Resources
Guides, calculators and tips to decide with confidence
Everything you can use to run your numbers and get ready to talk to an agent, at no cost.
What can I prepare before talking to an agent?
Have your ZIP code, a list of your doctors and drugs, and your estimated yearly income if you’re looking at a Marketplace plan. Our calculators help you see your Medicare enrollment window, a possible Part B penalty and the real cost of two plans.
· Reviewed by Davey Selva, licensed producing agent (NPN 18969537), Aion Insurance Group Corp
Downloadable guides
Two clear guides, 3 pages each
Enter your email and we’ll send it instantly. It’s not permission to call you.
PDF · 3 pagesMedicare from A to Z
- Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage: how to choose
- What you’ll pay for drugs (Part D) in 2027
- Key dates and how to avoid penalties
PDF · 3 pagesObamacare from A to Z
- The four plan levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum
- Enrollment dates and special periods
- Documents to have at hand and common mistakes that cost money
Tools and calculators
Run your numbers before you talk to an agent
Indicative results based on general rules. They don’t replace information from Medicare, the Marketplace or your agent.
Your Medicare initial window
Enter when you were born and see the dates you can enroll when you turn 65.
If you enroll before your birthday month, coverage can start on the 1st of that month; if you enroll in that month or later, it may be delayed up to 3 months. If you were born on the 1st, the rule changes: your agent can verify.
Late enrollment penalty for Part B
Rough estimate: 10% for each full 12 months without Part B when you could have had it.
The penalty is added to your premium for as long as you have Part B. Medicare or Social Security sets the exact amount; there are exceptions (for example, qualifying employer coverage).
Your income vs. the federal poverty level
A starting point to understand what Marketplace (ACA) help you could review with an agent.
Uses the 2025 federal poverty guidelines (48 contiguous states: $15,650 for 1 person plus $5,500 for each additional person). Your agent confirms the current table before you decide. Actual help depends on your state, plan and eligibility.
Compare the real cost of two plans
Don’t look only at the premium: add up the worst case (a year with lots of care).
Simple estimate: it doesn’t include copays or coinsurance beyond the cap. Also compare the provider network and drug list.
Checklist: what to have at hand
Check what you already have. You can print it and bring it to your appointment.
By county
Find your county’s information
Availability changes depending on where you live. Start with your county.
Pick your state on the map
Tap a state and see the information beside it. Then choose your county and a licensed agent explains the plans in your area. At no cost.
Official U.S. Census county list. We serve in 18 states; an agent confirms your case.
Choose your state and county
Tips
Eight tips to decide with more confidence
Check the network before you choose
Confirm your doctors and pharmacy are in the plan’s network. It changes from plan to plan.
Look at total cost, not just the premium
Add up premium, deductible, copays and the out-of-pocket max. A cheap plan can get expensive in a bad year.
Bring your drug list
Each plan has its own covered-drug list. Check it with your dose and pharmacy.
Estimate your income carefully (ACA)
The tax credit is based on the income you report. If you’re off, you may have to pay money back.
Mark your deadlines
Putting your enrollment window on the calendar avoids penalties and coverage gaps.
Be wary of unsolicited calls
Medicare won’t call you to sell a plan. Never give your Medicare or Social Security number to someone you haven’t verified.
Keep a copy of everything
Keep confirmations, chosen plans and dates. They’ll help at renewal and if any question comes up.
Review every year
Plans, premiums and networks change. An annual review can save you surprises.
U.S. health news
What matters today, from verified sources
Headlines from federal agencies and nonprofit journalism. They update automatically every day.
We link to the original source and don’t reproduce the articles. Information is general: it isn’t medical, legal or insurance advice, and doesn’t imply affiliation with or endorsement by the sources.
Talk to an agent
It all ends in a conversation with a person
The tools help you prepare. You make the decisions, with a licensed agent who explains every option.
Call and consult at no cost
A licensed agent reviews your case by phone, in Spanish or English.
(855) 925-6430Leave your details and we’ll call you
Choose Medicare, Obamacare or life insurance and an agent contacts you.
Consult at no costBy your county
Tell us where you live and we’ll explain the plans in your area.
Plans by countyGlossary
Insurance without jargon
Twelve terms you will hear when choosing a plan, explained with an example.
Premium
What you pay each month to keep your insurance, whether or not you use care.
Deductible
What you pay yourself before the plan starts to cover certain services.
Copay
A fixed amount you pay for a visit, a service or a prescription.
Coinsurance
The percentage of the cost you pay after you meet the deductible.
Out-of-pocket maximum
The yearly cap on what you pay for covered services. Once you reach it, the plan pays 100% of those services.
Provider network
Doctors, hospitals and pharmacies your plan has agreements with.
Drug formulary
The list of drugs a plan covers and at which cost tier.
Parts A, B, C and D
A is hospital, B is medical care, C is Medicare Advantage and D is prescription drugs.
Medicare Advantage
An alternative to Original Medicare: a private plan approved by Medicare that often includes drugs and other benefits.
Supplement (Medigap)
Private insurance that helps pay what Original Medicare does not, such as deductibles and coinsurance.
Initial enrollment period
A 7-month window around your 65th birthday to enroll in Medicare without penalties.
Premium help (ACA)
A credit that lowers what you pay each month for a Marketplace plan, based on your income and household.
We could not find that term. Ask your agent: they explain it at no cost.
What almost nobody explains
Questions worth asking
Clear answers to what confuses people most about Medicare and Obamacare.
What happens if I don't sign up for Medicare on time?
If you could have had Part B and didn't take it, your premium rises 10% for each full 12 months of delay, for as long as you have Medicare. That's why the 7-month window around your 65th birthday matters.
Does Medicare cover everything?
No. Original Medicare doesn't cover most dental, vision or hearing aids, and it has no annual out-of-pocket cap. An Advantage plan or a Supplement can fill those gaps.
Can I keep my doctor?
It depends on the plan. With Original Medicare you can see any doctor who accepts Medicare; Advantage and Obamacare plans each have a network. We check with you that your doctors and pharmacy are in network.
Why do two people pay different premiums on the same Obamacare plan?
Because the tax credit that lowers your premium depends on income and household size. That's why we estimate your help before you pick a plan.
Can a plan turn me down for a condition I already have?
Not Marketplace (ACA) plans: they can't reject you or charge you more for a pre-existing condition.
What if I lose my coverage mid-year?
You may have 60 days to enroll in an ACA plan, or a special window in Medicare. Call us soon: the clock starts on the date of the event.
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