Medicare Insurance: What You Need to Know
- Home
- Medicare Insurance: What You Need to Know
Your Foundation for Reliable Healthcare Coverage
Medicare is made up of different parts, each offering distinct benefits:
Part A : Hospital Insurance
Part B : Medical Insurance
Part C : Medicare Advantage
Part D : Drug Coverage
What Is Medicare Part A?
- Inpatient hospital stays
- Skilled nursing facility care (not long-term custodial care)
- Hospice care
- Limited home health care services
What Is Medicare Part B?
- Doctor visits yearly checkups
- Preventive services (flu shots, etc.)
- Emergency room & urgent care
- Durable medical equipment (DME)
- Along with many other outpatient Services
What Is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is your hospital insurance, which helps cover:
- Inpatient hospital stays
- Skilled nursing facility care (not long-term custodial care)
- Hospice care
- Limited home health care services
What Is Medicare Part B?
- Doctor visits yearly checkups
- Preventive services (flu shots, etc.)
- Emergency room & urgent care
- Durable medical equipment (DME)
- Along with many other outpatient Services
What Is Medicare Part A?
Medicare Part A is your hospital insurance, which helps cover:
- Inpatient hospital stays
- Skilled nursing facility care (not long-term custodial care)
- Hospice care
- Limited home health care services
What Is Medicare Part B?
- Doctor visits yearly checkups
- Preventive services (flu shots, etc.)
- Emergency room & urgent care
- Durable medical equipment (DME)
- Along with many other outpatient Services
Enrollment & Eligibility
- You receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65
- Youre under 65 and have received disability benefits for 24 months
- You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), qualifying you for Medicare regardless of age
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after
- General Enrollment Period (GEP): January 1 March 31 (if you missed IEP)
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): If you qualify due to specific life events
What Medicare Does NOT Cover
- Routine dental, vision, or hearing services
- Long-term care (nursing home stays)
- Prescription drugs (Part D or Medicare Advantage)
- Overseas medical expenses
- A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy
- A Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
- A Part D Prescription Drug Plan
General Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older. You may also qualify if you're under 65 and have a qualifying disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Eligibility typically starts three months before your 65th birthday and continues for a total of seven months.
- Part A: Hospital insurance (inpatient care, skilled nursing, hospice)
- Part B: Medical insurance (doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services)
- Part C (Medicare Advantage): All-in-one alternative to Original Medicare, often includes dental, vision, and wellness programs
- Part D: Prescription drug coverage
Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B and allows you to see any provider that accepts Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies and may offer additional benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and gym memberships. They often have network restrictions.
Prescription drug coverage is not included in Original Medicare. You can get coverage through a standalone Part D plan or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.
Part A is usually premium-free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. Part B requires a monthly premium. Part C and Part D costs vary depending on the plan. You may also have deductibles, copays, or coinsurance.
Speak With a Licensed Medicare Specialist
Speak With a Licensed Medicare Specialist
Choosing the right Medicare coverage can be confusing. Were here to make it easy.