question is about…	Start with…
When Medicare should begin, what coverage route to choose, doctors, prescriptions, networks, or plan costs	benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor
ICHRA (CHOICE) eligibility, allowance, employer dates, or dependents	HR or employer benefits team
Direct premium payment, approved documentation, or account setup	benefitbay Medicare Team through the approved process
Official Part A or Part B application, effective date, or Medicare card	Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board
HSA tax treatment or personal financial planning	Qualified tax or financial professional

You do not need to solve the entire transition alone. Start with the benefitbay Medicare Team if you are unsure which question comes first.

What Happens to Medicare If You Leave Your Job?

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:21:37 GMT

What happens to my Medicare and ICHRA (CHOICE) if I leave my company?

Your employer contribution may end or change. Your Medicare coverage does not automatically end. Plan the payment transition before your employment ends.

Quick answer

When you leave your company, your ICHRA (CHOICE) eligibility or contribution may end or change according to the employer plan. Your Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and Part D coverage do not automatically end because you leave. Before your employment end date, confirm when ICHRA (CHOICE) stops and how you will pay any premiums after the employer contribution changes.

Medicare and ICHRA (CHOICE) are separate

Medicare is your health coverage. ICHRA (CHOICE) is the employer-funded payment benefit that supports eligible premiums. Leaving the employer changes the benefit funding. It does not erase your Medicare enrollment, Medicare Number, or active private Medicare plans.

This separation is important. Do not cancel a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Part D plan simply because you receive an employment-separation notice. First identify the new payment arrangement and make sure a premium does not go unpaid.

Confirm these facts with HR before your last day

Ask HR or the employer benefits team for written confirmation of:

Your last day of ICHRA (CHOICE) eligibility
The last month or date the employer contribution can be used
Whether direct premium payment ends on a specific date
Any action needed to close or transition the account
The coverage impact for a spouse or child who was connected to your employer plan

These details determine when the benefitbay premium-payment arrangement ends. They do not replace your responsibility to keep active Medicare coverage funded after that date.

Make a post-employment premium plan

Before the ICHRA (CHOICE) contribution ends, identify every premium that will need a new payment source:

Part B, including any Social Security withholding or direct bill
Medicare Advantage premium, if any
Medicare Supplement Insurance premium, if you chose Original Medicare
Standalone Part D premium, if applicable
Any IRMAA or Part D late-enrollment charge

The benefitbay Medicare Team can tell you which benefitbay payment setup will end. Your carrier or Social Security can confirm how future payment is handled. Do not wait for a missed payment notice.

Your household may need separate action

Your Medicare coverage can continue while a spouse or child needs a different coverage transition. For example, a non-Medicare-eligible spouse or dependent may need COBRA, Marketplace coverage, another employer plan, or another available option. Your own Medicare path remains in place, but the household needs a coordinated plan.

Start early and avoid a lapse

Bring your planned last day of work, ICHRA (CHOICE) end date, active coverage confirmations, premium notices, and household coverage details to the benefitbay Medicare Team before your employment ends. This gives you time to avoid missed premiums and coverage gaps.

Annual Medicare and ICHRA (CHOICE) Review

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:18:51 GMT

What do I need to review every year after my Medicare coverage begins?

Your coverage should continue to fit your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and ICHRA (CHOICE) contribution—not simply renew by default.

Quick answer

Review your Medicare coverage every year. Plans can change their providers, drug formularies, pharmacies, premiums, cost sharing, and benefits. Your employer can also change ICHRA (CHOICE) allowances or administrative details. The annual review makes sure the coverage you selected still works and that the employer contribution is connected to the right premiums.

Start with your current care

Make a list of the doctors, specialists, hospitals, services, and prescriptions you used this year. Then ask whether you expect any new care next year. This makes the review practical.

For Medicare Advantage, confirm that your doctors and facilities remain in network and that the plan’s referral or prior authorization rules still work for you. For Original Medicare with Medicare Supplement Insurance, confirm that your preferred providers still accept Medicare and review how your Part D plan handles your medications.

Review your prescription drug coverage every year

Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plans can change formularies, preferred pharmacies, drug tiers, deductibles, and coverage rules. A medication that worked well in the current year may cost more or require a different process next year. Bring the benefitbay Medicare Team an updated medication list, doses, and pharmacy preference before making a plan decision.

The annual review is also the time to look for a new prescription, a change from generic to brand, a new specialist, or a move that changes your available plan choices.

