Rise Up Benefits Group(480) 300-5776 · riseupbenefitsgroup.com2026 federal figures from CMS · reviewed 2026-10-14
Printable Medicare reference · 2026 figures
Medicare Cheatsheets and Checklists
One-page summaries of how Medicare works, and step-by-step checklists for the decisions that come with it. Read them here,
print the whole page, or print just the sheet you need. No sign-up, no email.
Four quick references that cut Medicare down to what you need to know. Each one prints on its own page.
Part C
Medicare Advantage cheatsheet
A Medicare Advantage plan is a private plan approved by Medicare that replaces how you use Parts A and B. Most include drug coverage. You still pay your Part B premium.
HMO or PPO
HMO: you use the plan's network of doctors and hospitals. Outside the network, the plan usually pays only for emergencies and urgent care.
HMO: you usually pick a primary care doctor and need a referral to see a specialist.
PPO: you can see doctors outside the network, but you pay more when you do.
PPO: referrals are usually not required.
Costs and limits
You pay copays or coinsurance as you use care, instead of one up-front bill.
Every plan has a yearly in-network maximum out-of-pocket for Part A and Part B services. Once you reach it, covered care costs nothing more that year.
The maximum does not include your premiums or your Part D drug costs.
Premiums, copays and the maximum can change every January 1.
Rules to know
Prior authorization: the plan may need to approve some services, scans or drugs before you get them.
Networks change. Check that your doctors and hospitals are still in the network every fall.
Extras such as dental, vision and hearing vary by plan, and so do their limits.
You cannot use a Medigap policy with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Plan details change each year. Your Annual Notice of Change lists what is different for the coming year.
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Parts A and B
What Original Medicare covers
Original Medicare is Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical), run by the federal government. You can see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare.
Part A: hospital
Inpatient hospital stays.
Skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay.
Hospice care, and some home health care.
Deductible: $1,736 per benefit period in 2026.
Most people pay no Part A premium after 40 quarters of work. Otherwise it is $311 or $565 a month in 2026.
Part B: medical
Doctor visits, outpatient care and outpatient surgery.
Lab tests, X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and durable medical equipment.
After the $283 yearly deductible (2026), Medicare generally pays 80% and you pay 20%, with no yearly cap.
Standard premium: $202.90 a month in 2026.
Preventive care
Your yearly wellness visit, many cancer screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies, and flu shots.
Most preventive services cost you nothing when your doctor accepts assignment.
Not covered
Routine dental care and dentures.
Routine eye exams for glasses, and eyeglasses.
Hearing aids and exams to fit them.
Long-term custodial care, such as help with bathing and dressing.
Prescription drugs you fill at a pharmacy (that is Part D).
Figures: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles. 2027 amounts are announced around November 2026.
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Medigap
Popular Medigap plans
A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy pays some or all of what Original Medicare leaves behind. Benefits are standardized by federal law, so every Plan G pays the same way. Prices differ by company.
Plan G
Pays everything Original Medicare leaves, except the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026).
Covers the Part A deductible, Part B coinsurance and Part B excess charges.
No network: any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare.
Plan N
Usually a lower premium than Plan G.
You pay the Part B deductible.
Copays of up to $20 for some office visits, and up to $50 for an emergency room visit that does not lead to an inpatient admission.
Does not cover Part B excess charges.
High-deductible Plan G
You pay the first $2,950 of Medicare-covered costs in 2026 ($3,050 in 2027), then it pays like Plan G.
A much lower premium in exchange for a larger bill in a hard year.
Good to know
Medigap does not include drug coverage. Pair it with a Part D plan.
Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the month your Part B begins. It is the one window with no health questions.
High-deductible figures: CMS, F, G and J deductible announcements. Part B deductible: CMS, 2026.
Rise Up Benefits Group · (480) 300-5776 · riseupbenefitsgroup.com
At a glance
Medicare parts and plans at a glance
Medicare has four parts, plus Medigap policies that work alongside Original Medicare. Here is what each one does.
