Medicare
Plain-language explainers on what Medicare covers and what it leaves out: dental care, weight-loss drugs, surgery, enrollment and everyday costs.
Original Medicare leaves gaps, and most of the questions people ask are about those gaps: dental work, weight-loss drugs and surgery, and medical equipment. These guides say what is covered, what is not, and where the exceptions are. Others explain when you can enroll or change plans, how to compare drug plans and Medigap plans, and how to appeal when Medicare says no. The calculators below put your own numbers on premiums, penalties and drug costs.
Does Medicare Cover Glasses and Eye Exams? What Vision Care Medicare Pays For
Routine exams and glasses are out, with one exception after cataract surgery. Glaucoma, diabetic eye exams and macular degeneration care are in.
Read more → Health CoverageDoes Medicare Cover Hearing Aids? What Is Covered, What Is Not, and Other Ways to Pay
Hearing tests and implants are covered, hearing aids are not. Medicare Advantage, OTC hearing aids, Medicaid, VA and other ways to pay.
Read more → MedicareDoes Medicare Cover Durable Medical Equipment? The Supplier Rule Nobody Explains
Medicare pays 80% of the approved amount for medical equipment.
Read more → MedicareMedigap Plan G vs Plan N: The Real Difference Isn't the Copays
Plan G and Plan N share every benefit except two. Plan N's copays are small and capped.
Read more → MedicareMedicare Enrollment Periods Explained: IEP, GEP, and the SEP Trap That Costs People for Life
Medicare has three enrollment windows for Part B. COBRA and retiree coverage do not extend any of them, and people who assume they do end up with a penalty for life.
Read more → MedicareMedicare Annual Enrollment Period 2026: What's Actually Different This Year
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Read more → MedicareDoes Medicare Cover Ozempic?
Medicare covers Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and not for weight loss. Coverage turns on the diagnosis your doctor submits. Here is what to expect on cost and approvals.
Read more → MedicareDoes Medicare Cover Zepbound?
Zepbound is approved for weight loss and for sleep apnea, and Medicare treats the two uses differently. There are three ways it can be covered in 2026.
Read more → MedicareDoes Medicare Pay for Weight-Loss Surgery?
Medicare has a national policy on bariatric surgery that names the covered procedures and the medical criteria.
Read more → MedicareDoes Medicare Cover Dental?
Original Medicare excludes routine dental care.
Read more → MedicareWhat Is the Medicare "Grocery Card"? How the OTC Benefit Actually Works
Ads promise every senior a government grocery card.
Read more → MedicareHow Much Does Medicare Cost at Age 65?
Medicare at 65 is several separate bills. Here is what each part costs in 2026, how income raises the price, and three sample monthly budgets.
Read more → MedicareMedicare Special Needs Plans: How C-SNPs and I-SNPs Work
Who qualifies for a plan built around a chronic condition or nursing home care, the conditions on the 2026 list, and when you can join.
Read more → MedicareThe Medicare Part B Giveback: How It Works and Who Qualifies
Some Medicare Advantage plans lower your Part B premium. Who can get it, how it shows up in your Social Security payment, and what to compare first.
Read more → MedicareDual-Eligible D-SNP Plans: What the New Enrollment Rules Actually Mean
D-SNPs come in three levels of Medicare and Medicaid integration, and since 2025 dual eligibles can no longer switch Medicare Advantage plans every quarter.
Read more → MedicareBest Prescription Drug Plans for Seniors on Medicare
The right Part D plan depends on your medication list. Here is how to compare plans using your own drugs and pharmacy, and what the yearly out-of-pocket cap changes.
Read more → MedicareMedicare Appeals, ABNs, and Fast Appeals: How to Fight a Denial
A warning that Medicare may not pay, a denied claim, and a discharge you think is too early are three separate situations. Each has its own notice, deadline and reviewer.
Read more → MedicareThe Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) Explained
The payment plan does not make prescriptions cheaper.
Read more →Medicare at a glance for 2026
Most people on Medicare make the same three decisions: when to sign up, whether to use Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, and how to cover prescriptions. Getting the first one wrong can mean a penalty for life, so it is worth reading the enrollment rules before your 65th birthday, even if you are still working.
| Figure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Part B premium | $202.90 a month | Not announced yet |
| Part D deductible (maximum) | $615 | $700 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
| Skilled nursing coinsurance, days 21 to 100 | $217 a day | Not announced yet |
Where to start
- Turning 65 or leaving a job? Read Medicare enrollment periods explained and check your dates with the enrollment period finder.
- Choosing coverage? Compare Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, then see Medigap Plan G vs Plan N if you choose Original Medicare.
- Changing plans this fall? The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7. Our AEP guide lists what changed for 2027.
- Low income? Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help can pay your premiums and drug costs. Start with the Medicare Savings Program calculator.
Figures come from CMS and are the same ones our calculators use. See key benefit numbers for every figure with its source.