Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, some younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. It is a fee-for-service health insurance program that has two parts: Part A and Part B.
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): Helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): Helps cover certain doctors services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage): Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, including many recommended shots or vaccines.
Most people dont pay a monthly premium for Part A, but there is a monthly premium for Part B. Medicare also offers Medicare Advantage plans, which are Medicare-approved plans from private companies that offer an alternative to Original Medicare for health and drug coverage.
Services covered by Medicare must be medically necessary, and Medicare also covers many preventive services, like shots and screenings. If you go to a doctor or other health care provider that accepts the Medicare-approved amount, your share of costs may be less. If you get a service that Medicare doesnt cover, you pay the full cost.
Some items and services are not covered by Medicare Part A or Part B, such as most dental care, eye exams for prescription glasses, dentures, cosmetic surgery, massage therapy, routine physical exams, and hearing aids and exams for fitting them. However, some of these services may be covered by Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Cost Plans.
