FIGURE IT OUT
Five tools.
No sales pitch.
These tools exist because Medicare decisions deserve better than a 45-minute sales call. Each one helps you think through a specific part of the decision — on your own terms, at your own pace.
No name required. No email required. No agent on the other end.
Medicare Fit Check
Which path fits your life?
Eight short questions about how you use healthcare, how you travel, what your finances look like, and what matters most to you. At the end, you'll understand which tradeoffs — between Original Medicare with a Supplement and Medicare Advantage — line up with your situation.
- 8 questions · about 3 minutes
- No name or email required
- Not a plan recommendation — a starting point for your thinking
Ask Before You Sign
What should you ask before any agent meeting?
Tell us your situation — turning 65, already enrolled, helping a parent — and we'll build you a personalized list of questions organized by category. Bring it to any agent meeting, webinar, or phone call. The questions are designed to surface what agents don't volunteer.
- 3 steps · under 2 minutes
- Printable question list
- Covers enrollment, costs, network, drugs, and commissions
IRMAA Calculator
Will your income trigger a Medicare premium surcharge?
IRMAA — the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — adds a surcharge to your Part B and Part D premiums if your income from two years ago exceeded certain thresholds. Most people don't know it exists until they get their first Medicare bill. This calculator shows you exactly where you land in the 2026 brackets and what you can do about it.
- Enter your 2024 income · instant result
- 2026 CMS brackets, verified
- Includes SSA-44 appeal guidance
Out-of-Pocket Estimator
What could a major health event actually cost you?
The "$0 premium" on Medicare Advantage ads is real — but it's only part of the cost picture. This tool runs the math on a major medical event across three paths: Original Medicare alone, Original Medicare with a Supplement (Plan G), and Medicare Advantage with your plan's MOOP. The difference is often thousands of dollars. See it before you choose.
- Choose a scenario or enter your own numbers
- Live calculation — updates as you adjust
- Based on 2026 CMS figures for Part A, Part B, and Plan G
Protect Your Rights
Are your two guaranteed-issue windows still open?
Federal law gives every Medicare beneficiary two windows when insurers cannot ask about your health history. Most people never hear about them until it's too late. This tool shows exactly where your windows stand today — plus a Plan G vs. Plan N break-even calculator and a plain-language FAQ on what the sales pitch typically leaves out.
- State-specific rules for all 50 states (birthday rules, anniversary rules, year-round protections)
- Live countdown to your window closing date
- Plan G vs. Plan N break-even math based on your usage
Why these tools exist
Research shows that the average person spends less than 30 minutes choosing a Medicare plan — a decision that can affect their finances and healthcare access for years. These tools aren't a substitute for careful thinking. They're a way to make that thinking faster, clearer, and less dependent on someone who earns a commission from your answer.
The Clearing earns nothing from your plan choice. No commissions. No referral fees. No preferred carriers. These tools exist because we think you deserve a calmer way to figure this out.
Want to go deeper?
Fern — The Clearing's AI navigator — can walk through your specific situation, answer follow-up questions, and help you think through what matters most before you decide.