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Medicare, explained like a neighbor would.

The four parts, the two paths, and the deadlines that matter, in plain English, with no jargon and no sales pitch.

The four parts of Medicare

Part A: Hospital insurance. Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, and hospice. Most people pay no premium for Part A.

Part B: Medical insurance. Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment. Part B has a monthly premium, and together with Part A it makes up "Original Medicare."

Part C: Medicare Advantage. Not a separate benefit, it's a different way to receive Parts A and B, through a private plan that often bundles in drug coverage and extras.

Part D: Prescription coverage. Covers your medications. You must carry minimum essential prescription coverage to avoid a lifelong late-enrollment penalty, even if you take nothing today.

The one big decision

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers roughly 80% of your approved costs. From there you choose one of two very different paths: keep Original Medicare and pair it with a Supplement that fills the gaps, or move into a Medicare Advantage plan that replaces Original Medicare and structures your coverage a different way, usually with lower monthly premiums but copays and coinsurance when you use care. Here's how the two compare:

Medicare Supplement

"MediGap", pairs with Original Medicare

  • Fills the 20% gap Original Medicare doesn't pay
  • Little to no co-pays; predictable costs
  • Any doctor who accepts Medicare, no networks
  • Guaranteed renewable; benefits never change
  • Monthly premium; add Part D separately

Medicare Advantage

A private plan that replaces Original Medicare

  • Often low or $0 monthly premium
  • Usually bundles drug coverage in one plan
  • May add dental, vision & hearing benefits
  • Doctor networks; co-pays when you use care
  • Plans and benefits can change every year

One thing most people don't know: Supplement plans are standardized. A Plan G from one company is exactly the same coverage as Plan G from another, the only difference is the premium they charge. That's why shopping it with an independent agent matters.

The deadlines that matter

  • Your Initial Enrollment Period, a 7-month window around your 65th birthday (3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and 3 months after). This is the time to act. Use our free calculator to see your exact dates →
  • Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7 every year. The window to change Advantage and Part D plans for the following year.
  • Already on a plan? Plans and premiums change every year even when your health doesn't. A free annual review is how you avoid quietly overpaying.

Stuck on a word? Our plain-English glossary translates every term on this page.

Ask what you really want to know

Does Medicare cover everything?
No. Original Medicare covers about 80% of approved costs, and it does not cover routine dental, vision, hearing, or long-term care. That's exactly the gap the plans on our Coverage page exist to fill.
Do I need a drug plan if I don't take medications?
Yes, in almost all cases. Skipping Part D triggers a late-enrollment penalty that permanently raises your premium once you do enroll. A basic plan now protects you.
I'm still working at 65, what do I do?
It depends on your employer coverage and the size of your employer. This is one of the most common, and most consequential, situations we help with. Call us before your birthday month.
What does your help cost?
Nothing. Consultations are free, and we're paid by the carriers at no extra cost to you, your premium is the same whether you use an agent or not. The difference is having someone local to call.

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