Making Sense of Medicare.

Healthcare shouldn't feel like a puzzle. We strip away the complicated jargon and the alphabet soup to give you plain-English answers on the basics, enrollment windows, and how to choose a plan that works for you.

Medicare Basics

Funded by the federal government, Medicare is a health insurance program for adults 65 and older, as well as younger individuals with specific disabilities or permanent kidney failure. The program features four separate parts (A, B, C, and D), with each part tailored to cover specific types of healthcare services.

Part A

Think of Part A as your "worst-case scenario" coverage. It kicks in when you are admitted to a facility and need a bed. For most people, Part A is free because you already paid for it through taxes while working.

Part B

Part B covers everything else outside of a hospital stay. If you visit a doctor, get a checkup, or need a test, Part B is what pays for it. Unlike Part A, Part B has a monthly premium (a standard fee deducted from your Social Security check).

Part C

Part C is a completely different path. Instead of using the government's Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you choose to get your coverage through a private insurance company.

Part D

Part D is strictly for prescription medication. Like Part C, these plans are run by private insurance companies, but they are overseen by the government. You can buy a standalone Part D plan to add to Original Medicare, or it might already be built into your Part C plan.

Medicare Supplemental insurance—most commonly called Medigap—is often the piece of the puzzle that brings the most peace of mind.

If Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is the foundation of your health coverage, think of a Medigap policy as the shield that protects your bank account from the costs the government leaves behind.