Medicare Parts A B C D Explained

Medicare Part A B C D

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Medicare Parts A B C D Explained

Medicare has four different parts: Medicare Part A B C D. Each of these parts serve a different function in our national health care system for seniors.

As an overview of Medicare:

Here is More Detail on in our Medicare Parts A B C & D Infographic

Medicare Parts A B C D Explained

Original Medicare Components

Parts A & B come together to form “Original Medicare.” We have a detailed article on Original Medicare for you to read here.

If you are interested in the costs associated with Original Medicare Parts A and B, please visit our article “How Much Does Medicare Cost?“

Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Covers

Part A is dedicated to Hospital Insurance and covers care for…

  • Inpatient Hospital
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Hospice
  • Home Health

When you visit the hospital, Medicare will help you pay for the above services. However, Original Medicare does not pay for all of it. There are copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles may apply to each service. This is why most Medicare Beneficiaries will supplement Original Medicare with either a Supplement (Medigap) plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Remember, Medicare does not cover Long-Term Care costs such as Nursing Home or Assisted Living Expenses.

Medicare Part B Medical Insurance Covers

Part B consists of Medical Insurance and covers the care of…

  • Outpatient
  • Home Health
  • Doctors
  • Health Care Providers
  • Durable Medical Equipment
  • Prevention

Again, Medicare will only cover some of these costs. You will also have copayments /coinsurance / deductibles that accompany these services. We highly recommend finding a Med Sup or Med Advantage plan to help you pay for the extra costs.

Additional Components of Medicare

Now that you understand the components of Original Medicare (Parts A & B), let’s look at the two additional parts of Medicare – Parts D and C – Drug Coverage and Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Insurance Covers

Part D is regulated by the government but handled by private insurance companies. This part includes care for…

  • Prescription Drugs
  • Covered Vaccines

To learn more about Part D Prescription Drug Coverage, please read our article about it here.

Medicare Part C – Also Known as Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD)

MA / MAPD Plans are becoming more popular and more accessible to Medicare Beneficiaries all over the United States. Moreover, as more and more people are joining them, they are becoming very affordable options.

These plans offer additional benefits and services to what Original Medicare can offer such as dental benefits, vision benefits and hearing benefits. They also often include wellness benefits such as free gym memberships.

Read this article to learn even more about Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Parts A B C D Further Reading

If you would like the Parts of Medicare explained in even more detail, we shall direct you to our review of Medicare and You 2020. This is a User’s Guide to the government’s Medicare and You 2020 Handbook which has the yearly updates for what is available in the current plan year. In this case, 2020, when our article was published.