Costs

Browse our articles about costs

March 23, 2026

Understanding Your Medicare Summary Notice

Learn how to read your Medicare Summary Notice, spot billing errors, track your spending, and use the MSN to protect your rights as a beneficiary.

Medicare for Caregivers: What You Need to Know When Helping a Loved One

A guide for family caregivers navigating Medicare enrollment, plan choices, and support resources on behalf of a loved one.

Medicare and Medicaid: How They Compare

Learn how Medicare and Medicaid differ in eligibility, coverage, and costs, and find out if you can qualify for both.

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation: Which Drugs Are Affected

Learn how Medicare's new drug price negotiation program works, which medications have negotiated prices, and how these changes affect your prescription costs.

The Out-of-Pocket Cap on Medicare Part D

Understand how the annual out-of-pocket cap on Medicare Part D works ($2,100 in 2026), who benefits most, and the Prescription Payment Plan option.

The Medicare Coverage Gap: How the Part D Donut Hole Works

Learn what the Medicare donut hole was, how the Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the Part D coverage gap, and how the new out-of-pocket cap works in 2026.

Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: How Monthly Installments Work

Learn how the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread Part D drug costs into monthly payments instead of paying all at once.

Flexible Spending Accounts and Medicare: A Practical Guide

Learn how Flexible Spending Accounts work alongside Medicare enrollment and explore your options for covering healthcare costs.

Medicare Costs in Retirement: What to Budget For in 2026

A complete guide to budgeting for Medicare costs in retirement, covering premiums, deductibles, and strategies to manage spending.

Medicare and Taxes: What You Need to Know

Understand how Medicare premiums, IRMAA surcharges, HSAs, and medical expense deductions interact with your federal tax return.

IRMAA: A Guide to Medicare Income-Based Surcharges

Find out what IRMAA is, how income-based surcharges impact your Medicare premiums, and what steps you can take to lower them.

Will Medicare Pay for Stair Chair Lifts? A Complete Overview

Learn whether Medicare covers stair chair lifts, explore alternatives that may qualify for coverage, and find resources for mobility assistance.

Medicare Coverage for Mental Health: Therapy, Psychiatry, and Crisis Services

Learn how Medicare covers mental health services including therapy, psychiatry, inpatient care, crisis services, telehealth, and substance abuse treatment.

Medicare Wheelchair and Scooter Benefits Explained

Understand how Medicare pays for wheelchairs and mobility scooters, including eligibility criteria, types of devices covered, and your expected costs.

The Annual Wellness Visit: What Medicare Covers Every Year

Learn what happens during Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit, how it differs from a regular checkup, what your prevention plan includes, and how to avoid surprise bills.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation of any specific Medicare plan. Benefits, costs, and availability vary by plan and location. For complete information about your Medicare options, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY: 1-877-486-2048, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.