Review the total cost—not only the plan premium

Compare your Part B premium, any IRMAA notice, plan premium, deductible, copays, coinsurance, prescription costs, and maximum out-of-pocket exposure. Then look at the ICHRA (CHOICE) contribution and confirm how it will be applied in the new year.

A low premium does not always mean the lowest total cost. A plan with a broader network, better formulary fit, or more predictable cost sharing can be more valuable depending on how you use care.

Review the employer-benefit materials

Read every ICHRA (CHOICE) notice your employer sends. Confirm the new-year allowance, eligibility, premium payment process, and any action required under your employer plan. If your household changed—marriage, divorce, death, a new dependent, a spouse’s retirement, or a move—bring that information to HR and the benefitbay Medicare Team.

Know which plans can change when

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans have annual enrollment opportunities. Medicare Supplement Insurance does not operate the same way. Medicare Supplement Insurance changes can involve underwriting, state rules, and specific protections. Do not assume you can change every Medicare coverage type each fall using the same rules.

Make the annual review a routine

Set a calendar reminder for the Medicare annual enrollment season. Gather provider and prescription information early. The benefitbay Medicare Team can then identify the questions that need a plan review, while a benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor can compare eligible coverage options.

How Your Medicare Premiums Get Paid With benefitbay

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:16:06 GMT

How are my Medicare premiums paid through ICHRA (CHOICE)?

After your Medicare coverage is active, benefitbay sets up direct premium payment from your ICHRA (CHOICE) account—so you do not pay first and wait to be reimbursed.

Quick answer

With benefitbay ICHRA (CHOICE), eligible Medicare plan premiums are paid directly from your ICHRA account once your coverage and payment setup are complete. You do not submit receipts, file a claim, or pay the carrier from a personal account first. The benefitbay Medicare Team sets up the payment method during your enrollment consultation and confirms that it is active before your coverage begins.

The payment sequence

Premium payment begins only after the Medicare and coverage steps are complete:

Parts A and B are active. This is the required Medicare foundation.
You select the coverage route. You choose Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with Medicare Supplement Insurance and Part D.
Your plan enrollment is confirmed. The carrier confirms the coverage you selected.
benefitbay connects the premium payment. Your ICHRA account is entered as the payment method for each eligible plan.
You verify the setup before the effective date. The benefitbay Medicare Team confirms the payment method is accepted and your coverage is ready.

The point of the process is to keep Medicare coverage, plan selection, and the employer contribution connected from the start.

What gets paid directly

The direct-payment workflow is used for the eligible coverage you select, including Medicare Advantage, standalone Part D, and Medicare Supplement Insurance premiums. In the Original Medicare route, that means the benefitbay setup handles the eligible Medicare Supplement Insurance and Part D premium payments alongside the Parts A and B premium process. In the Medicare Advantage route, it handles the eligible plan premium after the plan is selected.

Your employer’s ICHRA (CHOICE) contribution is funding Medicare coverage. It is not a reimbursement arrangement for the prior group or individual plan you had before becoming Medicare-eligible.

What you do not need to do

You do not pay the eligible carrier premiums with a personal bank account and wait to be paid back. You do not upload receipts for routine direct-paid premiums. You do not need to manage separate carrier payment portals once the approved benefitbay setup is confirmed.

Personal payments are not eligible for reimbursement unless they were preauthorized in advance. If a carrier asks you for a payment method or sends you a bill, stop and contact the benefitbay Medicare Team before you pay.

The Social Security exception

If you already receive Social Security benefits, your Part A and Part B premiums may be withheld automatically from your monthly Social Security payment. There is no separate bill or carrier payment method to set up for those deductions. The benefitbay Medicare Team uses the official notices to keep the ICHRA (CHOICE) and payroll reporting accurate.

If you choose Social Security withholding for Part D, or if you have a Part D penalty or IRMAA charge withheld, keep every notice and provide it through the authorized benefitbay process. Accurate notices ensure the payment record stays correct.

Your final activation check

Before your effective date, confirm all of the following:

Your Medicare Parts A and B effective dates
Your Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and/or Part D effective date
Your ICHRA (CHOICE) account is active
The approved premium payment method is attached to each eligible plan
You understand any Social Security withholding that applies to you

Understanding Medicare Premiums and IRMAA

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:11:19 GMT

Why does my Medicare premium look different from someone else’s?

Your Medicare budget has several moving parts. Separate the premium types before you compare plans or assume what ICHRA (CHOICE) will pay.

Quick answer

Your Medicare cost can include a Part B premium, a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement Insurance premium, a Part D premium, and possibly an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. For the benefitbay Medicare + ICHRA (CHOICE) path, the employer contribution is used for eligible premiums through the approved process. IRMAA and certain Social Security withholdings need to be reported accurately so the payment setup stays correct.

