Senior Health Guides
Welcome. This is your starting point for understanding Medicare and senior insurance — written in plain English, with real 2025 numbers and no sales pitch. Choose a topic below to dive into the in-depth guide.
Jump To a Specific Topic
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
The all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare
More than 33 million Americans are enrolled in Medicare Advantage — private plans that bundle Parts A, B, and usually D into one plan with extra benefits. Understanding how the networks, prior authorization, and out-of-pocket caps really work is essential before you choose.
Key facts covered in the full guide
- ✓2025 out-of-pocket maximum: up to $9,350 in-network
- ✓Most plans still charge $0 additional premium
- ✓Florida, California, and Texas have dramatically different plan landscapes
- ✓Prior authorization is the #1 source of member complaints
Original Medicare (Parts A & B)
The federal foundation every senior needs to understand first
Original Medicare is the baseline — the federal program that covers hospital care (Part A) and outpatient services (Part B). There is no out-of-pocket maximum under Original Medicare alone, and its coverage gaps are significant. Every other Medicare decision builds on top of understanding this foundation.
Key facts covered in the full guide
- ✓2025 Part B premium: $185/month standard; up to $628.90 for high earners
- ✓Part A hospital deductible: $1,676 per benefit period
- ✓Part B covers 80% — you owe 20% with no annual ceiling
- ✓Late enrollment penalty: 10% per year, permanent
Medigap / Medicare Supplement
Fill the gaps Original Medicare leaves behind
Medigap plans are sold by private insurers to cover the cost-sharing that Original Medicare doesn't pay. Ten standardized plan letters — every insurer offering the same plan must provide identical benefits. The only variable is the premium. And the enrollment window at age 65 is the most important 6 months of your Medicare life.
Key facts covered in the full guide
- ✓Plan G covers everything except the $257 Part B deductible
- ✓Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut: guaranteed issue year-round
- ✓California, Oregon, and 7 other states have birthday rule protections
- ✓Minnesota and Wisconsin have their own independent plan structures
Final Expense Insurance
Protect your family from burial and end-of-life costs
A traditional funeral in 2025 costs $10,000–$18,000. Final expense insurance — small whole life policies of $5,000–$25,000 — exists to ensure that cost never falls on your family. The difference between simplified issue and guaranteed issue policies, and understanding graded death benefits, can save thousands of dollars.
Key facts covered in the full guide
- ✓Simplified issue: health questions, no exam, immediate full benefit
- ✓Guaranteed issue: no questions, graded benefit (years 1–2 limited)
- ✓Non-tobacco rate for $10,000 coverage at age 65: ~$34–$56/month
- ✓Premiums are fixed for life — they never increase
Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Fixed cash when you're hospitalized — use it for anything
Hospital indemnity insurance pays you a fixed daily cash benefit when you're hospitalized — separate from anything Medicare or your other insurance pays. For Medicare Advantage enrollees who face $350–$400/day hospital copays in the first 5 days, the math often makes hospital indemnity worthwhile after a single average hospital stay.
Key facts covered in the full guide
- ✓Benefits paid directly to you — cash you can use for anything
- ✓Most valuable for Medicare Advantage enrollees with daily copay structures
- ✓ICU stays typically pay 2–3× the daily benefit
- ✓Largely redundant if you have Medigap Plan G (Plan G already covers hospital)
🗺 Medicare by State
Medicare Advantage plan availability, Medigap rules, and Medicaid coordination vary significantly by state. Our 50-state Medicare guide covers every state's unique landscape.