You might think that when you enroll in Medicare, the federal government health insurance program will pay for everything related to your health care. It doesn’t. Tallying how much you pay out of pocket for Medicare each year can lead to serious sticker shock.​​

Medicare is a fee-for-service health insurance program for aging individuals. It comes with an alphabet soup of parts that offer different types of coverage and benefits. But Medicare has its challenges—including many holes that simply aren’t covered at all. To fill those gaps, consider enrolling in a Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement plan. To help you make an informed decision and weigh the pros and cons of each option, we’ve gathered unbiased expert insights and research on coverage, cost, convenience and choice.