Medicare basics: Parts A, B, C and D in plain English

The parts of Medicare

Medicare is the US federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older and for some younger people with certain disabilities or conditions. This guide is US-specific. Medicare.gov describes the parts like this:

• Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care and home health care.
• Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover services from doctors, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs, and many preventive services.
• Part D helps cover prescription drugs. Plans are run by private insurance companies that follow Medicare rules.

Two ways to get your coverage

• Original Medicare is Part A and Part B. You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, add a separate drug plan, and buy supplemental coverage such as Medigap.
• Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that bundles Part A, Part B and usually Part D. You may need to use doctors in the plan’s network and get approval for some services.

What Medicare does not cover

The National Institute on Aging notes that Medicare does not cover assisted living or long-term care. Medicaid, a joint federal and state program for people with limited income, may cover some long-term care. Who qualifies varies by state.

Next steps

• Check when you can sign up on Medicare.gov, because sign-up happens at certain times.
• Compare plans each year, since costs and networks can change.
• If you use equipment such as a walker, ask whether your supplier is enrolled in Medicare.