Medicare is a beneficial insurance program that provides health coverage (for those that are eligible) in a cost effective and relatively simple to understand and use manner. Medicare is divided into three sections:

The Annual Enrollment Period begins October 15th, 2011, a full month earlier than the previous few years, and extends through December 7th, 2011. During this time consumers can enroll or dis-enroll from Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans. As with the last few years, thousands of people are expected to drop their Medicare Advantage Plan in favor of Medicare Supplemental Insurance, which has much better coverage and does not limit the beneficiary to network physicians and hospitals. Below are five tips from Medicare Supplement Shop to help Medicare beneficiaries make a well-educated decision.