Coverage gaps & costs.
What Medicare doesn't cover, long-term care, bridging to 65, and the surcharges that catch higher earners.
Every guide in this cluster
What Medicare Doesn’t Cover: The Gaps and How to Fill Them (2026)
Dental, vision, hearing, long-term care — and no out-of-pocket cap. Every gap, what each costs, how to fill it, and the federal FEHB advantage.
Long-Term Care Costs & Planning: The 2026 Guide for Federal Retirees
Long-term care can run $115k a year and Medicare won’t touch it. The 2026 costs, the four ways to pay, the FLTCIP suspension — and a cost projector.
Retiring Before 65: How to Bridge Healthcare Coverage Until Medicare
Bridging the gap to Medicare when you retire early — and in 2026 the ACA subsidy cliff is back. FEHB continuation, COBRA, and Marketplace plans compared, with a cost calculator.
The $172,500 Healthcare Bill Most Americans Don’t See Coming
Fidelity’s 2025 estimate for a single 65-year-old — before long-term care. What the number includes, the seven things Medicare doesn’t cover, the HSA strategy, and how FEHB changes the math for federal retirees.
The Hidden Medicare Surcharge Hitting Retirees Over $109K
IRMAA adds $1,148 to $6,936 per person above $109K single / $218K MFJ. The full 2026 bracket table, the two-year lookback, the cliff effect, and the Form SSA-44 appeal most retirees never file.
FEHB’s New Family-Member Verification Rule
Since July 1, 2026, you must prove eligibility for any family member you add — every time, including Open Season. Who’s eligible, the married-12-months second-proof trap, the ex-spouse trap, and an eligibility checker.
The FLTCIP Is Closed: The Long-Term Care Gap
The federal LTC insurance program has been shut to new enrollees since 2022 — and Medicare and FEHB don’t cover custodial care. Why it’s frozen, your alternatives, and a funding-gap calculator.
Back to the full pillar
This is one cluster of the FEHB & Medicare pillar. Explore the Part B decision, FEHB in retirement, coordinating Medicare & FEHB, and coverage gaps in the full pillar.
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