Medicare, explained before it’s sold
Penny Shield is a licensed agency for people turning 65 and for anyone already on Medicare who suspects their plan no longer fits. We explain the choices in plain language, show you the tradeoffs in writing, and let you take your time.
No cost, no obligation, and no one calls you unless you ask us to.
What we help with
Medicare is not one product. It is a set of separate choices that interact, and the right combination depends entirely on your doctors, your prescriptions and your tolerance for surprise bills.
All-in-one plans from private insurers
One plan from a private insurer that bundles your hospital and medical coverage, usually adds prescription drugs, and often includes dental, vision or hearing. You trade a smaller network for a lower monthly premium.
Ask about thisFills the gaps Original Medicare leaves
A policy that sits alongside Original Medicare and pays the deductibles, copays and coinsurance Medicare does not. You pay a higher monthly premium in exchange for very predictable costs and any doctor who takes Medicare.
Ask about thisStandalone coverage for your prescriptions
Drug-only coverage for people who keep Original Medicare. The right plan depends far more on whether your specific prescriptions are on its formulary than on the monthly premium.
Ask about thisA yearly check that your plan still fits
Plans change their costs, networks and drug lists every January. Each fall we re-check your prescriptions and doctors against next year's options so you find out before the change costs you money.
Ask about thisHow we work
We are paid the same commission by the carrier regardless of which plan you choose, and we are paid nothing by you. That removes the only real incentive to steer you, which is why we can afford to tell you when the answer is “keep what you have.”Roughly a third of the reviews we do each fall end with no change at all. That is a good outcome.
More about how we operateBefore any plan name comes up, we ask what you actually need: the doctors you want to keep, the prescriptions you take, how often you travel, and what a bad month looks like for your budget.
Every Medicare option trades something for something else. We put the real numbers side by side — premiums, copays, out-of-pocket maximums, network limits — on one page you get to keep.
You decide, on your timeline. We handle the enrollment paperwork, confirm the effective date, and check in each fall when plans change their costs and drug lists.
Resources
Getting started
Your Initial Enrollment Period is seven months long, but the month you pick inside it changes when coverage starts — and missing it can cost you a penalty for life.
August 18, 2026 · 6 min read
Read the articleComparing coverage
The honest comparison is not which plan is better. It is which set of tradeoffs — network freedom versus monthly cost — matches how you use healthcare.
July 29, 2026 · 7 min read
Read the articlePrescriptions
The lowest premium plan is often the most expensive one for your actual medications. Here is the fifteen-minute check that finds out before you enroll.
July 2, 2026 · 5 min read
Read the articleGet started
Send the form and a licensed agent replies within one business day with a written comparison of the plans available in your ZIP code — including the ones that cost us nothing to recommend.
Your number stays with us. No mobile information is shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes. The SMS consent box is optional and unchecked — you can submit this form without it.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 9 organizations which offer 42 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.