1
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a federal health insurance
plan for people who are age 65 or
older. People who are disabled or
have permanent kidney failure can get
Medicare at any age.
Parts of Medicare
Social Security enrolls you in Original
Medicare (Part A and Part B).
• Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
helps pay for inpatient care in a
hospital or limited time at a skilled
nursing facility (following a hospital
stay). Part A also pays for some
home health care and hospice care.
• Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
helps pay for services from doctors
and other health care providers,
outpatient care, home health care,
durable medical equipment, and
many preventive services.
Other parts of Medicare are run by
private insurance companies that follow
rules set by Medicare.
• Supplemental (Medigap) policies
help pay Medicare out-of-pocket
copayments, coinsurance, and
deductible expenses.
• Medicare Advantage Plan (previously
known as Part C) includes all benets
and services covered under Part A
and Part B — prescription drugs and
additional benets such as vision,
hearing, and dental — bundled
together in one plan.