Medicare, part by part.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, and for some younger people with certain disabilities. It is run by the federal government through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). You can get Medicare coverage in two main ways: through Original Medicare, or through a Medicare Advantage plan offered by a private insurer.

Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. If you already receive Social Security benefits, you may be enrolled in Parts A and B automatically. If not, you will need to sign up during your enrollment period — see our Enrollment Periods page.

The four parts

Part	What it is	What it generally covers
Part A	Hospital insurance	Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care for a limited time, hospice care, and some home health care.
Part B	Medical insurance	Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs.
Part C	Medicare Advantage	An alternative way to receive your Part A and Part B coverage, through a private plan approved by Medicare. Most Advantage plans also include Part D drug coverage.
Part D	Prescription drug coverage	Coverage for prescription drugs, offered by private plans approved by Medicare — either as a stand-alone drug plan or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan.

Together, Parts A and B are called Original Medicare. Parts C and D are offered by private insurance companies that Medicare approves.

What Original Medicare does not cover

Original Medicare does not cover everything. In general, it does not cover most routine dental care, eye exams for glasses, hearing aids, or long-term custodial care (help with daily living over a long period). It also leaves you with out-of-pocket costs — deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance — that can add up. That is why many people add a Medicare Supplement plan, a Medicare Advantage plan, or a Part D drug plan. Each option works differently, and the right one depends on your situation.

The two main paths

Most people take one of two paths:

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B), often with a Medicare Supplement plan to help with out-of-pocket costs and a stand-alone Part D plan for prescriptions. See Medicare Supplement and Part D Drug Plans.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C), a single plan from a private insurer that bundles Parts A and B and usually Part D. See Medicare Advantage.

There is no single right answer. What matters is how the pieces fit your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how you like to get your care. That is exactly what we help people sort through.

Common questions

Do I have to sign up for Medicare at 65?

Not always. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, you may be enrolled automatically. If you are still working and have health coverage through an employer, your timing may be different. If you delay enrollment without other creditable coverage, you could face late enrollment penalties, so it is worth checking your situation before your 65th birthday. Call us and we will walk through your dates.

Is Medicare free?

Not entirely. Most people pay no premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working for long enough. Part B has a monthly premium, and there are deductibles and copayments. Advantage, Supplement, and Part D plans have their own premiums and cost-sharing, which vary by plan. We can go over the general cost structure with you — for exact figures, we will look at the specific plans together.

Can I change my Medicare coverage later?

Usually, yes — during the Annual Enrollment Period each fall (October 15 to December 7), and in certain situations during a Special Enrollment Period. See our Enrollment Periods page.