What are the parts of Medicare?
The short answer
Medicare has four main parts: Part A covers hospital care, Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care, Part C is Medicare Advantage (a private plan alternative), and Part D covers prescription drugs.
The full explanation
Medicare is divided into parts, and each one covers something different.Part A is hospital insurance. It covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice, and some home health services. Most people don't pay a monthly premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes during their working years.Part B is medical insurance. It covers doctor visits, outpatient procedures, preventive care, lab work, and durable medical equipment like wheelchairs. Part B has a monthly premium, and most people pay the standard amount, though higher earners pay more through a surcharge called IRMAA.Part C is Medicare Advantage. These are private insurance plans approved by Medicare that bundle Part A and Part B coverage, and usually Part D as well. They often include extras like dental, vision, and hearing. The trade-off is that you typically work within a defined network of providers.Part D is prescription drug coverage. If you're on Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you add Part D through a separate standalone plan. Medicare Advantage plans usually include drug coverage built in.Medigap, sometimes called Medicare Supplement, isn't technically a numbered part, but it's worth knowing about. These are private plans that help cover the gaps Original Medicare leaves, like copays and deductibles. You can't pair Medigap with a Medicare Advantage plan. All costs and plan details vary and should be verified annually.
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