Free · Unbiased · Updated for 2026

Medicare doesn't have to be
this confusing.

Plain-language guides to every part of Medicare — A, B, C, D, Medigap, and Advantage — so you can make the right choice for your health and your wallet.

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Updated for 2026 open enrollment
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The Basics

Medicare has four parts.
Here's what each one covers.

Most people need more than one part. Understanding how they work together is the first step to choosing the right coverage.

A
Hospital Insurance
Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.
Covers:
  • Hospital stays (after deductible)
  • Skilled nursing facility care
  • Hospice care
  • Home health services
B
Medical Insurance
Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment.
Covers:
  • Doctor visits & specialist care
  • Outpatient procedures
  • Preventive screenings
  • Durable medical equipment
C
Medicare Advantage
Private insurance alternative to Original Medicare that often includes extra benefits like dental, vision, and hearing.
Often adds:
  • Dental & vision coverage
  • Hearing aids
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Fitness benefits
D
Prescription Drug Coverage
Helps cover the cost of prescription medications. Available as a standalone plan or included in Medicare Advantage.
Covers:
  • Formulary prescription drugs
  • Catastrophic drug cost cap
  • Mail-order pharmacy options
  • Vaccine coverage
Guides & Articles

Everything you need to know
before open enrollment.

Written for real people, not insurance professionals. No jargon, no upselling.

Medicare Basics
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: The Real Differences
Two very different approaches to Medicare coverage. Here's an honest comparison of costs, flexibility, and what each one actually covers.
7 min readRead →
Medigap
What Is Medigap and Do You Actually Need It?
Medicare Supplement plans fill the gaps Original Medicare leaves behind. Here's when they're worth it and when they're not.
6 min readRead →
Open Enrollment
Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Dates, Deadlines, and What to Change
Oct 15 – Dec 7 is your window to switch plans. Here's what you can change, what you can't, and what most people get wrong.
5 min readRead →
Part D
How to Choose a Medicare Part D Plan Without Overpaying
Drug plan premiums range from $5 to $100+/month. The cheapest plan is rarely the best one. Here's how to actually compare them.
6 min readRead →
Enrollment
When to Enroll in Medicare: Initial Enrollment Period Explained
Miss your Initial Enrollment Period and you could pay late penalties for life. Here's exactly when your window opens and closes.
5 min readRead →
Low Income
Medicare Extra Help: How to Get Help Paying for Part D
Millions of people qualify for the Extra Help program and don't know it. It can save you $5,000+ per year on drug costs.
5 min readRead →
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Medicare Basics

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: The Real Differences

By Northern Light Editorial · 7 min read · Updated July 2026

When you become eligible for Medicare, you face a fundamental choice: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or Medicare Advantage (Part C). The choice affects your costs, your doctors, and your coverage for the rest of your life — so it's worth understanding both deeply before you decide.

Original Medicare: the traditional option

Original Medicare is the federal government's program. It covers hospital care (Part A) and medical services (Part B). You can see any doctor or specialist in the country who accepts Medicare — no referrals needed, no network restrictions.

The downside: Original Medicare doesn't cap your out-of-pocket costs, doesn't cover prescription drugs, and doesn't include extras like dental or vision. Most people add a Medigap supplement plan and a Part D drug plan to fill the gaps.

Medicare Advantage: the private insurance alternative

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They must cover everything Original Medicare covers, but they do it differently — typically through networks of doctors and hospitals, similar to an HMO or PPO.

💡 Medicare Advantage plans often have $0 premiums and include dental, vision, hearing, and prescription drug coverage — making them attractive on paper. The tradeoff is network restrictions and prior authorization requirements that Original Medicare doesn't have.

The key questions to ask yourself

  • Do you have doctors you want to keep? Original Medicare gives you more flexibility.
  • Do you travel frequently or split time between states? Original Medicare works nationwide.
  • Are you generally healthy and cost-conscious? Advantage's $0 premium may appeal.
  • Do you have complex health needs? Original Medicare plus Medigap often provides more predictable costs.

The cost comparison

Original Medicare + Medigap Plan G + Part D typically runs $150–$300/month in premiums but comes with predictable, capped costs for care. Medicare Advantage often has $0 premiums but can have higher copays and deductibles when you actually use care.

⚠️ You cannot be turned down for Medigap during your Initial Enrollment Period. After that, you can be denied based on health conditions in most states. If Medigap interests you, enroll when you first become eligible.
Medigap

What Is Medigap and Do You Actually Need It?

By Northern Light Editorial · 6 min read · Updated July 2026

Original Medicare covers about 80% of your medical costs. The other 20% — plus deductibles, copays, and coinsurance — is your responsibility. Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) is private insurance designed to cover that gap.

