Medicare has four parts, several deadlines and a lot of mail. This page puts our Medicare guides in the order most people need them, from signing up at 65 to checking a plan each fall. Start at the top, or jump to the section that matches your question.
Key dates: Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes take effect January 1. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31.
1. Start here
- Turning 65? Your Step-by-Step Medicare Checklist (With 2027 Costs)
- 7 Medicare Mistakes That Can Cost You Thousands (and How to Avoid Them in 2027)
- Quiz: 15 Things People Get Wrong About Medicare in Their First Year
2. Signing up and avoiding penalties
- Turning 65 and Still Working? One Medicare Decision Can Raise Your Premium for Life
- How Working Past 65 Affects Your Medicare Part B Enrollment Decisions
- The Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty: Why It Follows You for Life
- What Happens to Your ACA Health Plan When You Transition to Medicare at 65?
3. Open enrollment: October 15 to December 7
- Medicare Open Enrollment Ends Dec. 7: What’s Changing for 2027 and What to Check Now
- You Kept the Same Medicare Plan. So Why Is It Different in January?
- How to Avoid Costly Mistakes During the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
- How to Use the Medicare Plan Finder Tool to Spot Hidden Out-of-Pocket Costs
- Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist: How to Help a Parent Review Their Plan
4. Choosing coverage: Medicare Advantage, Medigap and drug plans
- Medigap Plan G vs. Plan N: Which Supplement Protects Your Wallet Better?
- Can You Switch Back to Original Medicare From Medicare Advantage Later?
- What Is the “Trial Right” Rule When Trying Out a Medicare Advantage Plan?
- Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing: The True Limits of Advantage Perks
- Why Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage Is Under Congressional Scrutiny
- How to Use Over-the-Counter (OTC) Health Card Allowances Before They Expire
- Medicare Extra Help (LIS): How People With Limited Income Can Cut Drug Costs
- Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNP): Getting the Most From Medicare and Medicaid
- How to Qualify for a Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan
5. What Medicare covers, and what it does not
- Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living? What It Covers, What It Doesn’t, and Who Pays Instead
- Why Medicare Does NOT Cover Long-Term Nursing Home Stays (And What Does)
- Does Medicare Pay for In-Home Caregivers? The Strict Coverage Conditions
- Inpatient vs. Observation Status: Why It Matters for Your Medicare Coverage
- What to Do If Your Specialist Suddenly “Opts Out” of Medicare Entirely
6. Statements, fraud and scams
- How to Read and Audit Your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for Fraud
- Your Medicare Card Isn’t Something a Stranger Needs to “Verify”
- Fake Health Insurance Call Centers: How They Scam Consumers During Enrollment
- Genetic Testing Scams: How Criminals Exploit Seniors Under the Guise of Medicare
- The “Free” Back Brace Scheme: How Telemarketers Bilk Millions From Taxpayers
Official help, free of charge
- Medicare.gov: official costs, coverage rules and the Plan Finder.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227): help by phone, 24 hours a day.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): free, unbiased local counseling.
The Health Advocate is a privately owned website. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or any government agency. This page is general educational information, not legal, medical, financial or insurance advice. Confirm costs and coverage with your plan, Medicare.gov or your local SHIP before you decide.