Medicare, explained without a sales pitch
Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage? What happens to your Medigap options if you change your mind? Every fact here links to Medicare.gov, CMS, KFF or a state source. We do not sell plans.
The one thing most people miss
Medicare Advantage plans cannot turn you away because of your health. Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurers generally can, outside a few protected periods. So the choice to join Medicare Advantage can be easy to make and hard to undo. Read the Medigap underwriting trap before you drop coverage.
Key facts for 2026
- Standard Part B premium: $202.90 a month. Part B deductible: $283. Part A inpatient hospital deductible: $1,736 per benefit period (CMS).
- Medicare Advantage plans must cap yearly out-of-pocket costs for Part A and B services. The most any plan may set in 2026 is $9,250 for in-network care. Original Medicare has no cap on its own (Medicare.gov, KFF).
- Your federal Medigap Open Enrollment Period is 6 months and starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older (Medicare.gov).
Details and sources are on the 2026 costs page. For help from a counselor, not a salesperson, call your free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): find yours.
Common questions
Is this site selling Medicare plans?
No. We do not sell, rank or recommend any plan, and we do not collect your information. No insurer pays for placement.
Where do the facts come from?
Medicare.gov, CMS, KFF, KFF Health News, the NAIC and state insurance departments or SHIP programs. Each page lists its sources.