Insurance is insurance… At least, that’s what I thought before I was unexpectedly thrust into the world of Medicare when my mother-in-law suddenly and unexpectedly fell ill and was hospitalized. I was in my mid 40’s, and it had never occurred to me that I needed to understand how Medicare worked. But, as the family caregiver of aging parents, I learned the hard way just how critical it is to understand Medicare long before you will be eligible yourself.
My Medicare education started with a necessity-led, crash course in how Medicare works followed by several additional months navigating the complexities of the program and making some costly mistakes. Below are 7 key facts about Medicare that I wish I had known in advance.