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Medicare, explained by someone with nothing to sell you on this page.
Eight explainers covering the whole program. Read them in order for a complete picture, or jump to the one that matches the question you actually have.
- A
Part A — Hospital insurance
Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing, hospice, some home health.
- B
Part B — Medical insurance
Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, equipment, lab work.
- C
Part C — Medicare Advantage
A private all-in-one alternative delivering your A and B benefits, with a network.
- D
Part D — Prescription drugs
Drug coverage from private carriers, with an annual out-of-pocket cap.
The library
Eight explainers, in reading order.
Each one is self-contained. Together they cover everything you need to make the decisions that arrive around your 65th birthday.
- 01
What is Medicare? The whole program in one page
Medicare explained without the jargon: what it is, who runs it, what the four parts do, what it costs, and the two decisions that matter most at 65.
- 02
Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained
What each part of Medicare actually pays for, what it leaves you, and how the four parts combine into the two arrangements almost everybody ends up with.
- 03
Medicare eligibility: who qualifies, and when
The three routes onto Medicare — age, disability and end-stage renal disease — plus what happens if you are still working, not yet claiming Social Security, or not a US citizen.
- 04
Medicare enrollment periods and deadlines
IEP, AEP, MA-OEP, SEP, GEP and the six-month Medigap window — every Medicare enrollment period, what it lets you do, and what it costs to miss it.
- 05
What Medicare costs: premiums, deductibles and IRMAA
Every cost in Medicare in one place — Part A and B premiums and deductibles, the IRMAA surcharge, Part D structure and cap, and what each arrangement actually totals in a year.
- 06
Medicare vs Medicaid: the difference, and being on both
Two programs with similar names and almost nothing else in common. Who runs each, who qualifies, what each covers, and what it means to be dually eligible.
- 07
Medicare Advantage vs Medigap: how to choose
The one Medicare decision that is genuinely hard to reverse. What each arrangement does, what it costs, who it suits — and the five questions that settle it.
- 08
The turning 65 checklist, month by month
A six-month countdown to your Medicare start date: what to do, what to gather, what to decide, and the two deadlines you cannot get back.
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Common questions
The four asked most often.
Does Medicare cost money?
Yes. Most people pay no premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least ten years, but Part B carries a standard monthly premium plus an annual deductible, and higher earners pay an IRMAA surcharge. Beyond that you pay either a Medicare Advantage plan premium and copays, or a Medigap premium and a Part D premium.
What are the four parts of Medicare?
Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care and preventive services. Part C, Medicare Advantage, is a private plan that delivers your Part A and B benefits through a network. Part D covers prescription drugs.
Do I have to enroll in Medicare at 65?
If you have creditable coverage through an employer with 20 or more employees you can generally delay Part B without penalty. Otherwise, missing your Initial Enrollment Period means a Part B late-enrollment penalty of 10 percent of the standard premium for every full twelve months you were eligible and not enrolled, for as long as you have Part B.
Is Medicare the same as Medicaid?
No. Medicare is a federal program based on age and work history — you qualify at 65 regardless of income. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program based on income and resources, run differently in every state. Some people qualify for both and are described as dually eligible.