2027 Medicare figures are being added as CMS releases them. A 2026 amount is the current figure through December 31.
If you or your spouse is still working at 65, Medicare works a little differently, and you may have more time than you think. This guide explains how employer coverage, COBRA, retiree insurance, and Health…
Read article
Check your inbox to confirm your subscription.
Reviewed by Monica Woodward Luberto, RNMedicare has more than one enrollment window, and the right one depends on your situation. Miss it and a permanent penalty can be added to your monthly premium, so it’s worth getting right. This guide walks through the Initial Enrollment Period, Special Enrollment Periods, and the General Enrollment Period, and exactly when your coverage starts.
Reviewed by Janvi Jani, MSN, RNMissing your Medicare enrollment window can mean a permanent monthly penalty, but you still have options, and they depend on which window you missed. This guide explains the General Enrollment Period, Special Enrollment Periods, and the real dollar cost of each late enrollment penalty.
Reviewed by Lisa Spano, RNWhen you have Medicare and other health insurance, specific rules decide which one pays first. This guide walks through how Medicare works alongside employer coverage, COBRA, retiree insurance, Medicaid, VA benefits, TRICARE, Marketplace plans, and accident-related insurance.
Reviewed by Michael J. Bullock, DNP, MSN, RNMedicare and Social Security are separate programs, but they’re closely connected. You sign up for Medicare through Social Security, your premiums come out of your Social Security payment, and whether you’re already receiving benefits decides whether your enrollment happens automatically or needs a step from you.
Reviewed by Jane Rivers, RN-BCOriginal Medicare covers hospital care, doctor visits, and many preventive services, but not dental, hearing aids, routine vision, or long-term care. This guide explains exactly what’s covered, what isn’t, and how to fill the gaps so nothing surprises you later.
Reviewed by Naomi Chumba, RNPlain-language definitions of the Medicare terms you’re most likely to run into, from coinsurance and benefit periods to Special Enrollment Periods and Medicare Advantage. Every definition is sourced from Medicare.gov and CMS and written without the insurance jargon.
Reviewed by Samantha Kaeberlein, PharmD, BCGPMedicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, and for some younger people with disabilities. If you’re coming up on 65, this plain-language guide walks you through what Medicare covers, how the four parts fit together, and what’s worth knowing before you enroll.
Fact-checked · Review pendingWondering who pays for Medicare? In 2025, general revenue covered 47% of its income, payroll taxes 33% and premiums 14%. Here’s how each part is funded, what the 2033 trust fund date really means, and where the talk of Medicare cuts stands now.
Fact-checked · Review pendingLooking for your Medicare ID? It’s the 11-character number on your red, white and blue Medicare card, and it isn’t your Social Security Number. You can also find it in your Medicare account or your Social Security benefit letter. Here’s how to read it, check which parts you have and keep it safe.
Fact-checked · Review pendingNever worked? If you’re a citizen living in the U.S., you can still get Medicare at 65: buy Part A for $565 a month in 2026 plus Part B, or get Part A free on a spouse’s record. Those left out are mainly noncitizens outside four groups a 2025 law names. Here’s who isn’t eligible and what to do.
Fact-checked · Review pendingLooking for the Medicare & You 2026 handbook? The 2027 edition has replaced it on Medicare.gov, and it’s the one to use for choices you make by December 7, 2026. It caps Part D drug costs at $2,400 in 2027. Here’s what’s inside, what changed and how to get a free copy.
Fact-checked · Review pendingOn SSDI and wondering when Medicare starts? It begins in your 25th month of disability benefits, about two and a half years after your disability began, and it’s automatic. Part A is free; Part B is $202.90 a month in 2026. Here’s how the wait, ALS, ESRD, work and turning 65 fit in.
Check your inbox to confirm your subscription.
