Connecticut Medicare Guide Connecticut Medicare Supplement underwriting rules: year-round open enrollment and what it means for you By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor • Updated for 2026 • Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide If you’re 65 or older and live in Connecticut, you can apply for any Medicare Supplement plan, from any … Read more
New York Medicare Guide New York Medicare Supplement rules: the strongest protections in the country By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor • Updated for 2026 • Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide If you have a Medicare Supplement plan in New York, you have stronger consumer protections than 95% of Medicare beneficiaries in … Read more
Indiana Medicare Guide Indiana Medicare Supplement birthday rule: what it means for Hoosiers in 2026 By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor • Updated for 2026 • Part of our state-by-state Medicare Supplement guide The Indiana Medicare Supplement birthday rule is new as of January 1, 2026 — and most Hoosiers with a Medigap plan … Read more
Florida Medicare Guide Florida Medicare Supplement birthday rule: what actually applies (and what doesn’t) By Cindy Kowalski, Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor • Updated for 2026 The Florida Medicare Supplement birthday rule is something people search for constantly — and the honest answer, which most insurance companies won’t tell you plainly, is that Florida doesn’t have … Read more
Medicare Education · Plan Types Does Your Medicare Cover YouIf You’re Hospitalized Out of State? Your plan type — HMO, HMO-POS, or PPO — determines what happens when you’re stabilized in an out-of-state hospital. Most people don’t find out until it’s too late. By Cindy Kowalski · Licensed Independent Medicare Advisor · Eligry LLC You’re … Read more
Costs & Budgeting · February 24, 2026 · 8 min read What Does Medicare Actually Cost in 2026? Premiums, Deductibles, and Hidden Expenses Most people know Medicare isn’t completely free — but few realize just how many separate costs are involved, or how quickly they can add up without the right coverage. Cindy Licensed Independent … Read more
Enrollment & Eligibility · February 2026 · 6 min read Medicare Special Enrollment Period: Do You Qualify and How to Use It Most people only know about the standard Medicare enrollment window. But life doesn’t always follow a schedule — and the Special Enrollment Period exists for exactly that reason. C Cindy Kowalski · Eligry … Read more
Medicare Plan Selection · February 2026 · 8 min read The Hidden Cost of a Free Medicare Advantage Plan — One Woman’s $150,000 Mistake Linda chose a zero dollar Medicare Advantage plan when she was healthy. Three years later, a kidney failure diagnosis revealed what that free plan would actually cost her over the next … Read more
Turning 65 + Still Working The right answer depends on your employer size, your coverage, and whether you contribute to an HSA. Here’s how to avoid costly mistakes and permanent penalties. Quick navigation Do I have to enroll in Medicare at 65 if I’m still working? Medicare doesn’t automatically know you’re working The 20-employee rule … Read more