Start with the coverage route

If you choose Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement Insurance + Part D, your ongoing premium structure usually includes Part B, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and Part D. These are separate coverage pieces. ICHRA (CHOICE) connects to the applicable premiums so the employer contribution funds the Medicare route.

If you choose Medicare Advantage, you continue to pay Part B and may have a plan premium depending on the plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D. You still need to look at deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and the annual out-of-pocket maximum—not only the advertised plan premium.

What IRMAA is

IRMAA is an income-related Medicare surcharge determined by Social Security. It can apply to Part B and Part D. It is not a carrier premium and it is not a late-enrollment penalty. Social Security sends an Initial IRMAA Determination notice if it decides the surcharge applies. Keep that notice.

IRMAA often uses prior tax-return information. A major life change, such as retirement, reduced work, marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse, can affect the income picture. Social Security owns the determination and appeal process. A qualified tax or financial professional can advise on the personal tax and financial implications.

How Social Security withholding affects ICHRA (CHOICE)

If you already receive Social Security benefits, Medicare Part A and Part B premiums can be withheld automatically from your monthly benefit. That is not the same as receiving a carrier bill. The benefitbay Medicare Team needs the official notices so the ICHRA (CHOICE) process reflects the correct withheld amounts and any Part D or IRMAA adjustments.

Do not make a payment from a personal account to “solve” a premium issue before you confirm the benefitbay process. The source and method of payment matter for the approved setup.

Look at the complete monthly picture

A lower plan premium is not automatically a lower total cost. Compare all of these:

Part B premium and possible IRMAA
Plan premium, if any
Medicare Supplement Insurance and Part D premiums, if applicable
Deductibles, copays, and coinsurance
Prescription drug costs and pharmacy choices
The ICHRA (CHOICE) contribution and how it is applied

The benefitbay Medicare Team helps organize the premium information. A benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor helps you compare the coverage route using the complete cost and care picture.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Explained

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:06:48 GMT

What does Medicare Supplement Insurance do—and when do I need to choose it?

Medicare Supplement Insurance helps pay your share of Original Medicare costs. It works only with Parts A and B—not with Medicare Advantage.

Quick answer

Medicare Supplement Insurance is private insurance that works with Original Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare pays its share of covered services first, and the Medicare Supplement Insurance policy helps pay certain remaining Medicare-approved costs. It does not include prescription drug coverage, so you add Part D separately. ICHRA (CHOICE) pays the eligible Medicare Supplement Insurance and Part D premiums through the approved benefitbay process.

How the three-piece Original Medicare route works

With this route, you have three coverage pieces:

Part A and Part B: Your federal Original Medicare foundation.
Medicare Supplement Insurance: The policy that helps with your share of certain Original Medicare costs.
Part D: The separate plan that covers outpatient prescriptions.

You also have separate premium components. The benefitbay Medicare Team sets up the ICHRA (CHOICE) payment process for the applicable premiums so the employer contribution is used for the Medicare path instead of the prior group or individual plan.

What Medicare Supplement Insurance can change

Medicare Supplement Insurance can reduce the unpredictability of Original Medicare cost sharing. Depending on the standardized policy you choose, it may help with Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, excess charges, or certain other covered costs. The policy does not replace Original Medicare and does not create a network in the way Medicare Advantage does.

In most states, plans with the same letter have the same core benefits. The carrier, premium, pricing method, service, and available discounts can differ. Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin use their own standardized plan structures, so a benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor will explain the rules in your state.

Provider access is a defining feature

With Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurance, you can generally see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. There are no plan networks and no referrals in the way there can be with Medicare Advantage. That access can be important for people who travel, live in more than one state, use specialists, or want the broadest Medicare provider choice.

The Part B window matters

For many people age 65 or older, the six-month Medicare Supplement Insurance Open Enrollment Period begins on the date Part B becomes effective. During that window, you can buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy sold in your state without health questions. If you wait, insurers may be able to use medical underwriting, and choices or pricing can change. Some states give additional protections.

This is another reason benefitbay asks you to start Parts A and B early. The Part B date is not only the ICHRA (CHOICE) gate; it can also start an important Medicare Supplement Insurance decision window.

The non-combination rule

You cannot buy or use Medicare Supplement Insurance while you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage. If you want the flexibility and cost-sharing structure of Medicare Supplement Insurance, you choose Original Medicare as your route. If you want Medicare Advantage, you compare that route on its own terms.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) Explained

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:04:20 GMT

What changes if I choose Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage changes how you receive Parts A and B. It does not remove your Medicare enrollment or the ICHRA (CHOICE) requirements.

