Eugenio Costa, 65, received a 127-page booklet from Uncle Sam called Medicare and You 2021. It doesn’t have much of a plot, but it might be the most important reading he does this year.

For seniors or their adult children, the booklet outlines the choices Medicare recipients face in the fast-changing world of health care.

But Medicare is mind-numbingly complicated, and it is easy to get lost in a maze of options.

Eugenio is fully aware, however, that Medicare, Medicare HMO (Medicare + Choice), or Medigap do not cover long-term nursing home or at-home care. For that, he will have to buy private insurance, which can cost thousands of dollars a year if he signs up now.

All of these choices allow seniors to tailor a plan to their needs. But it also makes picking insurance much more complicated. Eugenio knows that a mistake can be costly in terms of both health and money.

Questions 

1. What factors should Eugenio Costa consider in making the choice among various types of Medicare, Medigap, or HMO health care insurance policies?

2. Visit the following websites for Medicare resources to obtain general information, guides on buying Medigap or HMO coverage, and price quotations with insurance company ratings on Medigap insurance carriers.

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General Information • Medicare • 1-800-633-4227 • www.medicare.gov • ElderCare Locator • 1-800-677-1116 Guides on Buying Medigap or HMO Coverage • Medicare Rights Center www.medicarerights.org Quotes and Ratings on Medigap Carriers • Insure.com • 1-800-324-6370 www.lifequotes.com