Benafica is a health benefits and insurance company that helps employers offer flexible, tax-free health reimbursement plans instead of traditional group health insurance.
Medicare
Medicare Advice and Enrollment Help in Minnesota
Licensed local advisors who explain your Medicare options in plain language and help you enroll. Our help costs you nothing.
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Major Minnesota Metros:
- Minneapolis–St. Paul
- Rochester
- St. Cloud
- Duluth
- Mankato
The Four Parts of Medicare
| Part | What it Covers | What to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Hospital insurance | Inpatient stays, skilled nursing, hospice. Most people pay no premium because they paid in while working. |
| Part B | Medical insurance | Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment. Has a monthly premium. |
| Part C | Medicare Advantage | A private plan that bundles A and B, usually with drug coverage and extras. Uses a network. |
| Part D | Prescription drugs | Standalone drug coverage, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan. |
Alongside those, you can add a Medicare Supplement policy — sometimes called Medigap — which helps cover what Original Medicare leaves you to pay.
Medicare Supplements in Minnesota
Minnesota doesn’t use the “Plan G / Plan N” letters you’ll see on national sites. Our plans are organized differently. Here’s what that means for you.
Minnesota
Minnesota Medigap
Minnesota is one of only three states that never adopted the lettered Medigap plans. Coverage is built from a Basic or Extended Basic policy plus riders — so a Plan G quote from another state tells you nothing here.
When to Enroll
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 to December 7
The window most people mean when they say "open enrollment." Change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the coming year. Changes take effect January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31
If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, a second chance to switch plans or return to Original Medicare.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): The seven months around your 65th birthday
Starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. This is the one with the most lasting consequences if it's missed.
Special Enrollment Periods: When life changes
Retiring, losing employer coverage, or moving can each open a window outside the usual dates. If something has changed, call before you assume you've missed your chance.
Hear From People We've Helped
Answers to Common Medicare Questions
Does it cost anything to work with a Medicare broker?
No. We’re paid by the insurance carrier when you enroll, and it doesn’t affect your premium. A plan costs the same whether you enroll through us or on your own. You’re not charged a fee at any point.
What types of Medicare plans does Benafica offer?
Benafica offers a variety of Medicare plans, including Original Medicare (Part A & Part B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), and Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D). We work with all major carriers to provide you with the best options.
Can I change my Medicare plan if my needs change?
Yes, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage during the Open Enrollment Period or if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to certain life events.
I'm still working at 65. Do I need to enroll?
It depends on your employer’s size and whether you’re keeping group coverage. Some people should enroll in Part A only, some should delay everything, and some should enroll fully. Getting this wrong can mean a late-enrollment penalty that lasts for life, so it’s worth a short call rather than a guess.
Do you help with Part D drug plans?
Yes. Bring your prescription list with dosages and we’ll compare what each plan would actually cost you across the year, including how each one treats your specific medications. This is where the difference between plans is often largest and least obvious.
Do you serve rural areas?
Yes, we serve the entire state of Minnesota. Plan availability and network breadth genuinely differ outside the metros, which is one of the more useful things a local advisor can tell you.
What should I have ready for our first call?
A list of your doctors and clinics, your prescriptions with dosages, your Medicare card if you have one, and a rough sense of what you can comfortably budget each month.
Can I keep my doctor?
Often, but it depends on the type of plan. Original Medicare with a supplement is accepted by any provider who takes Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans use networks, so it depends on that plan’s network in your county. Tell us your doctors and clinics up front and we’ll check before you decide. This is the question people most regret not asking!
What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement?
Medicare Advantage replaces how you receive Original Medicare, usually bundles drug coverage and extras, and uses a network. A supplement sits alongside Original Medicare and helps pay for what it leaves you to cover, with no network restriction but a separate premium. Which fits depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your travel, and your budget. In Minnesota and Wisconsin the supplement side looks different from what you’ll read nationally.
What happens if I miss my enrollment window?
Depending on which window and why, you may face a late-enrollment penalty, wait until the next enrollment period, or qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Don’t assume the door is closed, give us a call.
Can I change plans after I enroll?
Yes. During the Annual Enrollment Period each October 15 to December 7, and during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment from January 1 to March 31 if you’re already in an Advantage plan. Certain life events open a Special Enrollment Period at other times. Supplement plans work differently
What is a SHIP, and should I call them too?
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) offer free, unbiased Medicare counseling in every state. We’re glad for you to use them; talking to more than one source is a sensible way to approach this. Visit shiphelp.
I'm moving to Minnesota from another state. What changes?
Quite a lot, potentially. A move usually opens a Special Enrollment Period, plan availability is county-specific, and the supplement landscape here doesn’t match what you had elsewhere. Call before you move if you can.