Quick answer

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a Medicare-approved private plan that delivers your Part A and Part B benefits. You still have Medicare and still pay your Part B premium. Many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage and additional benefits. For the benefitbay Medicare + ICHRA (CHOICE) path, you must first have Parts A and B active; then the eligible Medicare Advantage premium is connected to ICHRA (CHOICE).

What stays the same

You remain enrolled in Medicare. Part A and Part B are still your legal Medicare foundation. You do not use a Medicare Advantage plan to avoid Parts A and B, and you cannot activate ICHRA (CHOICE) for the Medicare transition without them.

You also continue to pay the Part B premium. This is important because a Medicare Advantage plan premium, if it has one, is separate from the Part B premium. The benefitbay Medicare Team will make sure the payment setup reflects the actual premiums tied to your chosen coverage.

What changes

Instead of using Original Medicare directly for Part A and Part B services, you receive those benefits through the private plan. The plan sets its network, service area, referrals, prior authorization rules, copays, benefits, and annual out-of-pocket maximum for covered Part A and Part B services.

Many plans include Part D prescription coverage. Some also include added benefits. Those extras can be valuable, but they should not drive the whole decision. Medical access, prescription coverage, total cost, and plan rules come first.

The questions that decide fit

A benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor will help you answer:

Are my primary doctors, specialists, hospitals, and facilities in the plan network?
Are my prescriptions covered at a workable cost, and is my pharmacy preferred?
How do the premium, deductible, copays, and out-of-pocket maximum fit my budget?
How do I use health care when I travel or spend time outside the plan’s service area?
Am I comfortable with network rules, referrals, and prior authorization requirements?

How ICHRA (CHOICE) works with this route

After you choose the plan, the benefitbay Medicare Team connects the eligible plan premium to your ICHRA (CHOICE) account through the approved payment setup. The goal is to have the payment method in place before coverage begins. Do not independently set up a personal payment method without confirming the benefitbay process.

The Medicare Supplement Insurance rule remains

Medicare Supplement Insurance does not work with Medicare Advantage. If you choose Medicare Advantage, you are choosing the all-in-one route rather than Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy and standalone Part D plan.

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:59:23 GMT

Do I need Medicare Part D if I do not take prescriptions today?

Part D is your outpatient drug coverage decision. It matters even when you do not currently take medication.

Quick answer

You need a clear prescription drug coverage plan when you move to Medicare. With Original Medicare, you generally add a standalone Part D plan. With many Medicare Advantage plans, Part D is included. If you delay Part D without other creditable drug coverage, you can face a lasting late-enrollment penalty. ICHRA (CHOICE) is set up to pay the eligible premium for the drug coverage you select.

Part D covers outpatient medications

Part D is provided by Medicare-approved private plans. It helps pay for brand-name and generic outpatient drugs. The plan you choose has its own formulary, pharmacies, tiers, cost sharing, and coverage rules. That means a plan is not a fit simply because it has a low premium; it needs to work with the medicines and pharmacy you actually use.

Why “I do not take medicine” is not a reason to skip the decision

Medicare allows people to join Part D even if they do not take prescriptions today. The reason is timing. If you go too long without Part D or another form of creditable drug coverage, you may owe a late-enrollment penalty when you join later. A new diagnosis, new medication, or hospital discharge should not be the first time you think about drug coverage.

Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage handle Part D differently

With Original Medicare: You choose a standalone Part D plan. Your ICHRA (CHOICE) account is connected to the eligible Part D premium as part of the broader Medicare premium setup.

With Medicare Advantage: Most plans include Part D drug coverage. You compare the plan’s medical coverage and drug coverage together. The ICHRA (CHOICE) process is connected to the eligible plan premium once the plan is selected.

Build the medication list your benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor needs

Bring more than the medication name. For a meaningful Part D review, provide:

Every prescription and dose
Generic or brand preference, if applicable
Preferred retail and mail-order pharmacies
Any drug that requires prior authorization or has special coverage limits today
A creditable drug coverage notice from your current plan, if you have one

A benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor can match this information against plan formularies and pharmacy networks before you enroll.

Do not pay a premium another way without asking first

The benefitbay ICHRA (CHOICE) process is built to pay applicable plan premiums directly through the approved setup. Do not default to a personal bank account, credit card, or carrier portal payment method without confirming the correct benefitbay process. An incorrect payment method can interfere with how the employer contribution is applied.

