New to Medicare
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a Federal health insurance program for:
- People age 65 or older;
- People with certain disabilities; or
- People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure)
Medicare has four parts:
Medicare Part A (hospital insurance)
- Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.
- Learn More on What Part A Covers
Medicare Part B (medical insurance)
- Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services. Basically, most everything outside the hospital.
- Learn More on What Part B Covers
Medicare Part C (medicare advantage)
- Part C is known as Medicare Advantage. It's an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits that bundles several coverage types, including Part A, Part B and usually Part D. It may include dental, vision and hearing. It is offered by private insurance companies.
- Learn More on What Part C Covers
Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)
- Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines).
- Learn More on What Part D Covers
Getting Started: Four parts of Medicare video