A guide for people new to Medicare, and for the people helping them
Medicare is a lot. Let’s walk through it together.
Pull up a chair. We’ll explain the pieces in everyday words, show you when the sign-up windows open, and, if you’d like, connect you with licensed agents who can talk through plans in your area.
Free to use · No obligation · Operated by a private company, not the government
An illustration of a calm kitchen table
Chapter 1
Before anything else, a quick hello
Choosing Medicare coverage can feel like being handed a thick manual written in a language you only half speak. We put this page together the way we’d explain it across a kitchen table: slowly, with examples, and with no pressure.
1
Read at your pace
Skim the pieces, check the dates, bookmark what’s useful.
2
Tell us a little
If you’d like to talk to someone, share a few details in the form at the end.
3
Only with your okay
With your consent, a licensed insurance agent from one of our partner organizations may contact you. You can say “no, thank you” at any time.
Chapter 2
The pieces, in plain words
Medicare is really a handful of pieces. Some come together as “Original Medicare,” and others are optional add-ons or alternatives sold by private insurance companies.
Part A Hospital insurance
Generally helps cover inpatient hospital stays, some skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.
Part B Medical insurance
Generally helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and certain medical equipment.
Part C Medicare Advantage
Another way to receive your Part A and Part B benefits, through a private insurance company. Many plans include drug coverage, and some add extras like vision, dental or hearing. Networks, rules and availability vary by area.
Part D Prescription drug coverage
Offered through private insurance companies. It can be added to Original Medicare, and it’s built into many Medicare Advantage plans.
Medigap Medicare Supplement Insurance
Sold by private companies to help with some costs Original Medicare doesn’t pay, such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. It works alongside Original Medicare, not with Medicare Advantage.
Chapter 3
Two roads, and neither is “the right one” for everybody
Road one: Original Medicare
Parts A and B, with the freedom to see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. You can choose to add a separate Part D drug plan and, if you like, a Medigap policy.
Road two: Medicare Advantage
One plan from a private insurer that bundles your Part A and B benefits, often with drug coverage and some extras. Plans commonly use provider networks, so it’s worth checking that your doctors are in.
Questions to sit with: Do I want to keep any doctor who accepts Medicare, or am I comfortable with a network? Would I rather have one bundled plan or build my own? Details vary by plan and ZIP code.
Chapter 4
When you can sign up
Medicare has set windows for joining or changing coverage. Here are the main ones, as a calendar you can hold in your head.
Around your 65th birthday
Initial Enrollment Period
A seven-month window: the three months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the three months after.
Oct 15 – Dec 7, every year
Annual Election Period
A time to review and change Medicare Advantage and Part D coverage for the following year.
Jan 1 – Mar 31, every year
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be able to switch to a different one or go back to Original Medicare.
When life changes
Special Enrollment Periods
Certain events, like moving or losing other coverage, may open a window outside the usual dates. Rules depend on your situation.
Dates and rules can change. Confirm current details at Medicare.gov or with your local SHIP counselor.
Chapter 5
What to have handy
You don’t need a folder full of paperwork. A few notes make any conversation faster. Tick things off as you gather them, and we’ll remember on this device.
0 of 6 ready
Never share your Medicare number with anyone you don’t trust, and you don’t need it to use this site.
Chapter 6
Ready? Let’s look at your options
Share a few details and, with your consent, a licensed insurance agent from a partner organization may reach out to talk through options available where you live. There’s no charge to use this site and no obligation.
Your options form loads here.
Placeholder — delete this block after pasting the embed script above.
By submitting, you agree that the partners listed on our partners page and their licensed agents may contact you by phone, text or email about Medicare plans, including with automated technology, even if your number is on a Do Not Call list. Consent is not required to use this site. See our Privacy Policy and Terms.
Questions people ask us
Does it cost anything to use this site?
No. MedicareKindly is free to you. We may be compensated by partner organizations when we connect people with them, which doesn’t add a charge for you.
Will someone call me?
Only if you submit the form and agree to be contacted. You can ask a partner to stop at any time.
Do you show every plan available?
No. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Can you enroll me?
No. We’re not an insurer or agency and we don’t enroll anyone. Licensed agents or the plan itself handle enrollment.
