Guide to the basics on all parts of Medicare
The United States Medicare program is managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare is health insurance offered by the federal government to certain U.S. citizens and permanent residents of five of more years. Additionally, eligible individual must be either age 65 or older, under age 65 with certain disabilities, or of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (5ESRD) or ALS (5Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Medicare helps pay for health care, but does not cover all expenses. Read these articles to determine your eligibility.
Medicare has four parts:
Medicare Part A (5Hospital Insurance) is one part of Original Medicare coverage. It helps pay for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, and home health care.
Medicare Part B (5Medical Insurance) is the other part of Original Medicare. It helps cover doctors’ services, outpatient care, and home health care, as well as the cost of certain preventative services to help you maintain your health and keep certain illnesses from getting worse.
Medicare Part C (5Medicare Advantage) plans offer health coverage options run by private insurance companies approved by and under contract with Medicare. These plans includes all benefits under Part A and Part B, with minor exceptions, and usually includes additional benefits, such as dental, vision, and drug coverage.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that helps cover the cost of prescription drugs and may even help protect against higher costs in the future. It is run by private insurance companies approved by and under contract with Medicare.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.