Medicare Podcasts
By Matthew Claassen
This podcast breaks down Medicare in an easy to understand format — including Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug plans, Medigap, enrollment periods, and recent changes that affect your coverage and costs.
Each episode features clear, unbiased education and expert insights designed to help you make informed Medicare decisions with confidence.
Educational content only. No sales pressure.
Episode 14: Working Past 65? Don't Make These 3 Medicare Mistakes
If you're still working when you turn 65, making the wrong Medicare decision could cost you thousands of dollars in penalties, delayed coverage, and limited plan options later on.
Many people assume Medicare enrollment is automatic at age 65, but employer coverage changes the rules — and misunderstanding those rules is one of the most common and expensive Medicare mistakes people make.
In this episode, we explain how Medicare works when you’re still employed, when it may make sense to delay Medicare Part B, and the important enrollment rules that can help protect you from lifelong penalties. We also cover the critical deadlines you need to know before leaving employer coverage or retiring.
If you plan to continue working past 65, this episode can help you make more informed Medicare decisions and avoid costly surprises.
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Episode 13: Medicare Part B Excess Charges Explained: What They Are and How to Avoid Surprise Bills
Welcome to the Medicare Podcast by Medigap Seminars. All episodes are researched and written by Matthew Claassen and presented using his digital avatar. Our goal is simple: explain Medicare in clear, easy-to-understand terms so you can make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
In this episode, we break down Medicare Part B excess charges—a topic most people don’t learn about until after receiving an unexpected medical bill. You’ll learn what excess charges actually are, when they can apply, when they cannot, and why most people never encounter them. More importantly, we’ll explain how one simple habit can help you avoid excess charges almost entirely.
If you want to understand how Medicare really works behind the scenes—and protect yourself from surprise costs—this episode is essential listening.
Episode 12: High-Deductible Medigap Plans Explained: Lower Premiums and How They Work
In this episode of Medicare Podcast, we explain High-Deductible Medicare Supplement Plans in a clear and straightforward way. Using trusted information from MedigapSeminars.org, we break down what high-deductible Medigap plans are, how they work with Original Medicare, why their premiums are lower, and what you should understand before considering this type of coverage.
This episode is designed to help you understand the structure of high-deductible Medigap plans so you can make informed decisions about your Medicare coverage with confidence.
Visit MedigapSeminars.org for more informacion
Episode 11: Medigap Plan G vs Plan N: A Clear Comparison for Your Medicare Coverage
In this episode of Medicare Podcast, we break down the differences between Medigap Plan G and Plan N, two of the most popular Medicare Supplement plans. Using trusted information from MedigapSeminars.org, we’ll explain how each plan works with Original Medicare, what costs they cover, how they differ in premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and what to consider when comparing these plans.
If you’re wondering which Medigap plan might fit your needs and budget, this episode will help you understand the facts clearly and confidently.
Episode 10: Medigap Explained: How Medicare Supplement Plans Fill the Coverage Gaps
In this episode of Medicare Podcast, we break down Medigap — Medicare Supplement Insurance — in a clear, straightforward way using the information from MedigapSeminars.org. You’ll learn what Medigap plans are, how they work with Original Medicare, and why they can help limit your out-of-pocket costs.
We’ll explain:
What Medigap is and how it works with Medicare Part A and B
The biggest differences between Medigap plans and Medicare Advantage
How standardized benefits make comparison easier
The freedom you have with Medigap coverage
This episode is for anyone new to Medicare or thinking about supplemental coverage.
Episode 9: Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage: A Clear, Practical Comparison
Choosing between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when you enroll in Medicare. In this episode, Matthew Claassen explains how Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare, what you give up in exchange for lower premiums, and why annual plan changes make long-term planning essential.
Episode 8: Medicare Advantage Explained: How Part C Really Works — and Why the Details Matter
Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover the same categories of services as Original Medicare — but not the same benefits. In this episode, Matthew Claassen explains how Medicare Advantage works, why identical benefit categories can lead to very different outcomes, and what restrictions, costs, and travel limitations consumers must understand before enrolling.
