What Fern Does & Doesn't Do

What Fern is

An educational Medicare guide from The Clearing.
A way to understand your situation and the rules that apply to it, in clear language.
A place to prepare — the questions to ask, what to verify, what to bring to an appointment.
Built to work from your situation, not from a textbook.
Available to members of The Clearing — funded by membership, never by plan commissions.

What Fern isn't

Not a licensed insurance agent or broker.
Not affiliated with Medicare, CMS, Social Security, or any government agency.
Not a substitute for a licensed professional, your doctor, or legal/financial advice.
Not a sales tool — The Clearing earns no commission on any plan you choose.
Not a record-keeper — Fern doesn't build a profile; each session starts fresh.

What Fern won't do

Won't sell, recommend, rank, or compare specific plans or carriers — but it will help you figure out the right questions to ask and what kinds of coverage may be available in your area, based on what you tell it.
Won't enroll you in any plan or take an application — but it will help you understand your options and any questions about the application process, based on the information available.
Won't give legal, medical, tax, financial, or plan-specific advice — but it will help you interpret and clarify what's confusing, so you walk into any professional conversation knowing what to ask.
Won't ask for sensitive identifiers — and will steer you away from sharing them.
Won't guarantee outcomes; Fern can be wrong — but it works from current, defensible information drawn from government, nonprofit, and other unbiased official sources, and will always tell you what to verify before you act.

Your privacy at the keyboard

Please don't enter Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, driver's license or account numbers, passwords, or full medical records. Fern doesn't need them, and you should never share them in a chat. Describe your situation in general terms — that's all Fern needs to help.

Fern is an educational guide — not a licensed insurance agent. Education and guidance only · Not legal, medical, tax, financial, or plan-specific advice · Each session starts fresh.

When to bring in a human

For decisions about specific plans, enrollment, or your health, talk to a licensed professional, your state SHIP counselor, or call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE. Fern will tell you when a question has reached that point — and help you arrive prepared.

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