Medicare
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the United States’ federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. It is also available for certain people younger than 65 with disabilities or people with End-Stage Renal Disease. There are several parts to Medicare that contain different coverage.
What is Medicare Part A?
Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.
Most of the time Part A does not cost a dime.
What is Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B is outpatient medical coverage. Part B helps pay for medically necessary services performed on an outpatient basis that are needed to diagnose and treat a medical condition.
Surgeries, lab work, and preventative services are all covered under Part B.
What is Medicare Part C?
Medicare Part C is also called Medicare Advantage (MA). It’s an alternative benefit form to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage may include prescription drug coverage, along with other extra benefits. It is offered through private insurance companies, so you don’t enroll in it at the Social Security office or website.
What is Medicare Part D?
Medicare Part D is also known as prescription drug coverage. Part D coverage is available as a Stand Alone Option (PDP) or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C). Part D plans are offered by private insurance companies contracted and approved by Medicare.
What are Medicare Supplements?
Medicare Supplement plans, also called Medigap, are designed to work with Original Medicare Parts A and B. Medigap policies help pay for some health care costs not covered by Original Medicare, such as deductibles, coinsurance and foreign travel emergency.
These plans are offered by private insurance companies and are available to people with Medicare Part A and B.
People with Original Medicare and a Medicare supplement can choose any stand-alone Part D prescription plans to pay for their drugs.
People who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) are not eligible for a Medicare Supplement insurance policy.