Avoiding Common Medicare Mistakes in 2025: How to Bridge Coverage Gaps
National Benefit Plans
NBP is focused on providing Health Insurance products for clients 65 and under as well as Medicare products for Seniors.
Navigating Medicare can feel like an overwhelming task. With a maze of options, plans, and rules, it’s easy to make costly mistakes that lead to unexpected expenses and gaps in coverage. National Benefit Plans (NBP) is committed to helping you avoid these challenges with proactive, personalized guidance.?
Below, we outline the most common Medicare mistakes and how you can secure well-rounded, affordable coverage.
1. Not Understanding Coverage Gaps
Medicare can be a lifeline for many, but it’s not a catch-all solution. Many beneficiaries are surprised to discover that key health services—like dental, vision, and hearing—are not covered by Original Medicare. These coverage gaps can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses. Planning ahead and understanding these limitations is essential to avoiding financial surprises.
Here at NBP our goal is to provide assistance in understanding to avoid any unexpected surprises.?
For example:
How NBP Helps:
We educate our clients on these gaps and provide tailored solutions like Medicare Supplement Insurance or Medicare Advantage plans that include additional benefits and caps on out-of-pocket spending.
Statistic: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 22% of Medicare beneficiaries in 2023 spent over $2,000 out of pocket on health services. [kff.org]
2. Missing Enrollment Deadlines
Medicare’s strict enrollment deadlines can catch beneficiaries off guard, leading to costly penalties or lapses in coverage. Whether you’re new to Medicare or looking to make changes, it’s essential to understand and meet these deadlines to avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure continuous protection.
Timely enrollment is one of the most critical aspects of Medicare planning. Missing important deadlines can result in penalties, delays in coverage, or both.?
Key deadlines include:
How NBP Helps:
We track enrollment periods for our clients and send timely reminders to ensure they don’t miss crucial deadlines.
Statistic: Approximately 770,000 Medicare beneficiaries in 2022 paid late enrollment penalties due to missed deadlines. [medicare.gov]
3. Choosing the Wrong Plan
Selecting the right Medicare plan can feel like solving a complex puzzle. With so many options and variables, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or make a choice based solely on premiums. Unfortunately, this approach often leads to plans that don’t meet your healthcare needs or financial expectations. Personalized advice is crucial to avoid these pitfalls and ensure your plan provides the best value and coverage.
Medicare plans aren’t one-size-fits-all. Many people base their decisions solely on premiums, which can leave them with plans that don’t meet their needs.?
For example:
How NBP Helps:
We conduct a personalized needs assessment, comparing available plans to ensure our clients get the most value and protection based on their health and financial situations.
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Statistic: In 2024, the average Medicare beneficiary had access to 57 Medicare Advantage plans but often struggled to compare them effectively. [healthaffairs.org]
4. Overlooking Preventive Services
Preventive services are a vital part of staying healthy and reducing long-term healthcare costs. Regular screenings, wellness visits, and other preventive measures can catch potential health issues early, often avoiding expensive treatments down the road. However, many Medicare beneficiaries don’t take full advantage of these benefits, missing opportunities to protect their health and finances.
How NBP Helps:
We educate clients about these benefits and help them schedule necessary screenings and checkups to maintain their health.
Statistic: Only 30% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries utilized their free Annual Wellness Visit in 2023.[cms.gov]
Preventive care can catch health issues early, but many Medicare beneficiaries don’t take full advantage of these services. Ignoring them can lead to more severe health problems down the line.?
How NBP Helps:
We educate clients about these benefits and help them schedule necessary screenings and checkups to maintain their health.
Statistic: Only 30% of eligible Medicare beneficiaries utilized their free Annual Wellness Visit in 2023 [cms.gov]
5. Ignoring Prescription Drug Costs
Prescription drug coverage can be one of the most complex aspects of Medicare. With varying formularies, coverage tiers, and premiums—it’s easy to get caught off guard by high costs.?
Many beneficiaries are unsure how to choose the right plan to manage these expenses effectively. Understanding your options and reviewing them annually is essential to keep prescription costs manageable.
Prescription drug costs can be a significant burden, especially if you’re not enrolled in the right plan. Without careful planning, you might incur higher out of pocket costs based on your medications.
How NBP Helps:
We analyze prescription needs annually to recommend plans that minimize costs, even as drug formularies change.
Statistic: Beneficiaries in the coverage gap paid an average of $1,216 annually for prescriptions in 2023. [kff.org]
Secure Peace of Mind with NBP
At National Benefit Plans, we take pride in simplifying Medicare for our clients. With our expert guidance, you can:
If you’re ready to take the stress out of Medicare, contact NBP today. Together, we’ll create a plan that works for you.