Editorial Policy — Medicare Starter

Medicare Starter exists to help people over 65, their adult children, and caregivers understand Medicare enrollment, compare plans fairly, and navigate the benefits system without confusion or fear. We work in a “Your Money or Your Life” niche where mistakes are costly—a wrong plan choice can mean thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, or worse, missed enrollment windows that trigger permanent penalties. Because the stakes are high and the rules genuinely are complex, we hold ourselves to editorial standards that prioritize accuracy, source transparency, and independence above all else. Our readers are often making these decisions under time pressure and with limited health literacy. That means everything we publish needs to be trustworthy.

Our Editorial Team

Carol Bennett has spent twenty years helping seniors and their families make Medicare decisions. She began her career as a certified Medicare counselor through a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in Pennsylvania, where she staffed a helpline and conducted group enrollment seminars in senior centers and libraries. In that role—working directly with thousands of people navigating Open Enrollment, missed deadlines, and coverage gaps—she developed a deep, practical understanding of not just what Medicare rules are, but where people get stuck and why clarity matters so much. For the past twelve years, she has worked as a Medicare benefits specialist for a nonprofit organization that helps low-income seniors access financial assistance programs, dual-eligible coordination, and prescription drug aid.

Carol’s background gives her something that academic training alone does not: she has sat across from a widow who couldn’t afford her insulin because she enrolled in the wrong drug plan, and she has helped a man appeal a denial for a specialist he desperately needed. She understands that Medicare policy isn’t abstract—it directly affects people’s ability to access healthcare and afford medication. She has also been through the Medicare system’s updates dozens of times, which means she can recognize when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made a genuine change versus when it’s just clarified existing guidance. She holds certifications as a Medicare counselor and maintains current knowledge of annual plan changes, enrollment rules, and benefits coordination through ongoing professional education. Her editorial judgment at Medicare Starter is informed by two decades of frontline experience and a commitment to explaining Medicare in plain language without oversimplifying the real complexity that exists.

How We Research

Every claim that appears on Medicare Starter begins with primary sources. Our starting point for nearly all Medicare-related content is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) itself—specifically their official publications, plan comparison data, and Medicare.gov, which is the government’s authoritative resource for beneficiaries. We do not rely on secondhand summaries or interpretations of CMS guidance; we read the source documents. When we explain enrollment windows or penalty calculations, we trace that guidance back to CMS notices or the Medicare & You handbook. When we reference specific plan design rules, we verify against the most recent CMS Plan Finder and regulatory guidance, not marketing materials from insurers.

We also cross-reference against other government agencies with direct authority over Medicare policy: the Social Security Administration (SSA) for enrollment timing and late-filing rules, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for questions about covered medications. For policy analysis and trend reporting, we use research from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), which publishes peer-reviewed analyses of Medicare policy and is widely recognized as independent and rigorous. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) provide additional perspective on how Medicare rules actually work on the ground in different states. For low-income assistance programs, we verify directly through program websites and published eligibility criteria rather than third-party summaries.

When multiple authoritative sources exist—for example, different CMS guidance documents released at different times—Carol reviews them all, identifies any conflicts or clarifications, and explains what applies now. If there is genuine disagreement among qualified experts (for instance, different interpretations of a complex rule), we disclose that rather than presenting one view as settled fact. We also build a basic reference library of foundational documents that we return to repeatedly: the Medicare & You handbook, CMS benefit and payment policies, annual Notice of Change documents from major Medicare Advantage carriers, and historical enrollment data. This allows us to fact-check our own work and catch inconsistencies within our own site.

Source Standards

We accept the following types of sources:

Government agencies with direct authority: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Social Security Administration (SSA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for health data, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and state insurance commissioners’ offices. These are primary sources and carry the highest weight.
Government-funded or government-affiliated research: State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP), academic centers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), research published in peer-reviewed journals and citing government data.
Established independent research organizations: Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), Urban Institute, RAND Corporation. These organizations publish Medicare research that is widely cited by policymakers and is held to academic standards of transparency and rigor.
Licensed professionals and associations: Licensed financial advisors, attorneys specializing in elder law, and professional medical associations when they publish on their specific areas of expertise.
Medicare plan documents: Official Summary of Benefits documents, Evidence of Coverage (EOC) files, and formularies published by Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, used to verify specific plan features (though we always note that plan designs change).
Academic and peer-reviewed publications: Published research on Medicare enrollment, outcomes, or policy—when directly relevant and when we can verify the source is rigorous.

We do not accept:

Insurance company marketing materials or press releases as evidence of how plans work (we use their official legal documents instead).
Unverified claims or testimonials, no matter how compelling.
Sponsored content, advertiser-funded research, or studies where the funding source creates a conflict of interest (unless that conflict is explicitly disclosed and we address it critically).
Secondhand reporting about Medicare rules without verification against primary sources.
Unattributed statistics or figures (we always trace back to the original source).
Generic health websites or consumer sites that do not cite their sources for Medicare-specific claims.

The standard we apply is this: Would a Medicare counselor, a benefits officer at CMS, or a healthcare attorney trust this source to make decisions? If not, neither do we.

Accuracy and Fact-Checking

Every factual claim on Medicare Starter—particularly numbers, eligibility thresholds, enrollment dates, and penalty calculations—is verified against at least one authoritative source before publication. Carol maintains detailed source notes for each article that document where specific claims come from. When we cite a statistic (for instance, the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans), we trace that back to the original research or government report, not a summary of it. If we see a statistic reported differently in different places, we dig into why: different reporting years, different methodologies, or sometimes, simple error in reporting.

