Margaret Ellison

Margaret writes about Medicare and supplemental coverage, focusing on the annual decisions that quietly change what readers pay. She favors plain language over jargon.

CoversMedicare Insurance

Disclosure. Reports on insurance topics; holds no policies with insurers covered in this section.

Recent work

Medicare

What to check before you lock in a 2026 Medicare plan

Premiums, drug tiers and provider networks all shift each year. A short annual review can prevent an expensive surprise in January.

By Margaret Ellison·August 6, 2026

The choice can be hard to reverse later, so it deserves care up front.

Insurance

Medigap or Medicare Advantage? A plain-language comparison

Two very different ways to cover the gaps. One trades a higher premium for predictability; the other trades flexibility for a lower monthly cost.

By Margaret Ellison·August 1, 2026

The cap resets at the start of each calendar year.

Medicare

How the yearly cap on drug costs actually works

A closer look at what the out-of-pocket ceiling covers, what it does not, and who benefits most.

By Margaret Ellison·July 22, 2026