Do I need Original Medicare first before I can choose a plan?
The short answer
Yes. Original Medicare, which includes Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (outpatient coverage), is the foundation. You need to be enrolled in both Part A and Part B before you can join a Medicare Advantage plan, and Part A or Part B before you can add a standalone Part D drug plan.
The full explanation
Think of Original Medicare as the base layer. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health services. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient procedures, preventive care, and medical equipment. Together, they form what Medicare calls Original Medicare.Once you have Part A and Part B, you have choices. You can stay with Original Medicare and add a standalone Part D plan for drug coverage, a Medigap policy to help with out-of-pocket costs, or both. Or you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, which is a private plan approved by Medicare that bundles Part A and Part B benefits together, often with Part D included.But here's the key point: Medicare Advantage doesn't replace your enrollment in Original Medicare. You stay enrolled in Medicare; the Advantage plan just delivers your benefits. If you leave that plan, you go back to Original Medicare automatically.If you're still working at 65 and have employer coverage, you may be able to delay Part B without penalty. That's a separate decision that depends on your employer's plan size and a few other factors. But if you're ready to use Medicare, getting Part A and Part B set up first is always the starting point.
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