Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

• Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals
• Helps cover skilled nursing facility, hospice, and home health care

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

• Helps cover doctors services, hospital outpatient care, and home health care
• Helps cover many preventive services to help maintain your health and to keep certain illnesses from getting worse

Medicare Part C (also known as Medicare Advantage)

Offers health plan options run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.  Medicare Advantage Plans are a way to get the benefits and services covered under Part A and B.  Most Medicare Advantage Plans cover Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D).  Some Medicare Advantage Plans may include extra benefits for an extra cost.

Medicare Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage)

• A prescription drug option run by Medicare-approved private insurance companies.
• Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs
• May help lower your prescription drug costs and help protct against higher costs in the future

Original Medicare

Many people choose to take orignial medicare Parts A & B and then choose a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.

Many people also purchase a medicare supplement plan to cover services that are covered by Medicare but not paid under parts A & B such as deductibles, copays, coinsurance, etc.

 Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)

Many choose to get coverage through a Medicare Part C or Advantage Plan.  People covered under a Medicare Advantage plan continue to pay their Medicare Part B premiums; however, they receive all of their insurance benefits through a private insurance plan.  Medicare Advantage plans are typically offered as HMOs, PPOs, or Private Fee for Service Plans.  Many Advantage Plans also include coverage for prescription drugs under Part D.  These are known as MAPD plans.

• HMOs typically (but not always) require a member to choose a primary care physician who coordinates access to more complex care.  Benefits may be restricted to providers in the network (except in the case of emergencies).
• PPOs have a provider network where the provider has agreed to the terms & conditions of the plan.  The member's cost share is usually less if he/she uses a preferred provider.  Members can pay a higher cost share if they use an out of network provider.
• PFFS or Private Fee For Service Plans offer the same level benefits to all health care providers with no network.

Please note that health care providers that have not specifically agreed to be a part of an HMO or PPO plan do not have to provide services for a member except in the case of an emergency.