Medicare

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 costs and help protect against higher costs in the future

What are my Medicare coverage choices?

There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage – Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan.

1. Decide how you want to get your coverage (Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage Plan).
2. Decide if you need to add drug coverage.
3. Decide if you need to add supplemental (Medigap policy) coverage*

*If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can’t use or be sold a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.