Medicare Resource Center
Use guides, checklists, comparisons, calculators, questions, and workshops to prepare for a decision.
Start with the federal handbook
The current Medicare & You handbook explains Parts A, B, C and D, coverage comparisons, rights, appeals and contact points. Its year is 2027, but some embedded Medigap amounts are explicitly labeled 2026. Check the year beside each numerical figure instead of assuming every number follows the cover year.
Official source: Medicare & You 2027, Medigap section (2026 chart) ↗
Match the source to the question
Use Medicare’s getting-started guide for eligibility paths, coverage options and deadlines. For Part A and Part B applications or income-related premiums use Social Security’s Medicare pages. For actual private plan prices and networks, enter your own ZIP code, drugs and pharmacies in Medicare Plan Compare.
Official source: Medicare: Get started ↗ · SSA: Sign up for Medicare ↗ · Medicare: Compare plans ↗
Documents that govern a current plan
The Annual Notice of Change announces next-year changes and the Evidence of Coverage contains current plan benefits, costs, exclusions and rules. Read the actual policy documents for your contract and year; a national explainer does not establish whether your surgeon, drug or facility is in a particular plan.
Official source: Medicare: Annual Notice of Change ↗ · Medicare: Evidence of Coverage ↗
When a decision is disputed
A denial or payment disagreement can have appeal rights. The route and deadline depend on whether the decision came from Original Medicare, a Medicare health plan or a drug plan. Keep the dated notice and follow the appeal instructions specific to that decision.
Official source: Medicare: Claims and appeals ↗