Snowbird BusinessFree, plain-language guides for life in two places

Flight Plan · Health & Medicare

Medicare Flight Plan

Answer a few plain questions. You'll get your sign-up deadlines, the penalties to avoid, how Original Medicare compares with the Medicare Advantage plans where you live, what each costs in a year, and what each covers. We don't sell plans and we don't tell you which one to pick.

Education only. Snowbird Business is not an insurance agent or broker, is not connected with Medicare or any insurance company, and does not recommend or sell plans. Full plan-by-plan comparison is loaded for Volusia & Brevard counties (FL) and Camden County (NJ), 2027 plan year.

Private by design. We never ask your name. Your answers stay on this device and are never sent anywhere.

Use this on a shared or library computer when you're done.

Step 1

Start with the basics

Only your state is required. Everything else makes your results more exact.

Date of birthUsed only to work out your sign-up dates. Which state is your main home? Required County (optional, for local plans) Do you live somewhere else part of the year? How much of the year are you away from your main home? Do you travel outside the U.S.? What health coverage do you have now? Do you get Social Security checks yet?

Step 2

Your deadlines and the penalties to avoid

Signing up late can cost you extra every month for the rest of your life. These dates protect you.

Step 3

Your health care

All optional. Pick only what applies.

Doctors you see

More kinds of doctors

Your doctors' names Start typing and pick from the list. We search the national provider registry, so it finds doctors anywhere in the U.S. Finding a doctor here doesn't mean they're in a plan's network; each plan lists them so you can check as you call.

Health conditions

Used only to show rules and costs that apply to you.

Hospitals and health systems

Include places you'd travel to for serious care, like a cancer or heart center.

How much care you use

How often do you see a doctor? Any hospital stay or surgery in the last 2 years, or one planned?

Prescriptions

How many prescriptions do you take? Any brand-name or specialty drugs? Like Eliquis, Entresto, Jardiance, inhalers, insulin

Your medications (optional) Type each one with its strength, like "Wellbutrin XL 300 mg." We'll match generics, flag special Medicare pricing and estimate your yearly drug costs for each plan.

Step 4

What do you want your coverage to include?

Every Medicare option covers hospital stays and doctor visits. The rest depends on the plan.

Hospital staysDoctor visits, tests and therapy

Help staying healthy at home

How active are you?

Step 5

Money

So we can show what fits a fixed income.

What can you spend on health coverage each month, all in? Count the $210 or so that everyone on Medicare pays for Part B. It's usually taken out of your Social Security check. If you had a bad year, like a hospital stay or surgery, what's the most you could pay in medical bills that year? On top of your monthly bill. Leave prescriptions out; that's the next question. What's the most you could pay for prescriptions in a year? In 2027, Medicare limits what anyone with drug coverage pays for covered prescriptions to $2,400 a year. Marital status Household income last year (2025) A severance or separation payout can push you into the high bracket.

Your results

The big choice: two ways to get Medicare

Everyone picks one of these paths first. The plan comes second.

Your results

Options that match your answers most closely

Ranked on paper from what you told us. Call each plan and your doctors before you decide.

Your results

Every option on one map

Up means a better fit for your answers. Left means a lower worst possible year, counting every bill. The center lines mark the middle plan on each scale, so each box holds about a quarter of the options. Tap a dot to see the plan.

Original Medicare pathsMedicare Advantage PPOAdvantage HMO-POSAdvantage HMO

Tap any dot.

All the data

Every option, side by side

Every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan in your county, plus the Original Medicare paths. Tap a column to sort. Dimmed rows go over a limit you set or lack drug coverage you need.

Show Sort by

Hospitals are not the same as doctors. These statuses are for health systems. Private and independent practices, including many specialists, sign their own contracts with each plan. A plan can include a hospital and still leave out your cardiologist. Check every doctor by name using the checklist on each plan.

In network (hospital's own list) Takes Original Medicare Out-of-network allowed, costs more Dropped or at risk Emergencies only Not confirmed — call

Fit	Plan	Type	Monthly bill, all in	Part B giveback	Out-of-pocket max	Drug deductible	Est. drug cost / yr	Covers	Stars	Regular bills / yr	Worst possible year	Your hospitals	Red flags	Your checks	Extras

Every cost here is all in: it includes Part B (projected at $209.50 a month in 2027, about $2,514 a year), which everyone on Medicare pays. "Worst possible year" adds a year of monthly bills, the most the plan can make you pay for medical care, and the $2,400 drug limit if you take prescriptions. Most years cost far less.

Before you sign

Things that apply to you

Healthy at home

Help that keeps you healthy and independent

Some of this comes with Medicare Advantage plans. Some is free in every community, whatever plan you choose.

Plan extras to ask aboutMeals delivered after a hospital stay, rides to appointments, an over-the-counter allowance card, gym membership, in-home help, an emergency alert button, and pest control or groceries for some chronic conditions. Ask each Advantage plan what it includes and the dollar limits.

Meals on WheelsHome-delivered meals and a friendly check-in, often free or low-cost for older adults. Find your local program at mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

Area Agency on AgingYour local hub for in-home help, caregiver support, meals and transportation. Call the Eldercare Locator to find yours.1-800-677-1116

Florida Elder HelplineConnects Floridians with local services and SHINE Medicare counseling.1-800-963-5337

AARP membershipAARP-branded Medigap plans require an AARP membership (about $20 a year). Membership also includes discounts from partner companies. Check aarp.org for current offers.

Free Medicare wellness visitOnce a year, Medicare pays for a wellness visit with your doctor to plan preventive care, check memory and review medications. No copay with most plans.

Prescriptions

Your medications

Drug coverage is decided plan by plan. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs (its formulary), and the same drug can cost very different amounts from one plan to the next.

Plain-language guide

What the words mean

Tap any term. Medicare uses letters for two different things, which confuses almost everyone. That's explained first.

Find a word

Where this comes from

Sources and data dates

Free, unbiased help

These counselors don't sell anything.

Problem with a plan?Complaints and appeals about coverage or a denied drug1-800-633-4227 · medicare.gov/claims-appeals

Find your state's free counselorState Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) in every stateshiphelp.org · 1-877-839-2675

SHINE (Florida)Free Medicare counseling1-800-963-5337

NJ SHIP (New Jersey)Free Medicare counseling1-800-792-8820

MedicarePlan Finder: medicare.gov/plan-compare1-800-633-4227

Social SecuritySign up for Parts A & B, IRMAA appeals1-800-772-1213