What's covered vs AARP Staying Sharp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
What's covered
This official government app simplifies understanding your Original Medicare coverage. It provides detailed information on what healthcare services and items are covered under Part A and Part B, including costs and preventive care options. Easily find answers to your Medicare coverage questions.
- Understand Original Medicare Part A & B
- Information on covered items & services
- Details about your healthcare costs
- Browse free preventive services
- Answers to Medicare coverage questions
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Finding information about Medicare coverage is easier than ever now. Download the only official U.S. government Medicare app onto your mobile device. What’s covered helps you understand the health care coverage offered by Original Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Use this federal government app to: -Answer your Medicare coverage questions -See information about your costs -Learn about covered items & services -See notes & where to get more information -Browse free preventive services Original Medicare Items & Services Find out what your Medicare coverage has to offer like: - When are mammograms covered? - Is home health care covered? - Will Medicare pay for diabetes supplies? Preventive Health Coverage Medicare coverage includes preventive services at no cost to you. Preventive services can help keep you healthy by finding health problems early and can keep you from getting certain diseases. What’s covered will help you answer questions like: - Will my Medicare benefits cover services to help me stop smoking? - Can I get a cervical cancer screening? - How often will my Medicare coverage allow me to get a bone mass measurement? Ask your doctor or health care provider which preventive services (like screenings, shots, and tests) you need to get. Part A & Part B Costs Medicare Part A and Part B cover certain medical services and supplies in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other health care settings. Part A hospital insurance coverage helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital, inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, home health care, or inpatient care in a religious nonmedical health care institution. Copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles may apply for each service. Part B medical insurance coverage supports medically necessary doctors’ services, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment, preventive services, and other medical services. Under Original Medicare, if the Part B deductible applies, you must pay all health care costs (up to the Medicare-approved amount) until you meet the yearly Part B deductible. After your deductible is met, Medicare begins to pay its share and you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount of the service, if the doctor or health care provider accepts assignment. There’s no yearly limit for what you pay out-of-pocket. For some items and services, you must meet eligibility criteria or you may be responsible for paying all costs. Your doctor or health care provider may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and whether Medicare will pay for them. Use the What’s covered app to answer questions like: -How much will I pay for prescription drugs included in Medicare Part B coverage? -Does the Part B deductible apply for cardiac rehab? -What percentage of the Medicare-approved amount will I need to pay for colorectal cancer screenings? What’s Not Included What’s covered doesn’t contain information on Medicare Advantage Plan, other Medicare health plan, or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) coverage. It doesn’t contain a CPT code search, exact costs on surgeries or procedures, or local coverage decisions. Medicare Advantage Plans If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan, you have the same basic health care coverage as people who have Original Medicare, but the rules vary by plan. Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover - like vision, hearing, or dental. Check with the plan or search in the App Store to see if the plan has a similar mobile application. This is Medicare’s first official app, and we value your feedback. Please tell us your thoughts by rating What’s covered.
AARP Staying Sharp
This app offers science-based challenges and expert advice to improve brain health, focusing on memory, focus, and digital well-being. It provides interactive tools and exercises to help users build lasting, brain-healthy habits.
