Medicare, explained.
Clear answers for the questions that matter to you. Start anywhere. Come back whenever you need.
43 guides
Getting started9 guides
Automatic enrollment
Find out why some people are enrolled automatically and others apply.
Enrollment periods
Different coverage decisions have different enrollment windows.
Working past 65
Questions to ask before changing employer coverage.
Medicare before 65: start with your eligibility notice
Many people receiving Social Security disability benefits get Medicare automatically after 24 months of those benefits. ALS has different timing. Other pathways, including ESRD, have separate rules that need individual confirmation.
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An HSA and Medicare: line up the dates before contributing
You cannot make HSA contributions for months covered by Medicare. Retroactive Part A coverage can affect earlier contributions, so confirm your Medicare effective date and HSA limit with Social Security and a tax professional.
Late enrollment
Understand why penalties happen and which questions to ask.
Medicare SupplementWhen can I buy Medigap?
Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period lasts six months, starting the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. It is different from the annual fall enrollment period.
Retiring after 65? Put these dates on one page
Confirm when employer coverage ends, which enrollment rules apply, and whether HSA contributions must stop before Medicare starts. COBRA does not extend your Part B enrollment window.
Turning 65: Getting Started with Medicare
A simple starting point for your first Medicare decisions.
Coverage choices22 guides
The parts of Medicare
Understand how the main parts fit together.
Part D · PrescriptionsPrescription coverage
Consider future needs, current coverage, and enrollment rules.
Keeping your doctor
How doctor access differs between coverage routes.
Your yearly Medicare review, without the overwhelm
Read your Annual Notice of Change, update your care list, and compare next year’s coverage before deciding whether to stay or change.
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Changing your plan
Understand enrollment windows and why Medigap is different.
Part D · PrescriptionsCompare drug coverage using your actual prescriptions
Check each prescription’s coverage, tier, restrictions, and pharmacy price. Compare estimated yearly costs rather than the premium alone.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement
Understand your coverage routes
Dental, vision, and hearing: look past the benefit headline
Original Medicare has important limits on routine dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer extras, but the exact services, providers, limits, and costs vary.
Federal retirement and Medicare: review the whole arrangement
FEHB and Medicare can work together. The fit depends on your employment status, plan benefits, costs, and family coverage. Confirm the consequences with OPM or your benefits office before canceling or suspending FEHB.
An overnight hospital stay does not always mean inpatient care
Observation is outpatient care, even when you stay overnight. Inpatient admission requires a doctor’s order. Status affects which Medicare benefit applies and can matter for later skilled nursing coverage.
Does Medicare pay for ongoing care as you get older?
Medicare and Medigap generally do not cover ongoing custodial care. Short term skilled care and long term help with daily activities are different benefits and planning questions.
Your Medicare conversation checklist
Your Medicare conversation checklist
Medicare AdvantageHMO or PPO: start with how you get care
Medicare Advantage HMOs generally use a network and require specialist referrals. PPOs generally allow covered out of network care at a higher cost and do not require specialist referrals.
Medicare AdvantageWhat is a Medicare Special Needs Plan?
A Special Needs Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan for people who meet specific eligibility criteria. Categories include certain chronic conditions, institutional needs, and eligibility for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Will Medicare travel with me?
Where you travel matters. Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the United States, with limited exceptions. Check your exact coverage before leaving home.
Your Medicare wellness visit is not a routine physical
The yearly Medicare wellness visit develops or updates a prevention plan. It is different from a routine physical. Additional tests or treatment during the appointment may have separate costs.
Plan G or Plan N?
Both are Medicare Supplement policies used with Original Medicare. The key differences include certain visit copayments and Part B excess charges.
Medicare SupplementMedigap letters: compare benefits before company names
In most states, Medigap uses standardized plan letters. The same letter has the same basic benefits across insurers. Prices can differ. Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin use different standardization systems.
Moving with Medicare: check coverage before you unpack
Moving outside a Medicare Advantage or drug plan’s service area can create a Special Enrollment Period. Some moves within a service area also qualify when new plan options become available. Timing depends on the circumstances.
TRICARE For Life and Medicare: confirm the pieces first
TRICARE For Life provides Medicare wraparound coverage for TRICARE eligible people with Medicare Parts A and B. It is generally automatic when those requirements are met, and Part B premiums still apply.
VA benefits and Medicare: keep the two conversations connected
You can have VA health care and Medicare. They are separate arrangements. VA encourages eligible veterans to enroll in Medicare, and VA coverage alone should not be treated as protection from Part B late enrollment penalties.
Coverage gaps
Look at covered services, limits, and what you may pay yourself.
Costs & help6 guides
Understanding Medicare costs
A clearer way to think about premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Could I get help with costs?
Medicare Savings Programs may help with Part A or Part B costs. Extra Help assists eligible people with Part D prescription costs. Qualification and application rules differ.
Understanding IRMAA
Why income can affect Part B and prescription drug premiums.
Medicare and Medicaid: two programs that can work together
Medicare and Medicaid are separate programs. Some people qualify for both. Medicaid eligibility and assistance depend on state rules and the person’s circumstances.
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Spreading drug payments or lowering drug costs?
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan spreads covered out of pocket drug costs across the calendar year. It does not reduce the total cost. Extra Help is a separate cost assistance program.
A Medicare notice arrived. Is it a bill?
A Medicare Summary Notice is not a bill. Compare it with services received and any provider bill. If a claim was denied, read the reason and appeal instructions before the deadline.
Living with Medicare6 guides
Helping a parent with Medicare, one conversation at a time
Start with your parent’s priorities and permission. Organize coverage information together, confirm authorization to speak on their behalf, and keep them involved in decisions.
Help at home: what Medicare home health actually means
Medicare home health requires qualifying skilled care and homebound status, with care arranged through a Medicare certified agency. It does not cover around the clock help or personal care alone.
A coverage decision you disagree with: your next steps
You can appeal certain Medicare coverage or payment decisions. Use the instructions and deadline on your notice. The process differs for Original Medicare, Medicare health plans, and drug plans.
Hospice and Medicare: questions a family can ask
Medicare hospice is a Part A benefit for eligible people who elect comfort focused care for a terminal illness. The hospice team coordinates related care. Discuss eligibility and treatment choices with the medical team.
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An unexpected Medicare call? Give yourself permission to pause
Protect your Medicare number, verify unexpected contacts independently, and check statements for services you did not receive. Report suspected Medicare fraud to 1 800 MEDICARE.
Skilled nursing after a hospital stay: what to confirm
Medicare skilled nursing coverage is for qualifying short term skilled care. It is not an automatic promise of 100 paid days or coverage for an ongoing nursing home stay.
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