# Medicare Doughnut Hole

> Plain-English answers about the Medicare "donut hole" — what it was, why it was closed in 2025, and what replaced it — plus Medigap, Medicare Part D plan choice, Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy), Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap, and planning for health costs in retirement. medicaredoughnuthole.org is an independent educational and referral website for seniors and people approaching Medicare. It is not Medicare.gov, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Social Security Administration, or any government agency, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government.

Medicare Doughnut Hole is an independent directory. People describe what they are looking for; the platform matches them with independent agents. Content is educational only — not professional advice. Part of the R0cketShip network.

## Explore
- [The Medicare donut hole, explained](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/medicare-donut-hole-explained): What the donut hole was, why people still search for it, and what replaced it.
- [Medicare Part D plans](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/medicare-part-d-plans): Choosing, comparing and switching Part D prescription drug plans.
- [Extra Help & Low-Income Subsidy](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/extra-help-low-income-subsidy): Programs that lower Part D and Medicare costs for people with limited income.
- [Medigap (Medicare Supplement) basics](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/medigap-basics): How Medicare Supplement insurance works alongside Original Medicare.
- [Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/medicare-advantage-vs-medigap): A fair, side-by-side look at Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans.
- [Health costs in retirement](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/retirement-health-costs): Planning for Medicare premiums, drug costs and supplement coverage in retirement.
- [Medicare enrollment periods](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/explore/medicare-enrollment-timing): When to enroll, switch or add coverage without a penalty.

## Specialties
- [The donut hole & coverage gap](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/medicare-donut-hole-coverage-gap): Part D coverage-gap explanations, plan-year drug-cost walkthroughs, catastrophic-coverage-phase questions
- [Medicare Part D drug plans](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/medicare-part-d-plans): standalone Part D plan comparison, drug formulary and pharmacy network review, plan switching during enrollment
- [Medicare Supplement (Medigap)](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/medicare-supplement-medigap): Medigap plan-letter comparison (A through N), guaranteed-issue timing questions, supplement plans alongside Original Medicare
- [Medicare Advantage (Part C)](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/medicare-advantage): Medicare Advantage plan comparison, HMO and PPO Medicare plans, extra-benefits review (dental, vision, hearing)
- [Extra Help & Low-Income Subsidy (LIS)](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/extra-help-low-income-subsidy): Extra Help (LIS) eligibility screening, Medicare Savings Program guidance, state pharmaceutical assistance referrals
- [Retirement health-cost planning](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/retirement-health-costs): retirement health-cost planning conversations, Medicare premium (IRMAA) awareness, budgeting for premiums, Part D and supplement costs
- [Medicare enrollment & switching](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/medicare-enrollment-periods): Initial, Annual and Special Enrollment Period guidance, Medigap open-enrollment window, late-enrollment-penalty questions
- [Medicare basics (Parts A & B)](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/modalities/medicare-basics-parts-a-b): Original Medicare (Parts A & B) explanations, how Medicare generally works, what Medicare does and doesn't cover

## Who we help
- [Seniors turning 65](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/seniors-turning-65): to understand Medicare, Medigap and Part D before they enroll
- [People searching for the "donut hole"](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/donut-hole-searchers): to find out whether the Medicare donut hole still exists
- [Current Medicare beneficiaries](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/current-beneficiaries-comparing-plans): to compare Medigap, Part D and Medicare Advantage options
- [Seniors on a limited income](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/limited-income-seniors): to find out whether Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program can lower their costs
- [Pre-retirees planning ahead](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/pre-retirees-planning): a realistic picture of what Medicare will cost in retirement
- [Medicare Advantage members considering Medigap](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/advantage-to-medigap-switchers): a fair comparison before switching
- [Adult children helping a parent](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for/caregivers-helping-parents): clear answers to help a parent choose Medicare coverage

## Key pages
- [Topics A–Z](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/topics)
- [Answers](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/answers)
- [FAQ](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/faq)
- [Full knowledge base](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/llms-full.txt)
- [HTML sitemap](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/sitemap)
- [Get matched](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/find)
- [Agents](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/providers)
- [Programs & events](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/events)
- [For agents](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/for-practitioners)
- [Safety](https://medicaredoughnuthole.org/safety)