Your official Medicare resource center

Government tools, linked directly, plus plain-language definitions for the terms that decide what you pay.

Don't take our word for it. Check Medicare.gov.

Official government tools, linked directly. GSS does not recreate Medicare.gov functionality.

Plan tools

Find Health & Drug Plans

Official Medicare Plan Finder for health and drug plans in your ZIP code.

Plan tools

Compare Medicare Advantage Plans

Compare Medicare Advantage plan benefits, star ratings and costs side by side.

Costs

Check Plan Costs

How Medicare Advantage plan costs work, including deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

Networks

Find Doctors & Providers

Look up clinicians, hospitals and other providers with Medicare's care compare tool.

Part D

Check Prescription Coverage

See how drug coverage works and check whether a drug is covered by a plan.

Basics

Understand Medicare Advantage

How Medicare Advantage plans work, including networks and prior authorization rules.

Costs

Medicare Costs

Premiums, deductibles and coinsurance across Medicare Parts A, B and D.

Part D

Medicare Part D

How Medicare prescription drug coverage works and when you can join.

Glossary

Medicare terms in plain language

MOOP

Maximum Out-of-Pocket. The annual limit on what you pay for covered Part A and Part B services under a Medicare Advantage plan.

AEP

Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, when you can join, switch or drop Medicare health and drug plans.

SEP

Special Enrollment Period. A period outside normal enrollment windows triggered by a qualifying life event.

HMO

A plan type that generally requires you to use in-network providers except in emergencies, and often requires referrals.

PPO

A plan type that covers out-of-network care, usually at a higher cost-sharing level than in-network care.

Medicare Advantage. Private Medicare health coverage that manages your covered Part A and Part B services.

MAPD

A Medicare Advantage plan that also includes Part D prescription drug coverage.

Part A

Hospital insurance under Original Medicare, covering inpatient care, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health.

Part B

Medical insurance under Original Medicare, covering doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and durable medical equipment.

Part D

Medicare prescription drug coverage, offered through standalone drug plans or included in a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medigap

Medicare Supplement insurance sold by private companies to help pay some costs Original Medicare does not cover. It does not work with Medicare Advantage.

Coinsurance

A percentage of the cost of a covered service you pay after any deductible.

Copay

A fixed dollar amount you pay for a covered service.

Deductible

The amount you pay for covered services before the plan begins to pay its share.

Prior Authorization

Approval a plan may require before it will cover a service, drug or supply.

Network

The doctors, hospitals and other providers a plan contracts with to deliver covered care.

Formulary

The list of prescription drugs a plan covers, organized in tiers.

Evidence of Coverage

The plan document that details what a plan covers, what you pay and your rights.

Annual Notice of Change

The notice a plan sends each fall describing changes to costs and benefits for the coming year.

Hospital Indemnity

Limited-benefit insurance that may pay a fixed cash benefit for a qualifying covered event, separate from your health coverage.