Hospital insurance
Usually premium-free if you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes. Covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care (limited), hospice, and home health (limited).
Learn
Medicare, in plain language
Medicare has different parts. Here’s the short version — and a calculator to find your enrollment window.
The parts of Medicare
Medical insurance
Monthly premium. Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. Late enrollment penalties can apply if you delay without eligible coverage.
Medicare Advantage
All-in-one plans from private insurers. Often include Part D (drugs) and extras such as vision, dental, hearing, and fitness. You still need to keep paying your Part B premium.
Prescription drugs
Helps pay for medications. Plans vary by formulary, pharmacy network, and costs — which is why comparing them each year matters.
Medicare Supplement
Optional add-on to Original Medicare (Parts A & B). Helps pay Part A and Part B cost-sharing such as deductibles and coinsurance. Does not include drugs — pair it with a Part D plan.
Late enrollment penalties
Extra fees for delaying Medicare. They apply to Parts A, B and D. You avoid them by enrolling on time or by keeping creditable coverage elsewhere.
Free tool
Initial Enrollment Period calculator
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is a 7-month window: it starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and ends 3 months after. If your birthday falls on the 1st, Medicare treats your birthday month as the month before.
Your Initial Enrollment Period
- Your 65th birthday
- Your 7-month IEP window
- Best timing
- Where you stand today
Enrollment timing & effective dates (2023+ rules):
- Enroll in the 3 months before your birthday month → Part B generally starts the 1st of your birthday month (the month before, if you were born on the 1st).
- Enroll in your birthday month or the 3 months after → Part B generally starts the 1st of the next month.
This calculator is a guide, not an official determination. Confirm your dates with me or with Medicare before you enroll.
Not sure which part applies to you?
That’s exactly what a free consultation is for. Bring your questions — and a family member if you’d like.