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AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products, hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

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Medicare Made Easy

EN ESPAÑOL | Tens of millions of older Americans and people with disabilities rely on Medicare for their health care coverage. Learn the basics — from enrolling to going to the doctor, getting diagnostic tests, hospital care, prescription drugs and more. Find out what Medicare covers, what it doesn't and what it costs.

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The Basics

Overview

What Is Medicare? How Does This Health Insurance Work?

How the federal health insurance program covers seniors and people with disabilities

illustration of a medicare insurance card surrounded by elements of healthcare including x rays prescription drugs a calculator and stethoscope

The Basics

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Medicare

How the program works for older adults and those with disabilities

Options

Understanding Medicare’s Part A, B, C and D Options

Make sense of the alphabet soup of health care choices

Coverage

10 Services or Procedures That Medicare Doesn’t Cover

You should plan to pay for some common medical expenses

what is free under medicare healthcare

Benefits

12 Things Free Under Medicare

Vaccines, screenings, counseling and more

medigap plans include options for supplemental coverage in addition to original medicare pictured are icons for different health related services around the word medigap

Insurance

10 Things to Know About Medigap Plans

Your guide to buying Medicare supplemental health insurance

What's New

The Latest

7 Medicare Changes You Can Expect in 2025

Lower drug costs, coverage changes and new benefits

Timeline

When 9 Big Medicare Prescription Changes Take Effect

A year-by-year implementation timeline of the Inflation Reduction Act’s health provisions

The Costs

coins sitting on top of a Medicare card

Finances

How much does Medicare cost?

Monthly premiums, other out-of-pocket expenses can add up

Medication

What You Need to Know About Medicare Part D Plans

How to make sure that the medicines you take are covered by the plan you choose

document with title medicare part b

Costs

7 Ways to Avoid Higher Medicare Premiums

Major life events can exempt enrollees from surcharges

Get Help

How to Get Help Paying for Medicare

Savings programs can help cover premiums, copays and deductibles

Enrolling

Getting Coverage

Medicare Eligibility: Do You Qualify?

Here are the requirements to be eligible for health care coverage

Enrollment

How to Sign Up for Medicare: Your Guide to Enrollment

When to get health coverage, how to avoid penalties

woman pointing towards text reading original medicare vs medicare advantage

Options

The Big Choice: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Which path you take will determine how you get your medical care — and how much it costs

Follow the Rules

10 Common Medicare Mistakes to Avoid

Are you near initial enrollment? Errors can be costly

Taking Stock

Medicare Open Enrollment: Everything You Need To Know

When it starts, ends for Medicare and Advantage plans

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