Project Kos — Senior care, made navigable

The care system is hard.
Finding your way through it
doesn't have to be.

Project Kos is a free guide to senior care in America — what Medicare covers, how the system works, and what to do when something goes wrong.

I need help now → Explore the guide
Hippocrates taught medicine in the open air of Kos because he believed knowledge of the body belonged to everyone.

Two thousand years later, the system built in his tradition has grown so complex that the people it was built to serve can no longer find their way through it alone. Project Kos was built on the belief that nothing has changed — that understanding your care is still a human right, that the system still belongs to the people inside it, and that the only way forward is together.

The shape of the journey

Most people move through
five phases. Find yours.

Not everyone goes through every stage — but understanding the arc helps you see where you are and what typically comes next.

Something happens
ER, diagnosis, or a sudden change that starts the process
You're in a care setting
Hospital, nursing facility, or inpatient rehab
Coming home
Home health, equipment, and the first weeks back
Living with it
Ongoing care, community programs, and managing at home
Long-term decisions
Housing, end-of-life care, and planning ahead
Where to start

Where do you want to start?

Each section goes deep on one part of the system. All information is sourced from CMS and federal Medicare statute.

When something is happening
I need help now
Every care setting explained — the hospital, skilled nursing, home health, hospice, and more. Who you'll meet, what they control, and what to ask.
Go there
Insurance and benefits
Understanding coverage
Medicare Parts A and B, Medigap supplements, Medicare Advantage, prior authorization, denials, and the appeals process. What's covered and what isn't.
Go there
Equipment & Medications
Medical equipment
Medical equipment, prescription timelines, pharmacy and Part D, and retail cash-pay alternatives — the full picture on getting what you need.
Go there
Planning and timelines
How long things take
Equipment approval timelines by category. What's normal, what's a delay, and when to escalate. Based on CMS review windows and standard processing times.
Go there
The bigger picture
The care journey
The full arc — from Medicare enrollment through long-term care. How Medicare and Medicaid interact, what each phase of the journey looks like, and what to expect.
Go there
Free guidance
SHIP — free Medicare help
Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program — free, unbiased counselors who help with Medicare enrollment, billing disputes, and appeals. No insurance sold.
Go there
How this works

What makes this guide different from everything else you've found online.

Sourced to CMS and federal statute
Every coverage statement traces back to the CMS Medicare Coverage Database, Medicare.gov, or the Social Security Act. No guessing. No paraphrasing from other websites. Primary sources only.
Nothing is sold here
No insurance plans, no sponsored content, no affiliate links. Project Kos does not recommend specific plans, providers, or facilities. Guidance here is unbiased because there is no financial interest in what you choose.
Written for people, not professionals
Medicare jargon is explained the first time it appears. Every page is written for someone encountering the system for the first time — not for case managers or insurance staff who already know it.
Where you live matters

Coverage and programs vary by state.

Medicaid dental, hearing, and vision coverage. Home and community-based care programs. Medicare Advantage plan availability. SHIP contact information. All of it depends on where you live.

Select your state to see Medicaid coverage, Medicare Savings Program eligibility, and free local help.