Author: Maurie Backman, The Motley Fool

You’ve no doubt heard of Medicare Advantage — but does it pay to sign up for it?

As is the case with other tax-advantaged savings plans, the rules surrounding HSAs can shift from year to year. Here’s what you need to know about health savings accounts going into the upcoming year.

In short, holding off on filing for benefits isn’t always a good idea.

If you’re new to Medicare, or are planning to enroll in the near future, it’s imperative that you understand how the program works and what it costs. Not only is Medicare NOT free, but your out-of-pocket healthcare costs in retirement could wind up being far more substantial than you’d think due to the number of services Medicare doesn’t cover.

There’s no question about it: Saving aggressively for retirement requires you to give up certain things that could make your life easier or more enjoyable. But if you’re willing to make those sacrifices, you’ll be in a much stronger place financially once your golden years roll around.