Your Free Guide to AARP Resources for Medicare and Senior Benefits

Understanding AARP's Role in Medicare Information

AARP is a nonprofit membership organization with over 38 million members age 50 and older. While AARP does not run Medicare or any government programs, the organization provides educational materials and resources about how these programs work. It's important to understand that AARP offers information—not the actual benefits themselves.

AARP's resources explain what Medicare covers, how different plan types function, and what seniors should know when exploring options. The organization has published guides and materials for decades, and many people use these resources to learn about programs before contacting government agencies directly.

The distinction matters: AARP can teach you about Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), Part D (prescription drug coverage), and Medigap supplemental plans. However, you must contact Medicare directly—either through Medicare.gov, by phone at 1-800-MEDICARE, or at your local Social Security office—to complete any transactions or get official information about your specific situation.

AARP also provides information about other programs that may help seniors, including Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Program, and the Low-Income Subsidy program. These are real safety-net programs with real income limits and rules, and AARP's role is educational only.

Practical Takeaway: Use AARP resources to build your knowledge, then verify any information by contacting Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE or visiting Medicare.gov. This two-step approach ensures you have both background understanding and official confirmation.

What Medicare Covers: The Four Parts Explained

Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. Understanding what each part covers is essential before exploring your options. AARP's guides break down these four parts in plain language.

Part A (Hospital Insurance): This covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care (up to 100 days per benefit period after a qualifying hospital stay), hospice care, and some home health services. Most people don't pay a monthly premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare payroll taxes for at least 10 years. In 2024, the Part A deductible is $1,632 per benefit period for hospital stays. After you've paid this deductible, Medicare covers all approved hospital costs for the first 60 days of a hospital stay.

Part B (Medical Insurance): This covers doctor visits, outpatient hospital services, medical equipment, and preventive care. Part B requires a monthly premium, which in 2024 is $164.90 for most people (though higher earners pay more). Part B also has an annual deductible of $240 in 2024. After meeting the deductible, Medicare typically covers 80% of approved services, and you pay 20%.

Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): This helps pay for prescription medications at participating pharmacies. Part D is optional but can be important if you take regular medications. If you don't enroll when first eligible, you may face a permanent penalty. Costs vary by plan and pharmacy.

Medigap (Supplemental Insurance): This is private insurance that helps cover costs Medicare doesn't pay, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. There are ten standardized Medigap plans (A through N), and which ones are sold in your state varies. Medigap has its own monthly premiums separate from Medicare.

Practical Takeaway: Write down which parts you currently have and which you might be missing. For example, if you have Parts A and B but no Part D, and you take regular medications, you may want to research Part D options during the annual enrollment period (October 15 – December 7).

Medicare Enrollment Periods and When to Make Changes

One of the most important topics in AARP's Medicare guides is timing. Medicare has specific enrollment periods during which you can enroll, switch plans, or make changes. Missing these windows can mean staying with a plan for a full year or facing penalties.

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): When you first become eligible for Medicare at 65, you have a seven-month window that begins three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. If you delay Part B enrollment after this period without a valid reason, you may pay a permanent 10% penalty for each year you delayed.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): From October 15 to December 7 each year, anyone with Medicare can switch plans. This is the main time to change from one Part D plan to another, switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa. Changes take effect January 1. This period is critical for reviewing whether your current plan still meets your needs, especially if your medications, doctors, or health needs have changed.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MAOE): If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you get an additional opportunity from January 1 to March 31 each year to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEP): Certain life events—such as moving, losing employer coverage, or having a permanent change in your income—may open a Special Enrollment Period outside the normal annual window. These events are narrowly defined, and you typically must act quickly once an event occurs.

AARP's materials explain these periods in detail because they directly affect what options are available to you. Missing an enrollment period can mean waiting a full year to make changes, or in some cases, not being able to enroll in certain plans at all.

Practical Takeaway: Mark your calendar now for October 15 – December 7 of this year and every year. During this window, review your current plan's costs, check whether your doctors and medications are still covered, and research alternatives if needed. Don't wait until December 6 to explore options.

Financial Help Programs You May Be Able to Use

Medicare can be expensive, but several government programs exist to help people with limited incomes pay premiums, deductibles, and other costs. AARP's guides provide information about these programs because many seniors don't know they exist.

Medicare Savings Program (MSP): This state-run program helps people with limited income and resources pay Part B premiums, and in some cases, deductibles and coinsurance. To learn if you may qualify, you generally need an income below 135–175% of the federal poverty level (depending on your state and which level of MSP help you're exploring). In 2024, the federal poverty level is $1,084 per month for a single person. Actual limits vary by state. You contact your state Medicaid office, not Medicare or AARP, to explore this option.

Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) for Part D: Also called "Extra Help," this program helps people with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level pay Part D premiums, deductibles, and copayments. In 2024, that's roughly $1,626 per month for a single person, though resource limits also apply. You can apply through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

Medicaid: For people with very low incomes and few resources, Medicaid may cover costs Medicare doesn't. Medicaid is jointly run by federal and state governments, so rules differ significantly by state. Some states cover more services than others. You contact your state Medicaid office to learn about this program.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program: This program, part of MSP, helps cover Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for people with incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level. Again, income limits are set at roughly $1,084 per month for a single person in 2024, though your state may use different limits.

AARP's resources explain these programs exist and provide general information about how they work. However, actual income and resource rules are complex and vary by state and circumstance. The