Medicare is the federal health insurance program for seniors (65+ years old), people with qualifying disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease (kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant.)
Medicare has several different parts which span different services. These include:
- Part A – Hospital Insurance: covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a nursing facility, care in a hospice, and some care in a home health setting.
- Part B – Medical Insurance: covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
- Part C – Medicare Advantage Plans: health plan that is offered by private companies that works with Medicare to provide you with Part A and Part B benefits. These will typically include more plans for you to choose from, as well as provide services that Medicare normally wouldn’t cover. It also offers prescription drug coverage.
- Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage: adds prescription drug coverage to the original Medicare plans or other Medicare plans that you may be on. These plans are normally offered by insurance companies or other private companies that are approved by Medicare.