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Medicare can be complicated, but several great resources can help you get answers to your Medicare questions — whether you want to know more about costs, coverage, eligibility, enrollment or

how to choose supplemental policies. Courtesy Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 1. CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) This federal agency, which is part of the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, runs the Medicare program. Its Medicare.gov website offers information about how Medicare works, what it covers, when to enroll, Medicare costs,

claims questions, how to appeal a coverage or payment decision and how to buy private insurance policies that can fill in coverage gaps. The Medicare Plan Finder is the best way to find out

about the costs and coverage for the Part D prescription drug plans and the private Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, whether you’re choosing a plan when you’re first

eligible or during open enrollment each year. If you have questions about Medicare rules, coverage and claims, call Medicare’s help line at 800-633-4227 or use the Live Chat function, which

is generally available 24/7 except for some federal holidays. Information is available in about two dozen languages, including English and Spanish.  The _Medicare & You _handbook,

updated annually, explains what Medicare covers, how it works, when you need to sign up and any changes to the rules. Courtesy Social Security Administration 2. SOCIAL SECURITY

ADMINISTRATION Even though CMS runs the Medicare program, the Social Security Administration handles Medicare enrollment. You can enroll in Medicare on the SSA website during your initial

enrollment period or a special enrollment period, or you can visit an SSA office to sign up during those and other times. The agency can also help with questions about Medicare enrollment

and eligibility; applying for the Part D prescription drug Extra Help program, which provides financial assistance for Medicare beneficiaries with low income and assets; and contesting

Medicare’s high-income premium surcharges. The national toll-free phone number is 800-772-1213. You can also visit your local Social Security office. Courtesy State Health Insurance

Assistance Program 3. STATE HEALTH INSURANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) are available in every state plus the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These programs are a public service that provide personal help from trained counselors on all Medicare issues. More than 12,500 SHIP counselors provide free

one-on-one counseling, seminars and outreach programs, especially during the Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 annual open enrollment period. They can answer questions over the phone, in person or online

Search online for a SHIP in your area or call 877-839-2675.