Medicare

Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)

• Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B.

• You can join a separate Medicare drug plan to get Medicare drug coverage (Part D).

• You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S.

• To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your 20% coinsurance), you can also buy supplemental coverage, like Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), or have coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.

Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C)

• Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.

• In most cases, you’ll need to use doctors who are in the plan’s

  network.

• Plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.

• Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like vision, hearing, and dental services.

Part D (Drug coverage)

Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to

Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)

Extra insurance you can buy from a private company that helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. Policies are standardized, and in most states named by letters, like Plan G or Plan K. The benefits in each lettered plan are the same, no matter which insurance company sells it.

*https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/parts-of-medicare