Information Provided by Medicare.gov
What are the parts of Medicare?
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Helps cover:
- Inpatient care in hospitals
- Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility (not custodial or long-term care)
- Hospice care
- Home health care
- Inpatient care in a religious nonmedical health care institution
How can I find out if I have Part A?
You can find out if you have Part A by looking at your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have it, it will be listed as “HOSPITAL” and will have an effective date. If you have Original Medicare, you’ll use this card to get your Medicare-covered services. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan or Medicare health plan, in most cases, you must use the card from the plan to get your Medicare-covered services. Learn more about what Part A covers.
Part B (Medical 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)
How can I find out if I have Part B?
You can find out if you have Part B by looking at your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have it, it will be listed as “MEDICAL” and will have an effective date. Medicare may cover some services and tests more often than the timeframes listed if needed to diagnose or treat a condition. To find out if Medicare covers a service visit Medicare.gov/coverage, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (24 hours a day/7 days a week). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. Learn more about what Part B covers. You can also call us directly for additional information as well 1-877-774-0053.
Part D (Prescription drug coverage)
Helps cover:
- Cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines)
Part D plans are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.
How does Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) work?
Medicare prescription drug coverage is an optional benefit. Medicare drug coverage is offered to everyone with Medicare. Even if you don’t use prescription drugs now, you should consider joining a Medicare drug plan. If you decide not to join a Medicare drug plan when you’re first eligible, and you don’t have other creditable prescription drug coverage or get "Extra Help", you will likely pay a late enrollment penalty if you decide to join a plan later. Typically, you will have to pay this penalty for as long as you have Medicare prescription drug coverage. To get Medicare prescription drug coverage, you must join a plan approved by Medicare that offers Medicare drug coverage. Each plan can vary in cost and specific drugs covered. Learn more about drug cost. You can also call us directly for additional information as well 1-877-774-0053.
Your Medicare coverage choices
Use this information to help you compare your coverage options and decide what coverage is right for you.
Learn the 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage—Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C).
Original Medicare
- Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) as well as Part B (Medical Insurance).
- If you would like drug coverage, you can join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D).
- You can use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare, anywhere in the U.S.
- If you choose Original Medicare, you can also decide to: Join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D) if you want drug coverage. Add supplemental coverage, like insurance from a former employer or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), to help pay your out-of-pocket costs (like your 20% coinsurance).
Please Note:
If you don't get Medicare drug coverage or Medigap when you're first eligible, you may have to pay more to get this coverage later. This could mean you will have to pay a lifetime premium penalty for your Medicare drug coverage. How Original Medicare works.
Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Advantage is an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D (not all Medicare Advantage Plans have Part D).
- Plans typically have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.
- With most Medicare Advantage Plans, you will need to use doctors who are in the plan’s network.
- Medicare Advantage Plans also offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover—like vision, hearing, dental, and more.