Medicare 101 — The Four Parts in Plain English

Parts A, B, C, and D explained clearly: what each covers, what each costs, and where the gaps in Original Medicare are that most people don't discover until a major health event.

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap Supplement Plans

The fundamental trade-off between predictable, lower out-of-pocket costs and lower monthly premiums — with an honest framework to match the right structure to your health needs and budget.

Enrollment Windows & Penalty Rules

The specific deadlines that trigger permanent, lifetime premium surcharges — including the employer-coverage exceptions that trip up most people approaching retirement.

• Initial Enrollment Period rules
• Special Enrollment exceptions
• How to avoid Part B & D penalties

2026 Medicare Costs — The Real Numbers

Current official figures: Part B premium, Part A deductible, out-of-pocket maximums, and the new Part D drug cap — so you know exactly what the government charges before any plan is even chosen.

• Part B premium: $202.90/month
• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100
• MA max out-of-pocket: $9,250

The 5 Most Costly Medicare Mistakes

Real scenarios where people enrolled at the wrong time, chose the wrong plan structure, or permanently lost protections they could never recover. These are the errors Bill sees most — all preventable.

What TV Commercials & Mailers Don't Tell You

The benefits that sound too good to be true often are. Bill walks through what mass-market Medicare advertising deliberately omits — so you can evaluate any plan with clear eyes.