Medicare 101: A Plain-Language Guide to the Parts of Medicare
New to Medicare? Learn what Parts A, B, C and D cover, how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage differ, and when you can enroll.
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Medicare Learning Center
Straightforward guides and articles to help you understand Medicare at every stage — from turning 65 to reviewing your plan each fall.
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Essential Medicare Guides
Begin with the fundamentals, then explore the coverage options that interest you.
Where Are You?
Guidance for Every Stage
Turning 65 soon
Learn about your Initial Enrollment Period and how to prepare a few months ahead.
Working past 65
Understand how employer coverage works with Medicare and when to enroll in Part B.
Reviewing your plan
Plans can change each year. The Annual Enrollment Period is a good time to compare.
Articles
Latest Medicare Articles
Helpful reading on Medicare coverage, costs, and enrollment.
Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods
From your Initial Enrollment Period to the fall Annual Enrollment Period, here is when you can sign up for or change Medicare coverage.
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Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: How to Compare Your Options
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans take different approaches to coverage. Compare costs, networks, benefits and flexibility.
Read articleHow Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Works
Formularies, drug tiers, deductibles and pharmacy networks all affect what you pay for prescriptions. Here is how Part D fits together.
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Helpful Resources
Official Sources of Medicare Information
For official program details, current costs, and plan information, these government resources are a great place to start:
- Medicare.gov — the official U.S. government site for Medicare, including the Medicare Plan Finder.
- Social Security (SSA.gov) — for signing up for Parts A and B and applying for Extra Help.
- Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — free, unbiased local counseling.
Our licensed agents can also help you make sense of what you find and compare plans available in your area.
Questions
Medicare Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
Talk with a licensed insurance professional.
(445) 300-7597 Mon–Fri 8am–8pm ETMedicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, as well as some younger people with certain disabilities, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS. It is made up of several parts that cover hospital care, medical services, and prescription drugs. Many people also add private coverage to help with costs Medicare does not fully pay.
Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. These plans cover everything Parts A and B cover (except hospice, which Original Medicare still covers), and many include prescription drug coverage and extra benefits such as dental or vision. Plans usually use provider networks, and costs and benefits vary by plan and location.
A Medicare Supplement plan, also known as Medigap, is a private insurance policy that works alongside Original Medicare. It helps pay some of the costs Original Medicare does not, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage, so many people pair them with a Part D plan.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. You can get it as a stand-alone plan that works with Original Medicare, or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan. Each plan has its own list of covered drugs, so it is important to check that your medications are included.
Most people first enroll during their Initial Enrollment Period, a 7-month window that includes the 3 months before, the month of, and the 3 months after the month they turn 65. After that, you can make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you have a qualifying life event. Enrolling late in some parts may result in penalties.
Yes, during certain times of the year. The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7) lets you join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) lets Advantage members make one change. You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period after events like moving or losing other coverage.
Original Medicare is the traditional program run by the federal government, made up of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). It lets you see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, generally without referrals. It does not include most prescription drug coverage and has no yearly out-of-pocket limit, which is why many people add Part D and a Medigap policy.
Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Part B helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical equipment. Part D covers prescription drugs, and Medicare Advantage plans may add benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing. Coverage details and costs are set annually by CMS and vary by plan.
Original Medicare generally does not cover the medications you fill at a retail pharmacy, though Part B covers certain drugs given in a doctor’s office or hospital outpatient setting. To get coverage for most prescriptions, you can join a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Plans differ in which drugs they cover and how much they cost.
Start by listing your doctors, prescriptions, preferred pharmacies, and monthly budget. Then compare plans available in your area on premiums, deductibles, copays, out-of-pocket limits, provider networks, and drug coverage. A licensed agent can do this comparison with you at no cost and explain the differences in plain language.
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