OfficialPDF
The official U.S. government Medicare handbook, updated for 1970.
The Official Medicare Library
Official Medicare Resources
Download trusted Medicare publications and government resources — all in one place. Every link routes to the official source at Medicare.gov, CMS, SSA, VA, or TRICARE. Curated by Medicare Caddies.
- Independent Medicare Education
- Official Government Resources
- Curated by Medicare Caddies
- Educational Only
Flagship experience · 18 Holes of Medicare
Walk the Coursefrom tee to green.
Learn Medicare the way it was designed to be understood — one hole at a time. Nine foundational lessons on the Front Nine, then calculators, comparisons and confident decisions on the Back Nine.
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Flagship download · Medicare Caddies original
Medicare & Me — A Caddie's Companion
Medicare & Me is our first-party companion to the official CMS handbook. It walks you through the same decisions from a caddie's perspective: what to look at first, what the trade-offs really are, and what most people wish they had known before they enrolled. Written by our licensed Medicare Caddies for people who prefer stories and worksheets to acronyms.
Browse by category
Twelve doors into the Medicare course
Category
Getting Started
First stops for anyone new to Medicare.
Medicare & You Handbook (1970)
Caddies originalPDF
Our plain-English companion guide — the questions Medicare & You never quite answers.
OfficialWeb
How to weigh Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and stand-alone Part D.
OfficialWeb
The official U.S. government site for Medicare beneficiaries.
OfficialWeb
The federal agency that runs Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.
Category
Enrollment
Windows, deadlines, and how to sign up.
OfficialWeb
Sign up for Medicare Parts A and B through Social Security.
OfficialTool
Search Medicare Advantage and Part D plans in your ZIP code.
Category
Costs
Premiums, deductibles, and IRMAA.
OfficialPDF
How Social Security calculates higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income beneficiaries.
Category
Prescription Drugs
Part D, formularies, and Extra Help.
OfficialPDF
How Part D works — from enrollment to formularies to the coverage gap.
Category
Appeals
How to appeal a coverage or payment decision.
OfficialPDF
The five-level appeals process for coverage and payment decisions.
Category
Preventive Care
Screenings, vaccines, and wellness visits at $0.
OfficialPDF
Screenings, vaccines, and wellness visits covered at $0 by Original Medicare.
Category
Medicare Advantage
Part C plans, networks, and extras.
OfficialWeb
How Medicare Advantage plans work compared to Original Medicare.
Category
Original Medicare
Parts A & B and Medigap.
OfficialTool
National and local coverage determinations for every Medicare-covered service.
OfficialPDF
Your guaranteed rights as a Medicare beneficiary.
Category
Forms
Official Medicare and SSA forms.
OfficialForm
Request a reduction in your IRMAA after a qualifying life event.
Category
Veterans
VA benefits and how they work with Medicare.
OfficialWeb
How VA benefits work alongside Medicare — and why most veterans still enroll in Part B.
Category
TRICARE
TRICARE for Life and Medicare coordination.
OfficialWeb
How TRICARE For Life wraps around Medicare for retired service members.
Resources
Calculators
Interactive tools that turn Medicare's fine print into numbers you can plan around.
IRMAA Calculator
IRMAA is calculated from your MAGI two years prior. Enter your filing status and MAGI to see the estimated 2026 Part B and Part D surcharges. Actual amounts are set by Social Security and can be appealed after a life-changing event.
Turning 65 Timeline Calculator
Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long: the 3 months before your birth month, your birth month, and the 3 months after. Enrolling early means coverage starts the first of your birth month.
Enrollment Period Calculator
Different life events open different Medicare enrollment windows. Answer a few questions and this tool will point you to the right window and what you can do inside it.
Late Enrollment Penalty Calculator
Part B's late enrollment penalty adds 10% for each full 12 months you were eligible but didn't enroll, added to your premium for life. Part D's penalty adds roughly 1% of the national base premium per month you went without creditable coverage.
Annual Medicare Cost Estimator
Your annual Medicare cost is the sum of your premiums (Part B, Part D, Medigap or MA), plus deductibles and copays up to the MOOP for MA plans, or unlimited 20% coinsurance under Original Medicare without a Medigap.
Prescription Drug Cost Estimator
Total drug costs depend on your plan's formulary tiers, whether your drugs require prior authorization, and the annual Part D out-of-pocket cap that took effect in 2025.
Resources
Enrollment Guides
Every Medicare enrollment window — IEP, AEP, MA-OEP, and SEPs — in plain English.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
The Initial Enrollment Period is a 7-month window starting 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ending 3 months after. Enrolling in the first 3 months triggers coverage the first day of your birthday month.
Annual Election Period (AEP)
October 15 through December 7 every year. You can join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Changes take effect January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA-OEP)
January 1 through March 31. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you can make one change: switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare with the option to add Part D.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)
A Special Enrollment Period is a window opened by a qualifying life event — like losing employer coverage, moving, entering or leaving a nursing home, or qualifying for Extra Help — that lets you enroll or change plans outside of AEP.
Keep learning
Category
🏛️Social Security
SSA benefits, IRMAA, and enrollment.
Retirement, disability, Medicare enrollment, and IRMAA appeals.