Retirement decisions, explained plainly.
Independent guides for people who want to understand their own paperwork before they talk to anyone. No sales pitch, no company names, no pressure — just what the documents mean and what to check.
This season · October 15 to December 7
The Medicare annual review
Every fall, Medicare plans can change what they cover and what they cost for the coming year. These guides walk through what changes, where to find it in your own papers, and the questions worth answering before the deadline.
01How to read your Annual Notice of ChangeThe letter that arrives in September follows a fixed layout. Where to look first, and how to finish in ten minutes.
02Why your plan can change even if you do nothingWhat a plan is allowed to change each January 1, and why staying put doesn't freeze what you have today.
03The Medicare calendar: key datesA handful of windows, all strict. What you can do in each one, and what you can't.
04Parts A, B, C and D, explainedThe four parts in plain English — and the two names people mix up most.
05Five questions to answer before you decideNot a comparison of dozens of options. Five questions about your own situation.
06Glossary: the words on your plan papersDeductible, coinsurance, formulary, tier, network — in everyday language.
How we write
Our guides are written to be read with your own documents in hand.
- We don't sell insurance.Retire Wise Guide is not an insurance agency or broker, and our guides never recommend a specific plan or company.
- We name no companies.The guides explain how the documents work, not who offers what. That keeps them useful whichever plan you have.
- We point to official sources.Dates and rules come from the federal program's own publications. For anything about your situation, Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE and your state's free SHIP counselors are the authority.
- We say how we're paid.This site may receive compensation from advertisers. Read our advertising disclosure.
Free printable
The annual review checklist
Seven things to check before December 7, in the order they appear in your plan's letter. The email version is coming soon.