Episode 7: Medicare Part D Explained: Prescription Drug Coverage and What Changes Every Year
Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs, but it works very differently from hospital and medical coverage. In this episode, Matthew Claassen explains how Part D plans work, the 2026 prescription drug out-of-pocket cap, why benefits change every year, and why reviewing your Part D coverage annually is essential.
Episode 6: Original Medicare Explained: How Parts A & B Work Together — and What Medicare Is Designed to Do
Original Medicare is the foundation of the Medicare program. In this episode, Matthew Claassen explains how Medicare Parts A and B work together, where Original Medicare operates, what it is designed to cover, and why understanding both its strengths and limitations is essential.
Episode 5: What Medicare Does NOT Cover: The Gaps That Surprise Most People
Many people assume Medicare covers everything — but that assumption can lead to expensive surprises.
In this episode, we explain what Medicare generally does not cover, including routine dental care, vision exams and glasses, hearing aids, and long-term custodial care. These gaps aren’t accidental — they’re built into Medicare’s design — and most people don’t learn about them until they need care.
Understanding these limitations early gives you time to plan intelligently, whether that means additional coverage, budgeting, or both. This episode helps you avoid common misconceptions and prepare before costs become unavoidable.
Learn more at MedigapSeminars.org
Episode 4: Medicare Part B Explained: What It Covers, What It Costs, and Why It Matters
Medicare Part B is the most used—and most misunderstood—part of Medicare. In this episode, we explain what Medicare Part B actually covers, including doctor visits, outpatient procedures, lab work, imaging, preventive care, and durable medical equipment.
You’ll learn why everyone pays a monthly premium for Part B, how income-related adjustments can affect costs, and how the 80 percent coverage structure leaves beneficiaries responsible for the remaining 20 percent—with no annual out-of-pocket maximum. We also explain why that gap can be manageable for routine care but financially overwhelming during serious illness, and why most people do not rely on Medicare Part B alone.
This educational episode helps you understand how Medicare Part B drives most of your healthcare experience and why knowing how it works is essential to avoiding unexpected medical expenses.
To get personalized guidance on how Medicare Part B fits into your overall Medicare strategy, visit medigapseminars.org to book a consultation with one of our licensed agents.
Episode 3: Medicare Part A Explained: Hospital Coverage
Medicare Part A is often called “free hospital insurance,” but that phrase causes more confusion than almost anything else in Medicare.
In this episode, we explain what Medicare Part A actually covers, including inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and limited home health services. We also break down the real costs of Part A — deductibles, daily copays, and the fact that there is no maximum out-of-pocket limit.
You’ll learn why being in a hospital does not always mean you’re considered an inpatient, how observation status works, and why that distinction can lead to unexpected bills. Most importantly, we explain why Medicare Part A is the foundation of Medicare — but not complete coverage on its own.
Hosted by Matthew Claassen, Medigap Seminars
Start here if you’re brand new to Medicare. https://medigapseminars.org/
Part of the Medicare Podcast series
Episode 2: When Do You Enroll in Medicare? Deadlines You Cannot Miss
When Do You Enroll in Medicare? Deadlines You Cannot Miss
Many people assume they can figure Medicare out later — but Medicare has strict enrollment deadlines, and missing them can lead to permanent penalties and delayed coverage.
In this episode, we break down the Medicare enrollment timeline, including the Initial Enrollment Period, how coverage start dates work, and what happens if you enroll late or miss your window entirely. You’ll also learn why Medicare enrollment is not automatic for most people and how timing mistakes can follow you for life.
If you’re approaching age 65 or helping someone else navigate Medicare, this episode will help you avoid costly errors and understand what steps to take next.
Hosted by Matthew Claassen of Medigap Seminars
Learn more and check your enrollment window at MedigapSeminars.org
Episode 1: What Is Medicare? A Simple Explanation for Beginners
Medicare can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, we explain what Medicare is, who it’s for, and why understanding Medicare before you enroll is so important.
- What Medicare is (and what it is not)
- Who qualifies for Medicare
- Why Medicare decisions matter long-term
- What this podcast series will cover
Start here if you’re brand new to Medicare. Request Quote