How to Fill Medicare Coverage Gaps: Overview and Timing

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:55:55 GMT

Should I choose Original Medicare with Medicare Supplement Insurance and Part D, or Medicare Advantage?

These are the two Medicare coverage routes. You choose one route after Parts A and B—not both.

Quick answer

After you enroll in Parts A and B, you complete Medicare in one of two ways: keep Original Medicare and add Medicare Supplement Insurance plus a standalone Part D plan, or choose a Medicare Advantage plan. Both routes work with the benefitbay Medicare + ICHRA (CHOICE) path. The right choice depends on the care access, cost structure, prescription coverage, and flexibility you want.

Route one: Original Medicare, built up

With this route, you keep Original Medicare as your federal foundation. You add a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy to help pay your share of certain Part A and Part B costs. You add a standalone Part D plan for outpatient prescription drugs.

This route has three coverage pieces and, in most cases, three premium components: Part B, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and Part D. ICHRA (CHOICE) is set up to pay the eligible premiums through the approved benefitbay process. The appeal of this route is flexibility: you can generally see any provider in the country that accepts Medicare, without a plan network or referrals.

The tradeoff is that you need to manage the distinct coverage pieces and understand how each premium fits together.

Route two: Medicare Advantage, all in one

You cannot use Medicare Supplement Insurance with Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Supplement Insurance supplements Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage is a private-plan alternative way to receive your Part A and Part B benefits. A benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor will help you compare the complete route—not try to layer both together.

Timing makes a difference

Your Part B effective date starts important planning windows. In particular, many people receive a six-month Medicare Supplement Insurance Open Enrollment Period beginning when Part B becomes active. During that period, they have important purchase protections. If you wait, health questions, availability, and pricing may be different, depending on your state.

This is why benefitbay begins the Medicare conversation before the old group or individual plan ends. Getting Parts A and B active on time protects both your coverage start and your ability to use the ICHRA (CHOICE) benefit as intended.

Make the comparison about your reality

Bring your provider list, medications, preferred pharmacy, travel plans, household budget, and desired level of flexibility. The benefitbay Medicare Team will use those inputs to focus the comparison on what you will actually use.

What Original Medicare Does Not Cover

Benefitbay — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:52:49 GMT

What does Original Medicare leave uncovered—and why does that matter for ICHRA (CHOICE)?

Parts A and B are required. They are also the starting point—not the complete Medicare coverage strategy.

Quick answer

Original Medicare is Parts A and B. It covers important hospital and medical services, but it leaves deductibles, coinsurance, outpatient prescription drugs, and other needs for you to manage. ICHRA (CHOICE) is designed to help the Medicare beneficiary complete this foundation with eligible Medicare coverage premiums.

What Original Medicare does well

Part A covers hospital-related care. Part B covers doctors’ services, outpatient care, preventive services, lab work, imaging, durable medical equipment, and other medical services. Together, they give you access to the nationwide Medicare program and form the foundation benefitbay requires for the ICHRA (CHOICE) Medicare path.

Where the gaps begin

Original Medicare does not mean “every health expense is paid.” You can still have deductibles and coinsurance. Original Medicare generally does not have a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for Parts A and B services. That means your share of costs can continue as you use services.

Original Medicare also does not generally include outpatient prescription drug coverage. You need a separate Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Dental, vision, hearing, and routine care outside the United States can also have limited coverage or different rules.

Why this is central to ICHRA (CHOICE)

Your employer’s benefit does not leave you with only Parts A and B. After Parts A and B are active, ICHRA (CHOICE) is used to pay eligible premiums for the coverage pieces that complete your Medicare route. The two choices are:

Original Medicare + Medicare Supplement Insurance + Part D
Medicare Advantage, usually with Part D built in

Both routes begin with the same Parts A and B requirement. Both are then connected to ICHRA (CHOICE) through the approved benefitbay payment process.

Do not fill a gap just because it exists

The purpose of the coverage conversation is not to buy every possible benefit. It is to make an informed decision using the facts that matter to you: your doctors, hospitals, medications, preferred pharmacy, travel habits, health needs, budget, and comfort with cost sharing.

A benefitbay licensed Medicare Advisor will help you see how the gaps show up in your actual health care—not in a generic checklist—and compare the routes using the employer-funded ICHRA (CHOICE) structure.

The next decision is a route, not a carrier

Before comparing a carrier name or a monthly premium, decide whether you want to stay with Original Medicare and add Medicare Supplement Insurance plus Part D, or receive your benefits through Medicare Advantage. That is the decision that determines how your coverage, costs, and ICHRA (CHOICE) premium setup work together.