Medicare made simple. Coverage explained, costs clarified, and the enrollment rules that catch people off guard — all in plain language.
Whether you’re turning 65, already enrolled, or helping a parent, we cover Parts A, B, C, and D, Medigap, Medicare Advantage, prescription drugs, and the decisions that matter most.
🆓 Free Medicare plan help — ALWAYS FREE. Talk to our Medicare partner Chapter: 615-639-1937 · askchapter.org/money
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Your key Medicare decisions
New to Medicare? Start with these three.
Key Medicare Decisions
The three biggest choices most people face: which path to take, whether to add a supplement, and how to handle prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare
How the two paths compare on cost, networks, travel, and flexibility — and how to know which one fits your situation.
Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Explained
How Medigap fills Original Medicare gaps. Plan G vs. Plan N, the protected enrollment window, and how to choose without overpaying.
Medicare Part D: Drug Coverage
The 2026 changes (including the $2,000 cap), formulary tiers, the late enrollment penalty, and how to pick the right plan for your medications.
Coverage & Costs
What Medicare covers, what it doesn’t, and how much you’ll pay.
Medicare Parts A, B, C & D
The four parts of Medicare in one place — what each covers and how they fit together.
Medicare Costs & Premiums
2026 premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance broken out by part. What you’ll actually pay.
What Medicare Doesn’t Cover
Dental, vision, hearing, long-term care, and the other gaps Original Medicare leaves — and the options for filling them.
Medicare Part A: Coverage and Costs
What Part A covers (hospital, skilled nursing, hospice), the per-benefit-period deductible, and the observation status trap.
Mental Health Coverage
Therapy, psychiatric care, partial hospitalization, and substance use treatment — including the 190-day psychiatric hospital lifetime limit.
IRMAA: Higher Premiums for Higher Income
How your income two years ago can raise your Part B and Part D premiums — and how to appeal if your income has dropped.
Plans & Decisions
Choosing, comparing, and switching Medicare plans — including the windows and deadlines that matter.
How to Choose a Medicare Plan
A practical framework for comparing plans on doctors, prescriptions, total annual cost, and worst-case out-of-pocket exposure.
Medigap: Plan G vs. N vs. HD‑G
The three Medigap plans most new enrollees actually choose between — coverage differences, cost tradeoffs, and who each fits best.
Medicare Advantage: Pros and Cons
Lower premiums and extra benefits vs. network restrictions and prior authorizations. What to weigh before you enroll.
Medicare Advantage Extra Benefits
Dental, vision, hearing, fitness, OTC allowances — how to evaluate them honestly, what the caps and networks actually mean.
Open Enrollment Guide
What you can change Oct 15–Dec 7 each year, how to use Medicare Plan Finder, and what to check in your Annual Notice of Change.
Special Enrollment Periods
Life events that open a window to change coverage outside the annual periods — moving, losing employer coverage, and more.
Enrollment & Special Situations
Enrollment timing, penalties, and specific situations that change how Medicare works for you.
Medicare Enrollment Guide
When to sign up, how to enroll, what to do if you’re still working, and the windows that matter.
Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
How the permanent monthly penalty works, who actually pays it, and the COBRA, Marketplace, and retiree-coverage traps.
Still Working at 65
How Medicare interacts with employer coverage, what to delay safely, and what to enroll in even if you have a workplace plan.
Medicare and HSAs
Why Medicare ends HSA contributions, the 6-month lookback rule, and how to time enrollment to keep HSA tax benefits intact.
Coverage Before Medicare
Bridge options for early retirees: COBRA, ACA Marketplace, spouse coverage, retiree benefits, and the transition to Medicare at 65.
Medicare Under 65 with Disabilities
The 24-month SSDI waiting period, ALS and ESRD exceptions, and how Medigap access differs for people under 65.
Medicare & Medicaid
How dual eligibility works, what each program covers, and the assistance available for people with limited income.
Medicare Savings Programs
State programs that help low-income beneficiaries pay Part B premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing — including QMB, SLMB, QI, and Extra Help.
Medicare and Travel
Original Medicare works nationally; Medicare Advantage has service area limits. International travel coverage and snowbird tradeoffs.
