Parts of Medicare
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.
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Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B helps cover:
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Services from doctors and other health care providers
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Outpatient care
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Home health care
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Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)
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Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits)
Part D (Drug coverage)
Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.
Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)
Extra insurance you can buy from a private company that helps pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. Policies are standardized, and in most states named by letters, like Plan G or Plan K. The benefits in each lettered plan are the same, no matter which insurance company sells it.
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Your Medicare options
When you first sign up for Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose which way to get your Medicare coverage.
There are 2 main ways:
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What’s the difference between Medicare & Medicaid?
Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone age 65 and older, and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for certain low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states, Medicaid also helps cover medical costs for other adults. Medicaid offers benefits, like nursing facility services, home health services, and assistance paying for Medicare premiums and other costs.
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If you qualify, you can have both Medicare and Medicaid. Learn more about Medicaid.
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When Can I Enroll into Medicare?
Your first chance to sign up (Initial Enrollment Period)
Generally, when you turn 65. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. Visit medicare.gov to learn more about other enrollment periods.
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Avoid the penalty
If you miss your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. The penalty goes up the longer you wait. You may also have to pay a penalty if you have to pay a Part A premium, also called “Premium-Part A.” Learn more about how to avoid late enrollment penalties.
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General disclaimers
This website is operated by MediLife & Health, LLC. Nothing contained herein constitutes nor is intended to constitute an offer, inducement, promise, or contract of any kind, or a recommendation to purchase insurance from any particular insurance company at any particular level of benefits or plan design. MediLife & Health, LLC is not an insurance company. In offering this website, MediLife & Health, LLC is required to comply with all applicable federal laws, including the standards established under 45 CFR 155.220(c) and (d) and standards established under 45 CFR 155.260 to protect the privacy and security of personally identifiable information. MediLife & Health, LLC intends that the general and insurance specific information contained on this web site be accurate and reliable, however, MediLife & Health, LLC makes no warrantees or representations as to the completeness, accuracy or timeliness of the web site materials. The company will not be liable for any damages of any kind from or relating to the use of, or reliance upon, results obtained by users from the web site and related services.
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The benefits mentioned are Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). You may qualify for SSBCI if you have a high risk for hospitalization and require intensive care coordination to manage chronic conditions such as Chronic Kidney Diseases, Chronic Lung Disorders, Cardiovascular Disorders, Chronic Heart Failure, or Diabetes. For a full list of chronic conditions or to learn more about other eligibility requirements needed to qualify for SSBCI benefits, please refer to Chapter 4 in the plan’s Evidence of Coverage.
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We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800–MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day/7 days a week to get information on all of your options.
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