Medicare Education
Medicare Education & Insights
Plain-English guides to help beneficiaries compare Medicare Advantage plans, understand tradeoffs, and know when to ask a licensed agent for help.
2027 Medicare plan update · 7 min read
2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans: What the New CMS Numbers Mean
CMS released national projections for 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Learn what the averages show—and what to verify for your own coverage.
Read guide →Medicare home health coverage · 7 min read
Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care? Eligibility, Costs, and Limits
Medicare can cover certain skilled services at home when you meet its requirements. Learn what is covered, what is excluded, and what to verify before care begins.
Read guide →Medicare fraud update · 7 min read
CMS Reports $1.6 Billion in Medicare Lab Fraud Actions: How to Check Your Claims
CMS reported $1.6 billion in enforcement actions involving suspect Medicare laboratory billing. Learn what to look for on your claims and how to report a concern.
Read guide →Local Medicare plan guide · 7 min read
Why Medicare Advantage Plans Vary by County
Medicare Advantage availability, benefits, costs, and provider networks can change across county lines. Learn why your ZIP code matters and what to verify before enrolling or moving.
Read guide →Original Medicare update · 7 min read
CMS ACCESS Model in 2026: What Original Medicare Beneficiaries Should Know
CMS has launched a voluntary chronic-care model for qualifying people with Original Medicare. Learn who may be eligible, what services may involve, and what to verify before enrolling.
Read guide →Hospital and SNF coverage · 7 min read
Medicare Observation Status and the 3-Day SNF Rule: What Counts?
Learn how inpatient admission, observation status, and the 3-day hospital rule can affect Original Medicare coverage for skilled nursing facility care after a hospital stay.
Read guide →Medicare device update · 7 min read
CMS RAPID Medicare Device Coverage Pathway: What Beneficiaries Should Know
CMS has proposed a faster national coverage pathway for certain FDA-designated Breakthrough Devices. Learn what RAPID could change—and what it does not guarantee.
Read guide →Original Medicare costs · 7 min read
Medicare Assignment and Part B Excess Charges: What You Could Owe
Learn what accepting Medicare assignment means, when a provider may charge above the Medicare-approved amount, and what to verify before receiving care.
Read guide →2026 hospice update · 7 min read
Medicare Hospice Election Statement Addendum: New 2026 Rule Explained
CMS will require hospices to give every new Medicare hospice patient a written addendum explaining which conditions, services, items, and drugs the hospice says are unrelated and will not cover.
Read guide →2027 Part D update · 7 min read
2027 Medicare Part D Base Premium: What the New CMS Numbers Mean
CMS released preliminary 2027 Medicare Part D bid information. Learn what the $41.33 base beneficiary premium means, what it does not predict, and what to compare this fall.
Read guide →Preventive visits · 7 min read
Does Medicare Cover an Annual Physical? Wellness Visits Explained
A plain-English guide to Medicare coverage for routine physicals, the Welcome to Medicare preventive visit, yearly Wellness visits, and possible costs for additional services.
Read guide →2027 Medicare proposal · 7 min read
2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: What Beneficiaries Should Know
A beneficiary-first guide to the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including rural care, telehealth, advance care planning, shared medical appointments, and what is not final yet.
Read guide →Enrollment timing · 7 min read
Medicare Special Enrollment Periods: What Qualifies and What to Check Before You Switch
A plain-English guide to Medicare Special Enrollment Periods, common qualifying events, timing questions, and what beneficiaries should verify before changing Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage.
Read guide →Cost protection · 7 min read
Medicare Advantage Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limits: What Counts and What Does Not
A plain-English guide to Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket limits, what costs usually count toward the limit, what does not, and why beneficiaries should compare the number before choosing a plan.
Read guide →Star Ratings update · 6 min read
2026 Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Were Recalculated: What Beneficiaries Should Check
A timely guide to CMS recalculated 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings data, what the update may mean, and why beneficiaries should still compare local costs, drugs, and networks.
Read guide →Extra benefits · 7 min read
Medicare Advantage Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefits: What to Compare
A plain-English guide to comparing Medicare Advantage dental, vision, and hearing benefits, including limits, networks, allowances, prior authorization, and out-of-pocket tradeoffs.
Read guide →Part D update · 6 min read
Medicare GLP-1 Bridge in 2026: What Part D Beneficiaries Should Know
A cautious, beneficiary-first explainer on CMS’s Medicare GLP-1 Bridge demonstration, what it may mean for eligible Part D members, and what to verify before relying on GLP-1 coverage.
Read guide →Medicare plan IDs · 6 min read
What Does a Medicare Plan ID Like H7617-111 Mean?
A plain-English guide to Medicare plan IDs, contract numbers, plan numbers, and why the code can help you verify the exact Medicare Advantage or Part D plan before comparing benefits.
Read guide →Medicare Advantage rules · 7 min read
Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization in 2026: What to Ask Before You Get Care
A beneficiary-first explainer on Medicare Advantage prior authorization, including 2026 decision-timeframe rules, denial reasons, networks, appeals, and what to verify before a service.
Read guide →Prescription drug coverage · 7 min read
How to Compare Medicare Part D Drug Plans: Formularies, Tiers, and Pharmacy Costs
A plain-English guide to comparing Medicare Part D drug coverage by formulary, drug tier, pharmacy network, plan rules, deductibles, and the 2026 out-of-pocket limit.
Read guide →New to Medicare · 7 min read
Turning 65? A Plain-English Medicare Checklist to Avoid Late Enrollment Penalties
A practical guide for people aging into Medicare: enrollment windows, Part A and Part B timing, Part D drug coverage, employer coverage, HSAs, and late enrollment penalties.
Read guide →Medicare Advantage basics · 5 min read
How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans in 2026
A plain-English checklist for comparing 2026 Medicare Advantage plans by county, prescriptions, doctors, benefits, Star Ratings, and out-of-pocket exposure.
Read guide →Plan types · 4 min read
Medicare Advantage HMO vs PPO: What Beneficiaries Should Compare
Understand the practical differences between Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans, including networks, referrals, flexibility, and out-of-network costs.
Read guide →Quality signals · 4 min read
What Medicare Star Ratings Mean When Comparing Plans
Learn what Medicare Star Ratings can and cannot tell you when comparing Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans.
Read guide →Coverage choices · 6 min read
Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement: Key Differences to Compare
Compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage paths, including networks, premiums, prescriptions, referrals, travel flexibility, and out-of-pocket predictability.
Read guide →Ready to compare plans now?
Start with the “Should I Switch?” questionnaire to review your county, prescriptions, priorities, and whether it may be worth comparing alternatives this AEP.
Start the Questionnaire