Medicare Explained

Part A: Hospital coverage

Part A is automatically included in Medicare enrollment. This means that people enrolled in Medicare aren’t expected to pay for Part A. Part A only covers costs associated with hospital stays, so while it covers major costs, it does not cover everything.

Part B: Outpatient/Preventive coverage

Part B covers outpatient and preventive services such as doctor’s office visits. Part B does have a monthly premium. The monthly premium depends on your income. People with incomes below a certain limit pay less per month for Part B.

Part C: Medicare Advantage plans

Part C is another way of referring to Medicare Advantage plans. These plans are offered by private insurers. Some people choose these plans as they may offer dental, vision, and hearing coverage. The costs of these plans depend on the insurer.

Part D: Drug coverage

Parts A and B do not come with prescription drug coverage, but you can enroll in a separate Part D plan. Part D covers prescription drug costs.