Medicare When You Move States
What changes (and what doesn’t) when you relocate. Special Enrollment Periods, plan service areas, and a fresh Medigap window.
Appeal a Medicare Denial
The 5-level appeals process, how to file, what documentation you need, and free help resources. Many denials are overturned.
Free Medicare Help
Who Chapter Medicare is, how the free help works, and how to compare every plan in your area with no obligation.
Coverage, Plans, and Enrollment
Medicare Hospice Coverage
What Medicare hospice covers, who qualifies, how long it lasts, and what families can expect from this comprehensive end-of-life benefit.
Medicare and COBRA
Why COBRA doesn’t count as creditable coverage for delaying Part B, how the two interact, and how to avoid a lifetime premium penalty.
How to Switch Medicare Plans
When and how you can switch plans: the Annual Enrollment Period, the MA Open Enrollment Period, and qualifying Special Enrollment Periods.
Medicare Home Health Care
What Medicare covers for skilled nursing, therapy, and aide services at home, the four qualifying criteria, and what is not covered.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: Which Is Better for You?
A decision framework comparing cost, network access, flexibility, and the critical lock-in risk when choosing between these two approaches.
Medicare Part B vs. Part D: Which Pays for Your Medications?
Part B covers drugs given in a clinical setting; Part D covers pharmacy drugs. How the rules work and why the cost-sharing difference matters.
More Medicare Guides
Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Coverage
What Original Medicare covers (almost nothing routine), what Medicare Advantage plans offer, and realistic alternatives for dental, vision, and hearing.
How to Read Your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN)
How to read the quarterly Medicare Summary Notice, catch billing errors, spot potential fraud, and use your 120-day appeal rights.
Medicare and Working Spouses: Coordination of Benefits
When your spouse is still working, the size of their employer determines whether Medicare or their group plan is primary — and whether you can delay Part B without penalty.
Medicare IRMAA Appeals: How to Use Form SSA-44
If your income dropped due to retirement, divorce, or a spouse’s death, you can appeal your IRMAA premium surcharge using form SSA-44 — often saving thousands annually.
Medicare Coverage for Skilled Nursing Facility Care
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay — but the 3-day inpatient rule and observation status trap many families.
Medicare for Veterans: How VA Benefits and Medicare Work Together
VA health care and Medicare don’t coordinate — but most veterans should have both. Learn why, how the Part B penalty applies to VA users, and what approach works best.
Recent Medicare Articles
- Medicare Won’t Pay for These Retirement Costs
Medicare helps a lot in retirement, but it does not cover everything. Here are the Medicare cost-sharing rules, prescription drug gaps, long-term care limits, and other surprises retirees should check before the bill arrives. - What Is the Medicare Donut Hole? The Part D Coverage Gap Explained
The Medicare “donut hole” is a coverage gap stage in Part D drug plans where your costs can temporarily change. Learn how it works and what came after recent reforms. - What Is Medigap? Medicare Supplement Insurance Explained
Medigap is private supplemental insurance that helps pay Original Medicare’s out-of-pocket costs. Learn how it works, what it covers, and how it differs from Medicare Advantage. - What Is Medicare Part D? Prescription Drug Coverage Explained
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage sold through private insurers. Learn how it works, what it costs, and what happens if you sign up late. - What Is Medicare Advantage (Part C)? How It Works
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurers. Learn how it works, what it typically includes, and its trade-offs. - What Is Medicare Part B? Medical Insurance Explained
Medicare Part B is medical insurance that covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and preventive services. Learn how it works, what it costs, and how it pairs with Part A.
Looking for more Medicare and Insurance resources? View all Medicare articles → · More from our archive →
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If you need help with Medicare, please contact Medicare, your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), your current Medicare insurance agent/broker/plan, or feel free to contact my Medicare partner, Chapter, at 615-639-1937. Chapter: Memoir, Inc. d/b/a Chapter is a privately-owned, data and technology-enabled advisory that helps older Americans navigate retirement. Insurance agency services are provided by Chapter Advisory, LLC, a licensed health insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Memoir, Inc. In California, Chapter Advisory, LLC does business as Chapter Insurance Services (Lic. No. 6003691). Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.