Medicare Basics
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Hospital Discharge Rights: How to Appeal a Discharge
If you are told you are being discharged too soon, Medicare gives you a same-day appeal decided by an outside reviewer — and you generally are not billed while it is pending.
Read MoreMedicare After a Death: What Survivors Need to Know
Who to call, which premiums get refunded, what happens to a Medigap or Advantage plan, and how a spouse's death may change your own Medicare costs.
Read MoreMedicare and Organ Transplants: Coverage and Anti-Rejection Drugs
Medicare covers transplants at approved facilities and the immunosuppressive drugs that follow — but the 36-month rule for kidney patients has a separate benefit attached.
Read MoreMedicare Coverage for Braces, Prosthetics, and Orthotics
Part B covers artificial limbs, leg and back braces, and therapeutic shoes for diabetes — but each sits in a different benefit category with its own rules.
Read MoreMedicare and Durable Medical Equipment: What's Covered and What You Pay
Walkers, hospital beds, oxygen, and wheelchairs are covered under Part B — but only from the right supplier, and rental rules decide who ends up owning the equipment.
Read MoreMedicare's Home Infusion Therapy Benefit: What It Covers
Getting IV therapy at home involves three separate Medicare benefits — the pump, the drug, and the nursing visit are each paid differently, and not every drug qualifies.
Read MoreDoes Medicare Cover Colonoscopies? Rules, Costs, and Frequency
Medicare covers screening colonoscopies at no cost, but polyp removal can trigger coinsurance. Learn the 2026 rules, frequencies, and stool-test options.
Read MoreDoes Medicare Cover Mammograms? Screening vs Diagnostic Costs
Medicare covers screening mammograms every 12 months at no cost for women 40 and older. Learn how diagnostic mammograms, 3D imaging, and dense-breast follow-ups are billed.
Read MoreDoes Medicare Cover Podiatry? Foot Care Rules Explained
Medicare generally excludes routine foot care but covers podiatry when medically necessary, including diabetic foot exams and therapeutic shoes. Here's where the line falls.
Read MoreMedicare Assignment and Part B Excess Charges Explained
What accepting Medicare assignment means, how the 15% limiting charge works, which 8 states ban excess charges, and what happens with opt-out doctors.
Read MoreThe PACE Program: All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
PACE combines Medicare and Medicaid into one coordinated program for people 55+ who need nursing-home-level care but want to stay at home. Eligibility, coverage, and costs.
Read MoreUrgent Care vs Emergency Room: What Medicare Pays for Each
Medicare covers both urgent care and ER visits, but what you pay differs sharply — especially if you're held for observation or admitted. A cost walkthrough.
Read MoreDoes Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery? Costs and Lens Options
Medicare generally covers medically necessary cataract surgery with a standard lens. Learn what you may pay in 2026 and what premium lenses cost extra.
Read MoreDoes Medicare Cover You When Traveling Outside the U.S.?
Original Medicare rarely pays for care outside the U.S. Learn the exceptions, how some Medigap plans cover foreign travel emergencies, and what to plan for.
Read MoreThis content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation of any specific Medicare plan. Benefits, costs, and availability vary by plan and location. For complete information about your Medicare options, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY: 1-877-486-2048, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.