Signing up for Medicare insurance is a big deal: first, it’s symbolic that you have reached the age when you’re eligible. Next, it may be confusing as to precisely when you need to sign up and how to consider your options. There’s also the basic choice between traditional Medicare coverage and Medicare Advantage plans. Determining which is right for you may take a bit of time to figure out.

And then there’s Medigap insurance. If you opt for traditional Medicare coverage, you’ll find out that there are lots of out-of-pocket expenses: co-pays, uncovered expenses, deductibles and more. So depending on your health status, buying supplemental Medigap insurance may be a savvy move for you. But what you may not realize is that there are lots of restrictions and limitations on these supplemental policies, especially depending on what state you reside in. The Kaiser Family Foundation has just issued a new report describing in detail how plans differ for consumers from state-to-state. And writing for Kaiser Health News, Judith Graham has an excellent primer to help you understand Medigap coverage. And for any questions you might have about when and how to select the Medigap coverage that’s right for you, take a look at the Medigap overview from the Medicare Rights Center Here. The bottom line is the more you know, the less likely you’ll make what could be a costly mistake in your selection process. So mind the gap, and get yourself informed.