About
What this site is, and is not
First Time Medicare is an educational site operated by HealthBenefitsCompass LLC, a subsidiary of HealthcareGPS Inc. It explains how Medicare's first decisions work and draws your enrollment windows from the month and year you give it. It is not Medicare, not Social Security, not an insurance company and not an agent, and it does not sell or recommend plans.
Nothing on this site decides what anyone is entitled to. Enrollment, penalties and program eligibility are determined by Social Security, Medicare and state agencies. Where the site shows a formula, it applies published figures to illustrate how counting works.
Who reviews this content
Two named people check the pages that carry a review line. The line names the reviewer, what was reviewed and the date, and the review register lists every reviewed page. Both reviewers work at HealthcareGPS Inc., the parent company of HealthBenefitsCompass LLC, which operates this site.
Accuracy review
Lauri Middleton, RN, MSN
Chief Clinical and Content Officer · HealthcareGPS Inc. · 37+ years of experience
Reviews Medicare rules, dates, costs and coverage explanations for accuracy against the official sources each page cites.
Registered Nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing, more than 37 years of cardiothoracic nursing experience and roles in health insurance. She has long worked to give consumers and healthcare professionals the tools to navigate health insurance and make better healthcare choices.
- Credentials
- RN — Registered Nurse
- MSN — Master of Science in Nursing
- License
- Licensed Medicare insurance agent
Key note: Lauri is also a licensed Medicare insurance agent. That license is why she reads enrollment, plan and cost rules the way an agent must. It is not used on this site: nothing here is sold, recommended or enrolled, and reading this site does not make anyone your agent.
Plain-language review
Karen Orilla
VP Marketing and Design · HealthcareGPS Inc. · 20+ years of experience
Reviews pages for plain language, readability and clear design for older adults and the people who help them.
More than 20 years in healthcare and financial services, specializing in creative and strategic design. Her focus is clear, user-friendly design that helps people understand and act on what they read.
A review checks a page against the official sources it cites, on the date shown. It is not medical, legal or insurance advice for your situation, and it does not replace confirmation from Medicare, your plan or a licensed professional.
Review register
Pages reviewed on this site, with the date. A page not listed here carries no review claim.
- /checklists/
- /decisions/
- /decisions/drug-coverage/
- /decisions/enroll-or-delay/
- /decisions/help-with-costs/
- /decisions/medigap/
- /decisions/original-or-advantage/
- /glossary/
- /help/
- /medicare-in-one-picture/
- /next-steps/
- /next-steps/bill/
- /next-steps/change/
- /next-steps/enroll/
- /next-steps/helper/
- /next-steps/travel/
- /next-steps/visit/
- /next-steps/work/
- /penalties/
- /rules/
- /working-past-65/
Operated by HealthBenefitsCompass LLC, a subsidiary of HealthcareGPS Inc. An educational site — not Medicare, not an insurer, not an agent. Nothing here decides what you are entitled to.