Medicare 101: From Your Initial Enrollment Period to Parts A, B, C, and D, an Essential Primer on the Government Healthcare Program

by Kimberly Lankford

256 pages, Hardcover

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Kimberly Lankford is an experienced financial journalist with more than 25 years of expertise in translating complex financial subjects into clear, practical guidance. For 22 years, she wrote the popular “Ask Kim” column for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and Kiplinger.com, fielding hundreds of reader questions each month on topics such as insurance, taxes, retirement, health care, and avoiding scams. As a freelance writer, her work appears regularly in U.S. News & World Report, AARP, Military Officer Magazine, and other publications. Her articles have also been featured in The Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Bloomberg Wealth Manager. She has authored several books, including Rescue Your Financial Life and The Insurance Maze, and has written widely distributed financial guides for military families. Frequently featured as a financial expert on national television, radio, and podcasts, she is also quoted in major outlets like The New York Times and NBC News. Lankford is a member of the National Press Club and other professional journalism associations.