The full library — 19 Medicare guides and 5 expat articles.
All free. All sourced. The Medicare guides are organized by what you actually need to know first. The expat articles cover the bigger "should I move abroad?" question.
Medicare guides
19 deep guides covering everything from the four parts of Medicare to what happens if you miss your enrollment window — plus the practical day-to-day workflows nobody else writes about.
Essential reading
Turning 65 checklist — month-by-month timeline
12-month pre-65 timeline, sign-up methods, auto-enroll vs active enrollment, the Medicare card explainer, your first-year roadmap.
10 Medicare mistakes that cost you for life
Late penalties, missed Medigap windows, COBRA traps — the lifetime-cost mistakes most people make.
Medicare scams — block them before they hit
Three rules that block 95% of scams, eight common scam types, who to call when you spot one, what to do if your MBI is compromised.
Enrollment windows — every Medicare deadline
IEP, MOE, GEP, AEP, MA-OEP, SEPs — calendar of windows and what happens when you miss each.
What if you miss your enrollment window?
Honest debunking of agent scare tactics. The penalty math + the one window that's truly one-time.
Late-penalty exceptions + the abroad scenario
Every legit exception to the 10%/year penalty. Plus what happens if you were overseas during your IEP.
How Medicare works
Original Medicare — Parts A and B in depth
What Part A actually covers, what Part B actually covers, full 2026 cost picture, the Two-Midnight rule.
Part C vs Part D — they sound similar, they're not
The two most-confused parts of Medicare. Side-by-side, common confusions, valid combinations.
Medicare Advantage plan types — HMO, PPO, PFFS, SNP, MSA
Five types of Part C with characteristics, good-fit vs bad-fit checklists, decision framework.
Medicare Advantage vs Medigap — honest comparison
Path A vs Path B with real cost math for healthy and high-utilization scenarios.
Using Medicare day-to-day
Using Medicare daily — doctor, pharmacy, hospital workflows
Five practical workflows: doctor visit, prescription, hospital admission, DME, MSN/EOB. Plus appeals, escalation, and Medicare.gov setup.
Welcome to Medicare + Annual Wellness visits
The two free preventive visits Medicare gives you, what they cover, what they're not (no, not a physical), and the other free preventive services you should claim.
Your specific situation
Working past 65 — when to defer Medicare
20-employee rule, COBRA trap, HSA timing, CMS-L564 form, 8-month return SEP.
Medicare + employer coverage — employee, self-employed, special
Three audiences: employee with group plan, self-employed (sole prop / S-corp / LLC), and special cases (FEHB / TRICARE / VA / spouse).
Do you have to take Medicare? Self-employed at 65 rules
Medicare is voluntary, but the late penalties are permanent. When skipping makes sense and when it doesn't.
Medicare before 65 — SSDI, ESRD, and ALS paths
Three paths to Medicare for under-65s: SSDI 24-month rule, ESRD eligibility, ALS immediate enrollment. State-by-state Medigap caveats.
Couples Medicare planning — two-person math
Four common couple scenarios, four coordination levers, the seven-step playbook for spouses turning 65 at different times.
Living abroad
Does Medicare cover you abroad?
Mostly no — with four narrow exceptions. Real expat healthcare costs in 6 popular destinations.
Should you keep Part B if you move abroad?
Late-penalty math vs premium savings. Three-scenario decision framework. SSA-44, CMS-1763, the 8-month return SEP.
Living abroad articles
Long-form articles for retirees considering moving overseas. Click any article to expand and read the full piece.
Free downloadable guides
Six PDF guides covering Medicare, RMDs, Social Security, expat retirement, taxes, and a senior life-events checklist.
Browse PDF library