Topic hub
Healthcare and Medicare
Healthcare is one of the larger and less predictable costs of retirement. This hub covers the basics: when to enroll in Medicare, the choice between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and what you are likely to pay out of pocket.
2 guides
United States
782 of 3,144 counties have no hospital emergency department
4,153
hospitals with an ED
—
highest CMS overall rating
- 4–5 stars
- 3 stars
- 1–2 stars
- Not rated
- No hospital emergency department
- Dot size: number of hospitals
Medicare-certified acute care, critical access and rural emergency hospitals that report emergency services. VA and Department of Defense hospitals are excluded. Placed at their county's center. Freestanding emergency rooms aren't included. Source: CMS Hospital General Information, released August 2026.
Guides in this hub
Healthcare
Hospital Access in Both of Your Locations
A two-location retirement needs two answers to 'where's the hospital.' How to check emergency, specialist, and chronic-care access in each county.
Published · 4 min read
Healthcare
Plan for Healthcare in Your 80s, Not Your 60s
The county that's cheapest at 65 can be the hardest place to be sick at 82. How to check hospital and specialist access before you choose a place to retire.
Published · 6 min read
Still to come in this hub:
- Medicare enrollment windowsPlanned
- Original Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantagePlanned
- MedigapPlanned
- Out-of-pocket costsPlanned
Connects to: Where to Live
Some Medicare choices depend on where you live.
Original Medicare works the same way nationwide. Medicare Advantage plans are sold in defined service areas, so a move can change which plans you can join.