Medicare tools
Calm, commission-free tools to help you compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap, understand costs, check timing, and prepare for conversations with agents, brokers, SHIP counselors, employer exchanges, or plan representatives.
No plan sales, no carrier commissions, no pressure.
Start where you are
Tell us where you are and we'll point you to the right tools. No signup required. No sales follow-up. Just a calmer place to start.
If I'm new to Medicare, or approaching it
Start at step 1 →If I'm still working past 65 or on a spouse's plan
Start at step 1 →If I'm comparing plans, or deciding now
Start at step 1 →If I'm already enrolled and reviewing what I have
Start at step 1 →If I'm on Medicare Advantage and thinking about going back
Start at step 1 →If I'm helping a parent or someone else
Start at step 1 →If I'm not sure where to start
Take the Fit Check →The tools here are built to help you slow down, sort what applies, and know what to check next. They are not lead forms for insurance sales, and they do not route you to a plan.
Use them before you call an agent, broker, SHIP counselor, concierge service, employer exchange, or plan.
Your next step should be clearer, not pressured.
Which Medicare path actually fits how you live?
A few questions about how you use care, whether you travel, and what matters to you — then a plain read on which path tends to fit. A starting point, not a recommendation.
Someone threw a Medicare word at you?
Type any confusing term — Part B, IRMAA, guaranteed issue, prior authorization — and get it in plain language, then a calm next step.
Which windows are open — and which won't reopen?
Tell us where you are and we'll map your Medicare enrollment timing — what's open now, plus the one-time six-month Medigap window and the trial right you can't get back.
What could a year of ongoing care actually cost?
A "$0 premium" is only part of the story. See what a light year, one big event, or a year of ongoing care could cost across Original Medicare, a Medigap plan, and Advantage — each with its own limits.
Plan G, High-Deductible G, or Plan N?
They're the same Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage — the only question is how you'd rather pay. See the trade in plain language, then run your own quotes.
Will your income add a surcharge?
IRMAA adds a surcharge to Part B and Part D above certain income levels. See whether it applies to you, by how much, and how to appeal after a life change — your income stays on your device.
What should you ask before any meeting?
A free, printable guide to the one choice every Medicare decision comes down to — plus the exact questions to ask, and a worksheet to fill in and bring along.
Want a guide, not a calculator?
Describe your situation in your own words. Fern helps you sort what matters and points you to the right next step — no enrollment, no commission, no agenda.
These tools are educational. They do not recommend a specific Medicare plan, enroll you in coverage, replace Medicare.gov, or substitute for a licensed agent, SHIP counselor, employer benefits office, plan document, or professional advice.
They are designed to help you understand your situation, prepare better questions, and know what to verify before you act.
The Clearing tools can help you get oriented, but official plan details should always be verified with official sources.
Compare Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap information using Medicare's official plan tool.
Visit Medicare Plan Finder →Find and compare Medicare-approved doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, and other providers.
Visit Care Compare →Find free, local Medicare counseling through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Find your SHIP →When should I sign up for Medicare?
Most people first become eligible at 65, with a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period covering the three months before your 65th birthday month, that month, and the three months after. If you're still working and covered by an employer plan, timing may be different. The safest first step is to know which coverage you have, whether it is creditable, and whether delaying could create penalties or gaps.
What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap?
Medicare Advantage is a private plan that replaces how you receive your Original Medicare benefits. Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement, works alongside Original Medicare to help cover costs Original Medicare does not. Advantage plans may include networks, prior authorization, and bundled extras. Medigap usually costs more each month but can offer broader provider access and more predictable medical costs.
What is Medigap?
Medigap is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare. It helps pay some of the costs Original Medicare leaves behind, such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. Medigap does not work with Medicare Advantage and usually has its strongest purchase protections when you first start Part B.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare?
Yes, but switching back is not always the same as getting a Medicare Supplement. You may be able to return to Original Medicare during certain enrollment windows, but buying a Medigap policy later may require underwriting unless you have a guaranteed-issue right, trial right, or state-specific protection.
Start with the free tools when you need orientation. Join The Clearing when you want Fern, Decision Maps, short guides, checklists, and a quieter member community to help you work through Medicare questions as they come up.