The Best Sites to Learn About Medicare

Right here at ThirdAge, we offer an array of clear and informative articles that distill what you need to know to become a savvy Medicare beneficiary. However, we'd also like to point you to other sites we know you'll find helpful as you do your online research:

Medicare.gov, The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx The government has done an admirable job of presenting facts in a concise yet comprehensive manner. In addition, the site is quite easy to search. There is also a very thorough FAQ at http://questions.medicare.gov/app/home.

Medicare.gov, Medicare Plan Finder https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx This tool allows you to input your information such as your age and location in order to find Medicare Advantage Plans that may best meet your needs. You can do a general search with just your zip code or you can do a customized search. The big plus either way is that you know that the plans listed are approved by the government to offer services. You can contact as many as you like and ask specific questions without worrying about fraud. In addition, the page with the finder tool has a navigation bar on the right with links to more information about choosing a plan.

Medicare.gov, Medigap Finder http://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/medigap-home.aspx This search tool on the government site yields a list of Medigap providers after you input your zip code and health status. The navigation bar on the right side of the page will get you to pages will more information about Medigap.

Medicare.gov, RSS Feed http://www.medicare.gov/rss/default.asp RSS (Really Simple Syndication) lets you receive up-to-the –minute news summaries from the official Medicare site. Signing up is easy. Follow the step-by-step instructions after you click the "Subscribe" tab, or click the "Technical Help" tab if you need assistance with the process.

Social Security, The Official Website of the U.S. Social Security Administration http://www.ssa.gov/ You can enroll in Medicare online at the Social Security site. It's secure and the procedure is not hard to follow. You'll find advice about the need to apply for Medicare at age 65 whether or not you are ready to retire. Here's that link: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10530.html

My Medicare Matters http://www.mymedicarematters.org The text on this site is written in very simple language and the navigation is easy. Also, the typeface is large and you can make it even bigger.

National Council on Aging (NCOA) http://www.ncoa.org This is a useful site for older Americans. You may want to visit it if you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one.

Medline Plus: Trusted Health Information for You http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/medicare.html A service of the National Institutes of Health, this is a bare bones destination that will give you a digest of what you need to know. Go there to clear your head if all the other detailed information you've been absorbing has started to muddle together in your mind!

Good Luck! The best of luck as you use the power of the Internet to find out everything you can before you enroll in Medicare and look into Medicare Advantage Plans and Medigap options. We know you'll become a truly informed consumer and make excellent choices for your future!