Medicare Blog

Plain-English guides on Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D.

Medicare can feel overwhelming. Between Original Medicare (Parts A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and prescription drug coverage (Part D), most people approaching 65 are handed a thick packet of jargon and asked to make a decision that affects their healthcare for years. This blog exists to cut through that. We publish straightforward, vendor-neutral guides that explain how each part of Medicare actually works, what it costs, and how to choose plans that match your prescriptions, your doctors, and your budget.

Our city-specific guides focus on the plans actually offered in your ZIP code, because Medicare Advantage and Part D plan availability varies by county. A Humana plan that's a great deal in Tampa may not even be sold in Jacksonville, and the top-rated Medicare Supplement carrier in Texas can look very different in New York. Each guide walks through the plan types available locally, what star ratings mean for the carriers in your area, typical monthly premiums, prescription formulary considerations, and when each Annual Enrollment Period and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period applies to changes you might want to make.

New to Medicare? Start with our explainers on the differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, how the Part D donut hole works under the new $2,000 out-of-pocket cap, and the late-enrollment penalties that can follow you for life if you skip Part B or Part D when you're first eligible. Already enrolled and looking to switch? Browse the city guides below — most include side-by-side comparisons of the three or four plans most seniors in your market end up choosing. If you have a specific question, our licensed agents can pull plan-finder data for your exact ZIP and prescription list at no cost.