- Science-based brain health challenges
- Expert advice on memory and focus
- Digital decluttering strategies
- Interactive tools and exercises
- Progress saving across devices
- Earn AARP Rewards points
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Need to learn a variety of healthy-lifestyle skills? The AARP™ Staying Sharp® app is based on a holistic, lifestyle-based approach to brain health and features expert advice on memory, focus and more. Are you sometimes irritated by little memory slips like forgetting where you placed your keys or phone? In our “Memory Loss – Is it Inevitable?” challenge, you can learn how memory works. In addition, our Digital Declutter challenge teaches you ways to manage your digital world. Discover strategies for shifting technology away from being a distracting force in your life and into something that helps you live life more fully. And if you’re tired of forgetting details about new people you meet, our Faces & Names challenge can help you learn the secrets of those impressive people who never forget a name. Here’s what the app lets you do: Take challenges that are designed to help you learn about the brain and its ongoing health, including tips to incorporate healthy habits into your daily life. Take Staying Sharp challenges on the go. Your progress will be saved, no matter where you start or stop your challenge. And that works on a smartphone, computer or tablet. Who can use the app? Anyone can download and preview the Staying Sharp® app. AARP members and other authorized users have access to it. Plus, there’s more. Access includes the following: * Take the challenges to earn AARP Rewards points*. This loyalty program lets you gain points for participating in activities, including eligible Staying Sharp challenges. * Take advantage of easy access to the AARP Now app. This app lets users tap into news, events and savings, plus earn AARP Rewards points. *Unused AARP Rewards points expire 12 months after they are earned, in monthly batches on a rolling basis. About Staying Sharp and AARP Staying Sharp is an AARP program that shows you how to incorporate the six pillars of brain health into your life. Staying Sharp empowers you to develop meaningful and lasting brain-healthy practices that are based on these pillars: Be social, Eat right, Manage stress, do Ongoing exercise, get Restorative sleep and Engage your brain. The program has received industry recognition in multiple national competitions — including the Digital Health Awards and eHealthcare Awards — earning accolades for videos, interactive content and site design. AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. Terms of Service: https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/about/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy: https://www.aarp.org/privacy/privacy-policy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: AARP Staying Sharp at 4.7 against What's covered's 3.2. AARP Staying Sharp also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 13%) and ratings volume (3K vs 352). What's covered's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. AARP Staying Sharp sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $20.00 per year. What's covered asks for nothing beyond the download.
AARP Staying Sharp holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AARP Staying Sharp has 3K ratings behind it against 352, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of What's covered's written reviews are positive against 52% of AARP Staying Sharp's.
What's covered ships an update every 3 weeks, AARP Staying Sharp every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 31, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | What's covered | AARP Staying Sharp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (352 ratings) | 4.7 (3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 13.2% of reviews | 52.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 352 | 3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 68 MB | 76 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | AARP |
Customer experience
What's covered
AARP Staying Sharp
User reviews
What's covered
From 352 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Useful quick reference
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 📚 Excellent information
- 💡 Helpful for checking coverage
Room to improve
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 🤔 Unclear or vague information
- 🙅♀️ Doesn't link to personal account
- 🤷♂️ Doesn't cover many procedures
- 🤯 Confusing to navigate
AARP Staying Sharp
From 3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helpful and practical exercises
- 🧠 Effective for improving mental sharpness
- 🎮 Fun and engaging games
- 🔍 Useful for monitoring brain health
- 💡 Recommended by healthcare professionals
Room to improve
- 🐛 Recurring login issues
- 🚫 Limited game selection
- 🔁 Endless login loops
- 🤯 Confusing user experience
- 🚫 Inaccessible games
Bugs and requests
What's covered
Reported bugs
3 issues- Search field hidden by notch
- Blank/crashing on launch
- Inconsistent/incorrect information
Requested features
6 requests- Ability to save/favorite pages
- Integration with Medicare account
- More comprehensive coverage information
- Improved search with natural language
- Layman's terms for procedures
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- Preventive care information
AARP Staying Sharp
Reported bugs
3 issues- Games not launching properly
- App freezing or crashing
- Inability to access core features
Requested features
4 requests- Expand game library
- Improve login and navigation experience
- Add more accessibility features
- Provide clearer instructions and guidance
In-app purchases
What's covered
No in-app purchases
AARP Staying Sharp
- AARP Membership1 Year trial$20.001 Year
Questions
Is What's covered free?
Is AARP Staying Sharp free?
Which has better reviews, What's covered or AARP Staying Sharp?
Do What's covered or AARP Staying Sharp have ads?
Which is updated more often, What's covered or AARP Staying Sharp?
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