Insurpedia Field GuidePlain-English · Life-Event Lessons

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Beginner3 modules20 items~54 minFinal assessment

Medicare Course

Who it’s for: People turning 65 in the next year or two, and family members helping them.

Work through the modules in any order. Each lesson, term, and scenario counts once you’ve actually read it, and the course is complete when everything is done and you pass the final assessment.

What you’ll be able to do

You know when to sign up so you avoid penalties, how to choose between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and what you'll likely pay.

Key numbers

Module 16 items · ~16 min

Signing up on time

The parts of Medicare, your first window to sign up, delaying Part B while working, and the penalties for signing up late.

  1. LessonMedicare Parts A, B, C and D Explained: What Each Part Covers~3 min
  2. LessonStill Working at 65: Can You Delay Medicare Part B Without a Penalty?~3 min
  3. LessonMedicare Late Enrollment Penalties: Part A, Part B and Part D Explained~3 min
  4. TermMedicare Initial Enrollment Period~3 min
  5. TermMedicare Part A~2 min
  6. TermMedicare Part B~2 min

Module 28 items · ~21 min

Choosing your coverage

Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, Medigap, drug plans, and the yearly chance to change.

  1. LessonOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: How to Choose~3 min
  2. LessonMedigap vs. Medicare Advantage: What's the Difference, and Can You Switch Later?~3 min
  3. LessonMedicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7): What You Can Change~3 min
  4. TermOriginal Medicare~2 min
  5. TermMedicare Advantage~2 min
  6. TermMedigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)~3 min
  7. TermMedicare Part D~3 min
  8. TermMedicare Open Enrollment Period~2 min

Module 36 items · ~17 min

Costs and getting help

What Medicare costs in 2026, help for people with limited income, free counseling, and what Medicare doesn't cover.

  1. LessonWhat Does Medicare Cost in 2026? Premiums, Deductibles and Coinsurance~3 min
  2. LessonHelp Paying for Medicare: Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs and SHIP~3 min
  3. TermState Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)~2 min
  4. ScenarioDoes Medicare Cover Dental Implants?~3 min
  5. ScenarioDoes Medicare Pay For Assisted Living?~3 min
  6. ScenarioDoes Medicare Cover The Shingles Vaccine?~3 min

Final assessment

6 questions across the whole course. Score 70% or more, with every module item done, to complete the course. Retake it as often as you like: each retake gives you new versions of the questions you’ve seen, and getting those right raises your Insurance IQ.

Take the assessment →

Your insurance checklist

  • Write down your Initial Enrollment Period, the 7 months around your 65th birthday month.
  • If you're still working, ask your employer whether you need Part B at 65, and note your 8-month window for when the job ends.
  • Decide between Original Medicare (plus Medigap and Part D) and Medicare Advantage before your 6-month Medigap open enrollment ends.
  • Check that your doctors and prescriptions work with the plan you choose.
  • Put October 15 to December 7 on your calendar each year to review your plan.

Questions to ask your insurer

  1. Are my doctors and hospital in this plan's network, or do they accept Medicare?
  2. Are my prescriptions covered, and what will they cost at my pharmacy?
  3. What's the most I could pay out of pocket in a year?
  4. Which services need prior authorization?
  5. Does this plan cover care when I travel or live part of the year elsewhere?
  6. If I start with Medicare Advantage, could I buy Medigap later in my state?
  7. Does my employer or retiree coverage change if I join this plan?

Where to go next

Educational information, not advice: This course is general education, not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Coverage depends on your policy’s wording, your insurer, and the laws of your state. Insurpedia does not sell insurance and does not recommend specific insurers.