Part A
Hospital insurance. Inpatient care, skilled nursing after a qualifying stay, hospice. Deductible $1,736 per benefit period (2026).
Part B
Medical insurance. Doctors, outpatient care, labs and preventive services. $202.90 a month and a $283 deductible (2026).
Part C (Medicare Advantage)
A private plan that replaces how you use Parts A and B. Most include Part D. Networks, copays and a yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
Part D
Prescription drug coverage from private plans. Out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs are capped at $2,100 in 2026. National base premium $38.99 a month (2026).
Medigap (Medicare Supplement)
Private policies that pay the gaps in Original Medicare. Standardized by letter, used with Parts A and B, not with Medicare Advantage.
Two main paths
Path 1: Original Medicare (A and B) plus a Medigap policy plus a Part D plan.
Path 2: a Medicare Advantage plan, usually with Part D built in.
Figures: CMS 2026 fact sheets for Parts A and B and for Part D.
A cheatsheet tells you how Medicare works. Viola tells you what it means for you: she checks your doctors and
prescriptions, compares your options, and stays your point of contact for claims, billing questions and your yearly review.
There is no cost for her help.
Viola Lucero, CLTC · Founder and Licensed Insurance Agent · Licensed in 29 states plus DC · NPN 18355227
Are these Medicare cheatsheets and checklists free?
Yes. They are free to read and print, with no sign-up and no email required. There is also no cost for our help if you want to go through them with us, because agents are paid by the insurance companies.
Can I print the cheatsheets and checklists?
Yes. Use the Print this page button to print everything, or the print button on any single cheatsheet or checklist to print just that one. The site menu, footer and booking form are left off the printout. You can also save it as a PDF from your browser's print window.
What is the difference between Medigap Plan G and Plan N?
Plan G pays everything Original Medicare leaves behind except the Part B deductible, which is $283 in 2026. Plan N usually costs less each month, but you pay up to $20 for some office visits, up to $50 for an emergency room visit that does not lead to an admission, and any Part B excess charges.
What does Original Medicare not cover?
Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, routine eye exams for glasses, eyeglasses, hearing aids, or long-term custodial care. It also does not cover drugs you fill at a pharmacy; that is what Part D is for. Part B has no yearly cap on your 20% share, which is why many people add a Medigap policy or choose Medicare Advantage.
When is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period?
Every year from October 15 to December 7. Changes you make take effect January 1, so this fall you are choosing coverage for 2027. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, there is also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31.
How is Part D capped?
Your out-of-pocket costs for drugs your plan covers are capped at $2,100 for 2026. Once you reach the cap, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year. The cap does not include your monthly premium. CMS sets the amount each year.
Are Medigap plans the same everywhere?
The benefits are. Medigap plans are standardized by federal law, so a Plan G pays the same way whichever company sells it. Premiums are not the same: they differ by company, by where you live, and by how each company prices its policies. Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin standardize their plans differently.
Where do I get official Medicare forms?
Our Medicare videos and forms page links to the official forms, such as the Part B application and the employment information form. You can also get them from Medicare.gov, Social Security, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Which year are the figures on these cheatsheets?
The federal figures are 2026 amounts published by CMS. The 2027 Part B premium and deductible are usually announced around November 2026, and we update this page when they are. The high-deductible Plan G figure for 2027 ($3,050) is already published.
Can someone go through a checklist with me?
Yes. Viola and the team in Chandler will go through your doctors, prescriptions and budget with you, in person, by phone or by video. Call (480) 300-5776 or book a time on this page.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 34 organizations which offer 64 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Rise Up Benefits Group is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 34 organizations which offer 64 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Rise Up Benefits Group is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information.
Questions after reading?
Call (480) 300-5776 or book a time, and Viola will go through your Medicare options with you at no cost.
