Sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period: three months before you turn 65 through three months after. Some get signed up automatically; others must enroll manually to avoid gaps or penalties.

Part A: hospital stays, skilled nursing, some home health, hospice.
Part B: doctor visits, outpatient care, medical supplies, durable equipment.
Part C (Medicare Advantage): private plans combining A & B, often with extra perks.
Part D: prescription drug coverage through private plans.

You'll face higher premiums as penalties:
Part A: +10% per year you delay, applied for twice the years skipped.
Part B: +10% per year delay, lasting as long as you have Part B.
You may still sign up during certain Special Enrollment Periods.

You may qualify for help with Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. Medicaid can cover services Medicare doesn't, like long-term nursing care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and more.

Dual-eligibles qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare pays first for most services. Medicaid covers gaps, including long-term care. Some get full Medicaid benefits; others receive help only with Medicare costs.

Assisted living is generally non-medical and not covered. Medicare may pay for needed medical services within such a facility if deemed medically necessary. Nursing home care: Covered only short-term after a qualifying hospital stay. Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care.

Home health services that Medicare covers include part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, and continued occupational therapy. These services must be ordered by a doctor and provided by a Medicare-certified home health agency.

Yes, Medicare covers hospice care for terminally ill patients who choose to receive palliative care instead of curative treatment. This includes services like pain management, counseling, and support for the patient and their family. Hospice care can be provided at home or in a hospice facility.

Medicare Part D adds prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare. It is offered through private insurance companies approved by Medicare. You can enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period or during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 - December 7).
The late enrollment penalty is an increase in your premium if you don't sign up when you're first eligible and go without creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 days or more. The penalty is calculated based on how long you went without coverage and is added to your monthly premium.

Medicaid estate recovery is a program that allows states to recover costs paid for Medicaid services from the estates of deceased Medicaid beneficiaries. This typically applies to individuals who received long-term care services, such as nursing home care, and whose assets exceed a certain limit. States may place a lien on the estate or seek reimbursement from the estate after the beneficiary's death.

In 2025, the standard Medicare Part B premium is projected to increase, and there may be changes to the income thresholds for Medicare Savings Programs. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to impact prescription drug costs, including a cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries. In 2026, further adjustments to Medicare Advantage plans and potential expansions of telehealth services are anticipated.