For those individuals who are turning 65, the world of Medicare may seem overwhelming. We are here to help you understand the four parts to Medicare Health Insurance. Original Medicare is the federal health insurance program available to people 65 years of age or older. Medicare is also available to younger people with certain disabilities and people with end-stage renal disease – permanent kidney failure living with dialysis or a transplant; it’s sometimes called ESRD.
Part A is Hospital Insurance. This pays for inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.
Part B is Medical Insurance. This helps pay for doctors’ services, outpatient hospital care, durable medical equipment and some medical services that aren’t covered by Medicare Part A.
Medicare supplemental insurance is designed to cover the “gaps” in Medicare coverage, such as deductible and coinsurance.
Part D is Prescription Drug Coverage – Like a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Part D is available only from private insurers through contracts with Medicare. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D) is voluntary, and you pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage. You are eligible to enroll if you are entitled to Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) and/or enrolled in Medicare medical insurance (Part B).
Tags: health insurance, medicare
