Medicare Overview

What Are the Different Parts of Medicare?

There are four parts to Medicare, each providing different types of health care services.

“Original” Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance helps pay for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care.  Medicare provides this coverage directly and you have your choice of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that accept Medicare.

“Original” Medicare Part B Medical Insurance helps pay for covered physician’s services and many other medical services and supplies.  Medicare provides this coverage directly and you have your choice of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that accept Medicare.

NOTE: With Original Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B there are deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts that are left for you to pay.  You may choose to pay for these expenses on your own or you may purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan, also known as a Medigap Plan.  Medicare Supplement Plans help with the deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts that Medicare A and B leave you to pay.

Medicare Part C is also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan. This is an alternative way of receiving your Medicare A and B coverage.  Medicare Advantage Plans are available through private insurance companies approved by Medicare to provide this coverage.  In most plans, you will need to use a network of providers, such as an HMO or PPO for healthcare services.  You may pay a monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage Plan in addition to your Medicare Part B premium.  Many Medicare Advantage Plans also include outpatient prescription drug coverage, known as Medicare Part D.

Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that helps cover outpatient prescription drugs. Medicare Part D adds prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare.  Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans are available through private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare.