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Approaching Medicare

What you need to know about Medicare as you near 65 or are newly eligible. Learn about this federal health insurance for older or disabled adults, its parts and Medigap

    

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The Fundamentals of Medicare

Medicare can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be.

This federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older, plus younger people with certain disabilities, pays for the largest share of health care services in the United States.

You’ll need to know whether you’re eligible, when to enroll and the options available — not just for insurance plans but if you are still working, have retired from a military or government job or need some financial help. You’ll find the answers to key concepts that every new beneficiary should know in this series.

Articles in this series


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AARP Navigator

Medicare Initial Enrollment

This customizable online program simplifies Medicare, empowering AARP members to make informed decisions with confidence and receive support throughout the process.


    

Decoding Medicare’s Many Parts

You’ll discover an alphabet soup of letters when you learn about Medicare — Parts A, B, C and D for Medicare and another 10 letters that refer to Medigap plans, the supplemental insurance that can cover many of your expenses under original Medicare.

Part A handles hospitalization; Part B deals with doctors; Part C is Medicare Advantage, private plans that combine many services in one place with some restrictions; and Part D covers much of your prescription drug costs. Medigap’s options let you tailor lower premiums with higher out-of-pocket costs or vice versa.

Dive into this series to help you choose the right combination.

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Articles in this series



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