What are the parts of Medicare?
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Helps cover:
- Inpatient care in hospitals
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice care
- Home health care
Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
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)
Part D (Drug coverage)
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part D (Drug coverage)
Helps cover:
- the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines).
- Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage (Part D) are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.
Original Medicare
- Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
- 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.
- To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your 20% coinsurance), you can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage.
Medicare Advantage (also known as 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. • In many cases, you may need to get approval from your plan before it covers certain drugs or services.
- Plans may have lower or higher out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare. You may also have an additional premium.
- Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover— like certain vision, hearing, and dental services.
