Medicare

Medicare is federal health insurance for Americans 65 and older, plus younger people with certain disabilities. About 67 million people are enrolled. The program is split into four parts (A, B, C, and D), each covering different services at different costs. For 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month and the Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period.

This section covers everything from the basics of Original Medicare to the details of Medicare Advantage, supplement plans, prescription drug coverage, and enrollment deadlines. All cost figures come from CMS.gov and Medicare.gov.

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

The biggest choice you face on Medicare is whether to stay on Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). Original Medicare lets you see any doctor nationwide with no referrals but has no spending cap. Medicare Advantage uses provider networks but caps out-of-pocket costs at $9,250 in-network for 2026 and often includes dental, vision, and hearing. Over 35 million people now choose Advantage, representing 54% of all beneficiaries.

Supplement Plans (Medigap)

If you stick with Original Medicare, a Medigap supplement fills the cost-sharing gaps. About 13.6 million people have one. Plan G (39% of enrollees) is the most popular. All Medigap plans are standardized by letter, so the same plan from different insurers covers identical benefits. The only differences are price and customer service. We compare the top 5 plans.

Enrollment Periods

Medicare has multiple enrollment windows. Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your 65th birthday. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 each year. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs January 1 through March 31. Missing these deadlines can mean late penalties that last for life. Our guides cover every date you need to know.