New to Medicare? You’re in the right place.
Medicare can feel overwhelming at first — so we’ve broken it into simple, plain-English steps. Follow the path below, or skip straight to talking with a licensed advisor. No pressure, no jargon, and never any cost.
Let’s make Medicare simple.
If you’re approaching 65 — or helping someone who is — you probably have more questions than answers right now. That’s completely normal. Medicare has parts, plans, deadlines, and choices, but you don’t have to learn it all at once, and you definitely don’t have to figure it out alone.
The guides below walk you through it one step at a time. Start at the top, or jump to whatever you need most. And whenever you’d rather just ask a real person, a licensed May River advisor is one call away — free.
The New to Medicare roadmap.
Six plain-English guides, in the order most people need them. Take them in sequence or jump to what matters most.
What is Medicare?
The basics in plain English — the four parts of Medicare and how they fit together.
Start with the basicsMedicare Eligibility
Find out when you qualify — by age, disability, or condition — with a quick checker.
Check eligibilityHow to Apply
Step-by-step, with the official forms you can download and how to avoid mistakes.
How to applyMedicare Costs
Premiums, deductibles, IRMAA, and the 2026 numbers you should know.
Understand costsEmployer Coverage
Still working past 65? How Medicare works with a job or a spouse’s plan.
Working past 65How to Choose a Plan
Supplement or Advantage? How to pick the coverage that actually fits you.
Choose a planWould you rather just ask someone?
Skip the reading — a licensed May River advisor will walk you through all of it in plain English, free and with no pressure.
Read our complete Medicare 101 guide.
If you’d rather see the whole picture at once instead of step by step, our comprehensive Medicare 101 overview covers it all — start to finish.
Prefer to explore on your own?
These free tools help you compare and decide — no login, no cost.
Find My Medicare Match
Answer a few questions and get a personalized recommendation on which path fits you.
Take the quizDrug Coverage Calculator
Search any medication and see how Medicare covers it and what it costs.
Price my drugsCalculator & Planning Tools
Estimate your total 2026 Medicare costs and compare your options.
Open the toolsReady to take the first step? We’ll guide you the whole way.
A licensed May River advisor will meet you wherever you are in the process — explaining, comparing, and helping you enroll. Free, no pressure, and your advocate for life.
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