What is Medicare?
Medicare is health insurance for:
- People 65 or older
- People under 65 with certain disabilities
- People of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant)
What are the different parts of Medicare?
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover:
- Inpatient care in hospitals
- Skilled nursing facility care
- Hospice care
- Home health care
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover:
- Services from doctors and other health care providers
- Outpatient care
- Home health care
- Durable medical equipment
- Some preventive services
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage):
- Includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B
- Run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies
- Usually includes Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) as part of the plan
- May include extra benefits and services for an extra cost
Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage):
- Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs
- Run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies
- May help lower your prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future
What are my Medicare choices?
There are different ways to get your Medicare coverage. Use this chart to help you decide:
Use these steps to help you decide what coverage you want:
- Decide if you want Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Iike an HMO or PPO)
- Decide if you want prescription drug coverage (Part D)
- Decide if you want supplemental coverage