Medicare 101
Your complete, plain-English Medicare guide
New to Medicare? Start here. Medicare has four parts — A, B, C, and D. Below are the basics, then dig into any topic.
Part A — Hospital
Inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, hospice. Usually premium-free if you worked 10+ years.
Part B — Medical
Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services. Monthly premium set by income.
Part C — Advantage
A private all-in-one alternative bundling A, B, and usually D, often with extras.
Part D — Drugs
Prescription drug coverage, with a 2026 out-of-pocket cap of about $2,100.
All Medicare 101 articles
What Is Medicare?
Medicare explained without the jargon: the four parts, who qualifies, what it costs in 2026, what it doesn't cover, and the two paths you choose between.
Medicare Eligibility
Who qualifies for Medicare and when — the age-65 rule, the disability and ESRD pathways, work credits, and how it works if you're still employed.
Medicare Enrollment Periods
IEP, AEP, OEP, GEP and SEPs — every Medicare enrollment window, what you can change in each, and the penalties for missing them.
How to Enroll in Medicare
A step-by-step guide to enrolling in Medicare at 65 — what to do three months out, how to sign up with Social Security, and how to choose your coverage path.
Medicare vs Medicaid
Medicare is federal and age-based; Medicaid is income-based and state-run. How they differ, how dual eligibility works, and how to apply in New Mexico.
Understanding Medicare Part D
How Part D drug coverage works in 2026 — the four payment stages, the $2,100 cap, formularies and tiers, the late-enrollment penalty, and help paying.
Medicare for Veterans
Why most veterans still take Part B, how VA drug coverage affects Part D, and how CHAMPVA, TRICARE for Life, and IHS coverage fit alongside Medicare.
Medicare Breakdown
Every 2026 Medicare number in one place — premiums, deductibles, the IRMAA tiers, the Part D cap, and the penalties — with the official source for each.
Getting-started questions
Is Medicare free?
Part A is usually premium-free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Part B costs $202.90 a month for most people in 2026, more if you owe IRMAA. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans have their own premiums, and some Advantage plans charge $0 — which is not the same as free.
Is Medicare the same as Medicaid?
No. Medicare is federal health insurance based mainly on age or disability. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program based on income and resources. Some people qualify for both — they're called dual-eligible, and they often qualify for a Special Needs Plan.
Do I have to take Medicare at 65?
Not if you have qualifying coverage from active employment — you can delay Part B and Part D without penalty and get a Special Enrollment Period later. Retiree coverage, COBRA, and marketplace plans do not count for this purpose, and getting that wrong is expensive.
What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap?
Medicare Advantage replaces how you get Original Medicare, using a network and copays, usually with drugs and extras bundled in. Medigap works alongside Original Medicare to pay your share, with no networks, and needs a separate Part D plan.
Content reviewed by Brian Penner, Independent Medicare advisor — no pressure.