Medicare has four sections.

Medicare is divided into four sections referred to as Parts A, B, C, and D. Parts A and B are considered Original Medicare.

• Part A. Medicare Part A covers hospital-related expenses, including inpatient stays in a traditional hospital, skilled nursing facility, or hospice. It may also include coverage for home health care.

• Part B. Medicare Part B covers expenses that are not considered hospital-related. This may include some doctor visits and outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive care services.

• Part C. Medicare Part C is also known as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to original Medicare. These plans typically follow Medicare rules, but they may have different out-of-pocket costs and may require an individual to use different channels to obtain care than original Medicare. They may also include coverage for prescription drugs.

• Part D. Medicare Part D is designed to help cover the cost of prescription drugs for those who have both Medicare Part A and Part B. This is an optional coverage that is provided through private insurance companies.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a government-sponsored health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the United States. Medicare began in 1965 and was originally administered by the Social Security Administration. Over the past half-century, the program has adapted to meet the ever-changing needs of the modern world by adding new program options and allowing for the introduction of supplemental plans. It’s available to most people age 65 or older who have paid Medicare taxes while working, as well as some younger people with disabilities or end-stage renal disease. It’s divided into several sections with differing costs and choices. Rules concerning enrollment eligibility and timing must be considered.

Our Agents will help you with information about Medicare so you can plan ahead for your health care.

Medicare supplement plans (Medigap).

Medicare supplement plans are also known as Medigap plans. These optional plans are available to individuals who have Parts A and B and wish to supplement that coverage. These policies can help cover the patient’s out-of-pocket costs. This includes copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Medigap plans may also provide coverage for when an individual needs care while outside the United States. Medigap policies written after 2006 do not include prescription drug coverage. Also, Medigap plans typically do not cover services like dental, vision, and long-term care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and private-duty nursing.

What’s not covered under Original Medicare?

There are services that won’t be covered by either Part A or Part B. For example, dental care including dentures, vision exams and glasses, hearing aids and hearing aid fittings, and routine foot care typically are not covered. Additionally, long-term care in a nursing home (custodial care) is not covered. Similarly, Medicare does not cover cosmetic procedures or acupuncture. Services not covered by Medicare must be paid for out of pocket. Alternatively, they may be covered by other supplemental insurance plans. Finally, Original Medicare does not cover services provided outside the United States, except in limited circumstances.