When authoritative sources conflict—which is rare but does happen—we investigate why. Sometimes conflict arises because CMS has updated guidance and an older document is still circulating. Sometimes it reflects different interpretations of an ambiguous rule. In these cases, we explain the disagreement to readers rather than pretending consensus exists. We make clear what current, authoritative guidance says, and if we note an older interpretation or a point of legitimate disagreement among professionals, we make that context explicit. Corrections to published content are taken seriously. If a reader or fact-checker points out an error, Carol investigates within 48 hours. If the error is confirmed as factual, we correct it within seven days and add a visible correction note to the article explaining what was changed and why. Significant corrections (those affecting eligibility, enrollment windows, or plan comparison) receive priority and are corrected faster.

Keeping Content Current

Medicare rules change every year. CMS publishes annual updates to plan designs, formularies, premium rates, and cost-sharing structures. Enrollment windows shift. Income thresholds for assistance programs are adjusted. This constant change is one reason why Medicare content becomes dangerously outdated quickly, and why it matters so much that readers know when an article was last reviewed.

Every article on Medicare Starter displays a “Last Reviewed” date. We maintain an annual content review cycle: every January and February, Carol systematically reviews articles published or updated in the previous year, checking them against new CMS guidance, updated Medicare.gov information, and annual plan changes that became effective January 1st. Articles that cover time-sensitive information—enrollment windows, deadline dates, or annual plan changes—are reviewed immediately when CMS publishes new information, and we update them within days if necessary. We also maintain alerts for CMS notices and updates so we can catch important mid-year changes (such as emergency policy updates or new low-income assistance programs) and incorporate them immediately. When we update an article, we update the review date so readers always know how current the information is. Articles older than two years without review are flagged for Carol’s attention even if they don’t seem to have changed, because in Medicare, what’s implicit in a current article might be outdated two years later.

Corrections Policy

We take errors seriously because our readers are making financial and healthcare decisions based on our content. If you believe you have found an inaccuracy—whether a misstatement of a rule, an outdated enrollment window, an incorrect eligibility threshold, or a mischaracterization of how a program works—please report it to us at medicarestarter.com/contact/.

When a correction is reported, Carol investigates it personally within 48 hours. She verifies the claim against authoritative sources, determines whether an error actually exists, and if so, corrects it within seven days. For factual errors (incorrect dates, thresholds, or plan features), the correction is made directly in the article and a correction note is appended explaining what was changed and when. For errors that significantly affect reader safety or decision-making (such as a missed enrollment deadline or an incorrect income limit), we prioritize these for immediate correction and may also reach out to alert readers who accessed the article recently.

Editorial Independence

Medicare Starter generates revenue through two sources: Amazon affiliate links (when we link to books or resources sold on Amazon) and display advertising. We disclose affiliate relationships clearly at the point where they appear. Neither revenue source influences editorial decisions or what we recommend. We have never and will never write an article about a Medicare Advantage plan, Medigap carrier, Part D drug plan, or Medicare counseling service because an advertiser paid us to do so. We carry no sponsored content. We do not accept payment for favorable mentions. We do not partner with insurance companies or Medicare plan carriers in ways that would create incentives to recommend their products over others.

Our editorial decisions are made on the basis of what is accurate, what is useful to readers, and what meets our source standards—not on what is financially profitable. When we compare plans or explain how different coverage options work, we do so neutrally, helping readers understand the trade-offs between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or between different Part D plans, without steering them toward particular choices. Our goal is an informed reader, not a particular reader decision. Our advertising policy is equally strict: we do not accept ads from Medicare plan carriers, insurance companies, or financial services that might create conflicts of interest. We do accept general health and senior-focused advertising, but we maintain clear separation between advertising and editorial content, and nothing an advertiser pays for affects what our articles say.

A Note on Professional Advice

The information on Medicare Starter is for general education and to help you understand how Medicare works. It is not personalized advice, and it is not a substitute for a conversation with a qualified professional who knows your specific situation. When you are making Medicare enrollment decisions, planning for healthcare costs, or dealing with a coverage problem, you should consult a licensed Medicare counselor, a board-certified elder law attorney, a certified financial planner with expertise in retirement healthcare, or a Social Security Administration representative. Many of these services are free: every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that offers free Medicare counseling; you can call 1-800-MEDICARE to speak with a Medicare representative; and the Center for Beneficiary Enrollment and Outreach has resources for first-time enrollers. Your doctor’s office may also be able to connect you with a patient advocate or benefits specialist. We recommend using these resources, especially for complex situations.

What We Don’t Do

We do not provide personalized recommendations. We explain how plans work and what questions to ask, but we do not recommend a specific Medicare Advantage plan or Part D formulary for you personally. You and your healthcare provider—or a qualified benefits counselor—are the right people to make that choice.
We do not enroll people in Medicare plans. We explain enrollment processes and windows, but we do not submit applications or complete enrollment transactions. Enrollment happens through Medicare.gov, by phone (1-800-MEDICARE), or by paper application.
We do not provide medical advice. We explain which services Medicare covers and how to access them. We do not diagnose conditions, recommend specific treatments, or advise on your individual healthcare.
We do not sell financial products or services. We do not sell Medicare plans, supplemental insurance, annuities, or any other financial product. We do not offer brokerage services or financial planning.
We do not represent individuals in coverage appeals or disputes. We explain the appeals process and what rights you have, but