Plain-English guides from licensed advisors.
No fluff, no SEO word-salad. Written by the advisors who actually work with these plans every day. New guides publishing monthly.
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When to Sign Up for Medicare: Know Your Enrollment Periods
Initial, Annual, Special, and General Enrollment Periods — plus the penalties for missing them.
Read the guideReady for the Annual Enrollment Period? Tips to Prep for AEP
The checklist we walk clients through every October. Ten minutes now saves hours later.
Read the guideMedicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement: Which is right for you?
The real tradeoffs — network restrictions, out-of-pocket costs, travel, and when to switch.
Read the guidePart D Drug Plans Explained: Formularies, Tiers, and the $2,000 Cap
How Part D actually works — and why the same drug can cost very different amounts across plans.
Read the guideTurning 65? Your complete Medicare checklist + IEP calculator
A 7-month enrollment window, four parts to coordinate, and an interactive calculator that maps your exact dates.
See the checklistACA Subsidies Explained: Are You Leaving $3,000 on the Table?
Most households qualify for subsidies that cut their premium by thousands — and don't know it.
Read the guideThe Medicaid Coverage Gap — What It Is and How to Navigate It
Non-expansion states, the income threshold problem, and the options that exist if you fall in the gap.
Read the guideACA subsidy Calculator — See your 2026 premium
Enter your ZIP, household size, and income. We'll estimate your monthly subsidy in seconds. No email required.
Run the calculatorCMS, TPMO, SOA: How SilverEdge stays compliant
The federal and state rules we follow on every Medicare call, every ACA enrollment, every client record.
Read moreMedicare Part B late enrollment penalty: How to Avoid 10% Forever
The penalty stacks 10% per 12-month delay and follows you for life. Here's the math and the workarounds.
Read the guideWhat is a Special Enrollment Period? (ACA & Medicare)
Job loss, marriage, moving, new baby — these life events open a window to enroll outside open enrollment.
Read the guideMedicare Advantage HMO vs PPO: Which Network Is Right?
Network rules, referrals, out-of-area coverage, and the real-world tradeoffs between HMO and PPO.
Read the guideOpen Enrollment vs Annual Enrollment: What's the Difference?
ACA Open Enrollment and Medicare AEP overlap on the calendar but follow different rules. Here's both.
Read the guideHow to Switch ACA Plans Mid-Year — Without Penalty
You can change marketplace plans outside open enrollment if you have a qualifying life event. Here's how.
Read the guidePlan G vs Plan N: Which Saves You More?
Plan G covers everything except Part B deductible. Plan N is cheaper but adds copays and excess charges. The break-even math.
Read the guideDoes Medicare Cover Ozempic? (2026 Update)
Medicare covers Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes — not weight loss. Wegovy, Zepbound, and the 2025 PAN expansion explained.
Read the guideDoes Medicare Cover Dental? Original vs Advantage
Original Medicare covers almost no dental. Advantage plans bundle it but with caps. Standalone dental is the third path.
Read the guideDoes Medicare Cover Hearing Aids?
Original Medicare doesn't. Many Advantage plans do — typically $0–$2,000 per ear with allowance limits. The real numbers.
Read the guideDoes Medicare Cover Eye Exams?
Routine eye exams aren't covered by Original Medicare. Diabetic, glaucoma, and post-cataract exams are. Advantage adds vision.
Read the guideThe 2026 ACA Subsidy Cliff: What Changes if Enhanced Credits Expire
Enhanced premium tax credits expire end of 2025. Without Congress action, premiums could spike for millions. Here's the math.
Read the guideACA vs Short-Term Health Insurance: Real Differences
Short-term plans look cheap but skip pre-existing conditions, mental health, and maternity. The traps to know.
Read the guideMedicare Extra Help Eligibility (LIS) — Do You Qualify?
The Low-Income Subsidy can cut your Part D drug costs to near zero. Income, asset limits, and how to apply.
Read the guideMedicare Savings Programs (MSPs): QMB, SLMB, QI Explained
Four state-run programs that pay your Part B premium and sometimes more. Eligibility by income tier.
Read the guideMedicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31)
The MA-OEP lets you switch Advantage plans or drop back to Original Medicare. Rules and traps.
Read the guideThe 2026 Medicare Part D Donut Hole — Now Capped at $2,000
The IRA capped out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000/year starting 2025. What changed and what didn't.
Read the guideSwitching from Medicare Advantage to Medigap: The Underwriting Catch
Outside your initial 6-month window, Medigap insurers can deny you. The states with guaranteed issue rules.
Read the guideCOBRA vs ACA Marketplace: Which Should You Pick After Job Loss?
COBRA keeps your same plan but you pay 100% + 2%. ACA with subsidies is usually cheaper. The decision tree.
Read the guideACA Special Enrollment for Loss of Coverage
You have 60 days from losing employer coverage to enroll. Documentation required and what counts.
Read the guideBest Medicare Advantage Plans by Condition (Diabetes, COPD, CHF)
C-SNPs and chronic-condition plans bundle specialist networks, drug formularies, and care coordination.
Read the guideMedicare Late Enrollment Penalty Calculator
Part A, Part B, and Part D each have separate late penalties. Calculate yours and the workarounds.
Calculate yoursMedicare and Employer Coverage: Should You Delay Enrollment?
If you're 65+ and still working with employer coverage, here's when delaying Medicare saves money — and when it backfires.
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