How Medigap plans work

Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. Plan G in Minnesota covers the same benefits as Plan G in Florida — the only difference between carriers is the premium. That makes comparison shopping straightforward.

The most popular plans in 2026

  • Plan G: The most comprehensive option available to new Medicare enrollees. Covers everything except the Part B deductible ($240 in 2026).
  • Plan N: Lower premium than Plan G, but has copays up to $20 for doctor visits and $50 for emergency room visits.
  • Plan K and L: Lower premiums, higher cost-sharing — good for healthy people who rarely use care.
💡 Plan F was the gold standard but is no longer available to people who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. If you're new to Medicare, Plan G is typically the most comprehensive option.

Who should consider Medigap?

Medigap makes the most sense if you want predictable costs, see specialists frequently, travel, or have chronic conditions that require regular care. The higher premium is worth it for many people because it eliminates cost surprises.

Who might skip it?

If you're generally healthy, have low income (and may qualify for Medicaid to help with costs), or prefer the extras that Medicare Advantage offers, Medigap may not be the right fit.

Open Enrollment

Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: Dates, Deadlines, and What to Change

By Northern Light Editorial · 5 min read · Updated July 2026

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7 every year. Changes made during this window take effect January 1. It's the one time each year most people can switch, drop, or add Medicare coverage without restrictions.

What you can change during Open Enrollment

  • Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
  • Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
  • Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
  • Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan
⚠️ Open Enrollment does NOT apply to Medigap plans in most states. Medigap has its own enrollment rules and you can be denied based on health history if you're outside your Initial Enrollment Period.

Why you should review your plan every year

Medicare Advantage plans change annually — premiums, networks, formularies, and benefits all shift. A plan that was the best value in 2025 may not be in 2026. Always review your Annual Notice of Change letter (sent in September) before deciding whether to stay or switch.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

There's also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period January 1 – March 31. During this window, people already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a different Advantage plan or switch back to Original Medicare. You cannot use this period to enroll in a new drug plan if you're switching to Original Medicare.

Part D

How to Choose a Medicare Part D Plan Without Overpaying

By Northern Light Editorial · 6 min read

Part D drug plans are notoriously confusing. Premiums range from under $10 to over $100/month, and the cheapest premium plan is almost never the cheapest overall if you take brand-name medications.

The four things that actually determine your costs

  • Premium: What you pay monthly regardless of drug use
  • Deductible: What you pay before coverage kicks in (max $590 in 2026)
  • Copays/coinsurance: Your share per prescription
  • Formulary: Which drugs are covered and at what tier
💡 Use Medicare's Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov to enter your exact medications and see your estimated annual cost for each available plan. This is the only reliable way to compare plans.

The $2,000 out-of-pocket cap

Starting in 2025, Medicare capped annual out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000. This is a significant protection for people on expensive medications. All Part D plans must honor this cap.

Late enrollment penalty

If you don't sign up for Part D when first eligible and don't have other creditable drug coverage, you'll pay a permanent late enrollment penalty — 1% of the national base premium for every month you went without coverage.

Enrollment

When to Enroll in Medicare: Initial Enrollment Period Explained

By Northern Light Editorial · 5 min read

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7-month window surrounding your 65th birthday — 3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after. This is your primary opportunity to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B without penalty.

Why timing matters

If you miss your IEP and don't have other qualifying coverage (like employer insurance), you'll face late enrollment penalties that last the rest of your life. Part B penalties add 10% to your premium for every 12-month period you delayed.

⚠️ If you're still working and covered by employer insurance at 65, you may be able to delay Medicare enrollment without penalty. The rules depend on your employer's size. Companies with fewer than 20 employees require you to enroll in Medicare on time.

Special Enrollment Periods

If you miss your IEP due to employer coverage, you get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that starts when your employer coverage ends. You have 8 months to enroll in Part B without penalty after losing employer coverage.

Social Security automatic enrollment

If you're already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. You'll receive your Medicare card about 3 months before your birthday.

Low Income

Medicare Extra Help: How to Get Help Paying for Part D

By Northern Light Editorial · 5 min read

Extra Help is a federal program that helps people with limited income and resources pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. It's estimated that millions of people who qualify aren't enrolled — leaving thousands of dollars per year on the table.

What Extra Help covers

  • Part D premiums (fully or partially)
  • Part D deductibles
  • Prescription copays (as low as $0–$4 for generics)

Who qualifies

In 2026, you may qualify if your annual income is below roughly $22,000 (individual) or $30,000 (married couple), and your assets are below certain limits. These thresholds change annually.

💡 Apply for Extra Help through Social Security at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. If you're already enrolled in Medicaid, SSI, or Medicare Savings Programs, you automatically qualify for Extra Help.

Medicare Savings Programs

Separate from Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium ($174.70/month in 2026) and sometimes your deductibles and copays. Contact your state Medicaid office to apply.