Medicare 101 — Every Answer, Sourced.
Plain-English guides to the decisions of retirement healthcare, each reviewed against CMS.gov and SSA.gov with current 2026 figures. Start anywhere; they link to each other.
The Parts of Medicare, Explained
What Medicare Parts A, B, C and D actually cover, what they cost in 2026, and how they fit together — explained in plain English by a Tampa Medicare specialist.
Read the guide →Medicare Enrollment Periods & Deadlines
Your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, the fall Annual Enrollment Period, and the Special Enrollment Periods that can save you from lifelong penalties.
Read the guide →IRMAA: Medicare's Income Surcharge
IRMAA raises your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums when your income crosses set thresholds — based on your tax return from two years ago. Here's how it works in 2026.
Read the guide →What Medicare Costs in 2026
The verified 2026 Medicare numbers: $202.90 Part B premium, $283 Part B deductible, $1,736 hospital deductible, and the $2,100 Part D out-of-pocket cap.
Read the guide →Social Security: 62 vs 67 vs 70
Claim at 62 and your check shrinks for life; wait to 70 and it grows about 8% a year past full retirement age. An RSSA®-certified look at the claiming decision.
Read the guide →Free Calculators
IRMAA and Part B penalty calculators using verified 2026 figures — run your own numbers, nothing stored.
Open the tools →Prefer answers about YOUR situation?
Free consultation with Virginia — CLTC, RSSA®.