What is Medicare?Traditional Medicare consists of two parts, Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). Traditional Medicare is available for all US citizens who are:
Medicare Part A - Hospital Care
Medicare Part B - Doctor, Outpatient Services & Supplies
Medicare Part B also covers some Preventive Services
Together, Parts A and B are commonly referred to as “Original Medicare”.Medicare Part C – Medicare AdvantageMedicare Advantage Plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. They are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare to provide you the same health care coverage and services as Original Medicare plus most plans also offer prescription drug coverage. Think of Medicare Advantage plans as a kind of a one-stop shopping choice that combines Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into one plan. They also may cover additional benefits that Original Medicare does not cover.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) your services are not paid for by Medicare but paid by the private insurance company that you enrolled under. Types of Medicare Advantage Plans:
The area where you live might have all, some, or none of these types available. In addition, there might be multiple plans available in your area within the same type, if private companies choose to offer them. To see Medicare Advantage Plans available to you, visit Medicare.gov/plan-compare Medicare Part D – Prescription DrugsMedicare Part D is a federal program administered through private insurance companies. This is the part of Medicare that pays for some of your prescription drugs. You buy a Part D plan through a private insurer. Beneficiaries can enroll in a standalone Part D drug plan that goes alongside their Original Medicare benefits, or they can choose a Part D drug plan that is built-in to a Part C Medicare Advantage plan.
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