Common questions, answered plainly.

If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, yes. Part A and Part B generally start the first day of the month you turn 65, or the month before if your birthday is on the 1st. If not, you sign up yourself. How to sign up

During a 7-month window that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after it. See the timeline

Every year from October 15 to December 7. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also make one change from January 1 to March 31. Some life events open a Special Enrollment Period. Important dates

That's fine, the guide can still help, it's a chance to double-check your current plan still fits, especially if your medications or doctors have changed.

If you or your spouse have health coverage through a current job, you can generally sign up for Part B later. You can sign up any time you're still covered, or within 8 months after the job or the coverage ends, whichever happens first. Check with your employer's benefits administrator before you change anything.

No. The 8-month window to sign up for Part B still applies whether or not you choose COBRA.

With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor in the U.S. who takes Medicare. With a Medicare Advantage plan, you may need to use doctors in the plan's network for non-emergency care. It's worth checking before you choose.

Through Medicare drug coverage (Part D). How you get it depends on the rest of your coverage, and a Licensed Insurance Agent can walk you through it.

There can be. If you don't sign up for Part B when you're first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B. Part D has its own late penalty if you go without other creditable drug coverage. More on missing your window

No. There's no cost to use the guide, or to talk with us.

If you enroll in a plan, any premium is set by the plan itself, not by us.

No. Medigap only works with Original Medicare. It can't be used to cover costs in a Medicare Advantage plan.

Neither, in general. They suit different people. See them side by side

In most cases, Original Medicare doesn't cover dental services like routine cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions or dentures. It may pay for some dental services closely related to certain covered services, like an organ transplant. Dental, vision and hearing

Original Medicare doesn't cover eye exams for prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. It does cover one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames (or one set of contact lenses) after each cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens. Dental, vision and hearing

No. Original Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids or exams for fitting them. It does cover diagnostic hearing and balance exams when your doctor or health care provider orders them. Dental, vision and hearing

A Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, a type of Medicare Advantage plan for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Your state Medicaid office can confirm your Medicaid eligibility. Special Needs Plans

A Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan, a type of Medicare Advantage plan for people with specific severe or disabling chronic conditions, like diabetes, chronic heart failure or dementia. Plans may limit membership to one condition or a group of related conditions, and you must live in the plan's service area to join. Special Needs Plans

We never cold call.

If you finish the guide, a licensed agent will follow up to make sure nothing was missed.

Tell us to stop and we stop. No argument.

Calling Medicare gets you general program information.

We help you work out how the options apply to you specifically: your medications, your doctors, your budget. And we can walk you through enrolling when you're ready.