Medicare Basics

Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B. Part A helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. Part B helps cover services from health care providers, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and many preventive services.

Part D is prescription drug coverage that is purchased through a private insurance company. It can be added to original Medicare or obtained by joining a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage.

Part C, or Medicare Advantage, is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D. These plans may lower premiums, but often require that you use a plan’s network of doctors. Some include additional benefits, like vision, hearing or dental services. These plans may also have a higher yearly out-of-pocket compared with most Medicare Supplement Plans.

Medicare Supplements are approved plans that can be purchased from a private company to help pay your share of costs in Original Medicare. These policies are standardized and are identified by the specified letters. The benefits in each lettered plan are the same, no matter which insurance company sells it, however, the premiums may differ between carriers.


Who is Eligible?

Medicare is available to US Citizens that are 65 or older, have been receiving Social Security Disability income for 24 months, or those with certain disabilities or End-Stage Renal Disease. The Social Security Administration determines who is eligible.


Considerations



How to Enroll in Original Medicare



How to Enroll in Additional Coverage

Once you have received confirmation of enrollment, including your Medicare ID number, you can contact our office to set an appointment to review your options. To be compliant with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), we will require a completed Scope of Appointment on file before the appointment.


Frequently Asked Questions


The above material was adapted from the Medicare and You Handbook.


2024Medicare and You Handbook

*We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 11 organizations which offer 71 products in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.