Medicare Topics
Every Medicare subject we cover, organised so you can start where your question is: the basics, Advantage plans, Part D, enrollment windows, costs, eligibility and more.
Medicare Basics
Start here if Medicare is new to you: what each part covers, how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage differ, and the decisions that come first.
Medicare Advantage
Networks, prior authorization, out-of-pocket maximums and the trade-offs behind a low premium — what to check before you choose a Medicare Advantage plan.
Part D Prescription Coverage
Formularies, tiers, the yearly out-of-pocket cap and the late-enrollment penalty — how Part D drug plans work and how to compare them on your own medications.
Enrollment Periods
Initial Enrollment, Annual Enrollment, Open Enrollment and Special Enrollment Periods — which window applies to you, and what missing it costs.
Costs & Savings
Premiums, deductibles, IRMAA surcharges and the programs that reduce them — what Medicare actually costs and where the savings are.
Eligibility
Turning 65, disability, ESRD, still working with employer coverage, HSA conflicts — who qualifies for Medicare, when, and when it is safe to wait.
Dual Eligibility
How Medicare and Medicaid coordinate, what D-SNP plans are, which program pays first, and the programs that cover premiums for people with limited income.
State Resources
Free one-on-one Medicare counseling through your state's SHIP, state Medicaid and savings programs, and the Texas-specific options we cover in depth.
Life at 65
The year around 65 in order — what to do seven months out, during your enrollment window, and in your first months on Medicare.
Medicare by state
Enrollment figures and the free counseling line for every state.