Parts of Medicare

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Part C (Advantage Plan)

Part D (Drug coverage)

Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Medicare Part A helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.

Medicare Part B helps cover:

  • Services from doctors and other health care providers

  • Outpatient care

  • Home health care

  • Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)

  • Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits)

Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines).

You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare , or you get it by joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Extra insurance you can buy from a private company that helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. Policies are standardized, and in most states named by letters, like Plan G or Plan K. The benefits in each lettered plan are the same, no matter which insurance company sells it.

Your Medicare Options

Original Medicare

  • Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B.

  • You can join a separate Medicare drug plan to get Medicare drug coverage (Part D).

  • You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S.

  • You can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage that helps pay your out-of-pocket costs (like your 20% coinsurance).

  • You can choose any doctor who provides Medicare service. The reason is, you are not in a special network of doctors.

Medicare Advantage (aka) Part C

  • Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.

  • In many cases, you can only use doctors who are in the plan’s

    network

  • Plans often have different out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare or supplemental coverage like Medigap. You may also have an additional premium.

  • Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t.