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Medicare Options,Made Easier.
Explore Medicare coverage options with clarity and confidence at zero cost.
65K+ Assisted4.9★ Rated100% Free
Medicare Options,Made Easier.
Explore Medicare coverage options, understand your choices, and connect with a provider who can help you take the next step — at no cost to you.
Hospital &Inpatient Care
The foundation of Original Medicare coverage
Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility rehab, hospice care, and home health services. Most Americans qualify for premium-free Part A if they or their spouse worked and paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters).
Monthly Premium$0 / month (for 99% of seniors)
Deductible / Cap$1,676 benefit period deductible
- Inpatient hospital care (semi-private room, meals, diagnostic labs & general nursing)
- Skilled nursing facility rehab following a qualified 3-day inpatient hospital stay
- Hospice and palliative care for terminal diagnoses, including symptom management
- Intermittent home health care, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology
- Inpatient psychiatric hospital care (up to 190 lifetime days in a specialized facility)
- Blood transfusions during hospital stay (after the first 3 pints furnished)
Important Note: Does not cover long-term custodial nursing home stays or private duty nursing.
Find Your Ideal Medicare Match in 3 Quick Steps
Answer three straightforward questions to clarify whether Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare + Medigap, or a Standalone Part D fits your personal lifestyle and budget.
1
Your Situation2
Healthcare Priorities3
Prescription NeedsWhat is your current Medicare timeline?
Selecting your timeline helps us highlight the right enrollment windows and prevent late penalties.
Step 1 of 3
Explore Your Medicare Options
Every Medicare situation is different. Select a plan type below to explore what it covers, who it may benefit, and important things to consider.
Medicare Advantage
A private, all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare. These plans are approved by Medicare and run by private insurers. They must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and many include additional benefits.
Who might consider this?
People who want bundled coverage in one plan, are comfortable with a provider network, and may benefit from added perks like dental, vision, hearing, or gym memberships.
- All Original Medicare benefits in a single plan
- Often includes dental, vision, hearing, and Part D drug coverage
- Annual out-of-pocket limit for financial protection
- Many areas have $0-premium options available
- May require using a network of doctors (HMO/PPO)
Important consideration: Plans use provider networks — verify your doctors are in-network before enrolling.
Personalize Your ViewWhat matters
What matters
most to you?
Select what matters most to highlight the most relevant comparison information below.
How It Works — From Questions to Confident Steps
Clear, transparent, and pressure-free Medicare guidance in three simple stages.
Tell Us What You're Looking For
Share your Medicare situation in 60 seconds — whether you're turning 65, reviewing your current coverage, or exploring options for the first time.
Guided finder asks simple, plain-language questions about your priorities — zero insurance jargon required.
Explore Relevant Options
See Medicare plan types and clear coverage breakdowns most relevant to your health needs, doctors, and budget.
Compare Advantage, Supplement (Medigap), and Part D options side-by-side with transparent clarity.
Connect With a Provider
When you're ready, connect directly with an independent, licensed Medicare specialist who can answer questions and assist your next step.
100% free and confidential with zero sales pressure, zero obligation, and zero hidden fees.
Medicare Decisions Tailored to Your Life Stage
Whether you are months away from 65, navigating employer coverage, or reviewing benefits for 2026, find clear guidance designed for your situation.
Entering Medicare for the First Time
Your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before your 65th birthday month. Learn how to activate Part A & B, avoid lifelong Part B/D late penalties, and decide between Supplement and Advantage with absolute clarity.
Keeping Employer or Union Coverage
If you or your spouse actively work for an employer with 20+ employees, you can usually delay Part B penalty-free. Understand creditable coverage rules, group health coordination, and how to utilize your Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
Switching or Upgrading Existing Plans
Medicare Advantage and Part D formularies change every single year. Review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) to verify drug tiers, updated doctor networks, and discover newly available zero-premium benefits.
Multi-State & Frequent Travel Coverage
Traveling across state lines or wintering in warmer states? Discover why Medigap Plan G provides unhindered nationwide access to any Medicare provider without network restrictions, HMO referral barriers, or geographic caps.
Speak With an Independent Licensed Agent in Your State
Speak With an Independent Licensed Agent in Your State
Medicare regulations can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate them alone. We connect you with vetted, state-licensed insurance specialists who represent major carriers—not just one company. They provide objective, zero-pressure advice at completely no cost to you.
Answers to Common Medicare Inquiries
Clear, transparent answers to help you navigate enrollment deadlines, costs, and plan selections with confidence.
No. AltFTool is an independent informational and comparison platform. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Our mission is to provide transparent, educational content and connect consumers with licensed independent insurance agents.
Our educational tools, comparison charts, and agent connections are 100% free for consumers. We partner with licensed, vetted third-party Medicare brokerages and insurance agencies. When an individual chooses to connect with an agent and subsequently enrolls in a plan, the partner agency may compensate us. This never affects your plan premium, benefits, or out-of-pocket costs in any way.
Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) spans a total of 7 months: 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month itself, and 3 months after. Enrolling during the 3 months prior ensures your coverage begins seamlessly on the first day of your birth month (or the first of the prior month if your birthday falls on the 1st).
Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare with a private managed-care plan (usually HMO or PPO) featuring low or $0 premiums and bundled dental/vision, but restricts you to network doctors with prior authorizations. Medigap (Medicare Supplement) works alongside Original Medicare to pay out-of-pocket deductibles and coinsurance, allowing you to see ANY doctor in the US that accepts Medicare with zero network restrictions.
With Original Medicare and Medigap, yes—as long as your providers accept Medicare assignment (approx. 93% of primary care doctors nationwide do). With Medicare Advantage, you must verify whether your doctor is in that specific carrier's local network for the upcoming plan year.
Yes. If you don't have 'creditable' coverage from active employment and miss your IEP, Part B carries a permanent 10% penalty for every full 12-month period you were eligible but not enrolled. Part D carries an ongoing 1% per month penalty calculated against the national base beneficiary premium.
Your Health. Your Choices. Simplified.
Connect with an independent, licensed Medicare specialist in your local area today. Compare top-rated plans, verify prescriptions, and ensure zero coverage gaps—100% free with no obligation.