New to Medicare
Move from enrollment timing to the core coverage choice, then compare drug and gap coverage with a clear list of your own needs.
Take it one guide at a time.
Progress stays in this browser and is never attached to an account.
Why now: Find the enrollment window that fits your age, current work, and employer coverage before comparing plans.
Medicare enrollment periods
Medicare has strict signup windows: the initial enrollment period around 65, special periods for people working longer, annual open enrollment, and lifelong penalties for missing them.
8 minute readWhy now: Learn what Parts A, B, C, and D do and what original Medicare leaves unpaid.
Medicare
The federal health insurance program for people 65 and older: what Parts A, B, C, and D cover, 2026 costs, what Medicare leaves out, and the Medigap versus Medicare Advantage decision.
10 minute readWhy now: Understand networks, prior authorization, extra benefits, and annual out-of-pocket limits on the private-plan route.
Medicare Advantage
More than half of Medicare beneficiaries now choose Part C plans. How Medicare Advantage differs from original Medicare, what the extra benefits really include, and what to check before enrolling.
8 minute readWhy now: Compare the original Medicare route, including supplement premiums, underwriting, and enrollment protections.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement)
How Medicare Supplement insurance fills the cost gaps in original Medicare, what the standardized Plans A through N cover, typical premiums, and why the timing of your purchase matters more than almost anything else.
6 minute readWhy now: Check every medicine and pharmacy in Plan Finder instead of choosing from premium alone.
Medicare Part D
Medicare's prescription drug benefit: how stand-alone and Medicare Advantage drug plans work, the $2,100 out-of-pocket cap for 2026, the late enrollment penalty math, Extra Help, and why comparing plans every fall pays off.
7 minute readWhy now: Finish by making a separate plan for common services original Medicare generally does not cover.
Dental, vision, and hearing coverage
Original Medicare pays for almost no routine dental, vision, or hearing care. Here is what the exceptions cover, what Medicare Advantage extras really include, and the cheaper routes to teeth, glasses, and hearing aids.
10 minute read
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