Making sense of the different parts of Medicare Medicare can be intimidating, and if you feel overwhelmed by all the nitty gritty details, you're not alone. (Case in point: Researching and writing this series took a village of experts!) In short, Medicare is health insurance that's available to U.S. adults ages 65 and over, as well as certain individuals with chronic health conditions and disabilities. (Curious about your Medicare eligibilty? This tool can help.) Except for a few scenarios, you can use Medicare benefits only in the United States. Today we're talking about: - original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage
- Medicare parts A, B, C, and D
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage One of the big decisions you'll make when enrolling in Medicare is whether to stick with original Medicare or opt for a Medicare Advantage plan. Later in the series we dig into why someone might choose one over the other but for now we'll give a basic definition of each. Original Medicare refers to Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance), which are government-run health insurance options. Medicare Advantage — aka Medicare Part C — refers to Medicare plans offered and managed by private insurance companies. These are often called bundled plans because they offer the same coverage as original Medicare plus more benefits. Importantly, you must enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B before you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Here's a quick and easy breakdown of the different parts of Medicare: Medicare Part A — hospital insurance See a full list of what Medicare Part A covers here. Some examples include: Medicare Part B — medical insurance See a full list of what Medicare Part B covers here. Some examples include: Medicare Part C — Medicare Advantage As we mentioned, Medicare Part C covers the same services as original Medicare (parts A and B) plus extra benefits, such as: - dental, vision, and hearing
- fitness and gym memberships
- transportation services
Medicare Part D — prescription drug coverage See a full list of what Medicare Part D covers here. Part D is available as an add-on to original Medicare (parts A and B). Many Medicare Advantage plans also offer prescription drug coverage. Prescription drug coverage does not apply to all prescription medications. Make sure to check that the plan meets your needs before you enroll. What about Medicare supplement insurance, aka Medigap? Medigap is another add-on to original Medicare (parts A and B) that helps cover the costs associated with your Medicare plan. These costs can include: - deductibles
- copayments
- coinsurance
*You're not eligible for a Medigap plan if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. One thing you can do today For current Medicare Advantage enrollees: Be sure to review your annual notice of change (ANOC), which details any changes to cost of coverage for your current plan. You should receive your ANOC by mail or email. If you haven't received yours, reach out to your plan. No matter your enrollment status, carve out some time this week to explore your Medicare options. This will help you make sure that you're enrolling in a plan that meets your needs. This plan comparison tool makes it easy to search and compare plans. Tomorrow, we'll be back with key changes to 2023 Medicare and essential enrollment days to keep track of. Until next time,
The Healthline Team | 
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