I decided to just stay on regular Medicare, which I just got this Fall, and not select any plan that has a contract with Medicare. I figured that I wanted to see what regular Medicare would get me, and I wanted to spend this year learning about the various plans that I could sign up with. It is an awful lot to consider, and I just didn't feel like I had enough time to sort through it all during the time I had left to pick something. So I hear you about the confusion. It's actually working out pretty well. I might just stay on regular Medicare.

In my case, I get my mental health care through a state operated facility. (A hospital/clinic operated by a state university.) To my amazement, there have been no co-pays for anything. But then I am pretty low income.

Recently, I went to dermatologist. My co-pay was only $35, and Medicare picked up the rest for a minor surgical procedure. Income had no relevance for this. I was quite tickled at the low cost that I incurred.

The best source of info for how a plan works is from the people they send out to sign up new recruits. I helped a friend pick a plan that way. We went to these presentations they give. I strongly recommend going to those. I would advise you not to let any of these commission-earning promoters come to your house. That puts you under too much pressure. The presentations that are open to the public are the best way to go. Usually, you have to sign up to attend. An other option is to meet a salesperson at an office, or in a public place, like a coffee shop. But I much prefer the group situation.

You really can't depend on any public agency giving you much guidance on this. I think each state is supposed to have some web sites you can look at, but they don't tell you enough. However, do google that topic for your state.