Understanding Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D

Medicare is divided into four main parts (A, B, C, and D) that cover specific services, either offered directly through the federal government or via private insurance companies.

Medicare Part	Type of Coverage	What It Covers	How You Get It
Part A	Hospital Insurance	Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.	Original Medicare (Government). Usually premium-free if you paid Medicare taxes for 10+ years.
Part B	Medical Insurance	Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive screenings, medical equipment (like wheelchairs), and lab tests.	Original Medicare (Government). Requires a monthly premium based on income.
Part C	Medicare Advantage	An "all-in-one" alternative to Original Medicare. Bundles Parts A, B, and usually D, often adding dental, vision, and hearing coverage.	Private Insurance. Replaces Original Medicare coverage and is run through networks (HMOs/PPOs).
Part D	Prescription Drug Coverage	Self-administered outpatient prescription drugs.	Private Insurance. Offered as a standalone plan for Original Medicare or bundled into Part C.

Key Decision to Make:

• Option 1 (Original Medicare): Combine Part A + Part B, usually add a standalone Part D for medications, and optionally add a private Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to cover out-of-pocket costs.
• Option 2 (Medicare Advantage): Choose Part C to replace Parts A and B with a single plan offered by a private insurer.