HOW MEDICARE WORKS

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older, people under 65 with certain disabilities, and people of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Medicare’s Alphabet Soup

There are four parts to Medicare known by their alpha letter:

PART A=Hospital Insurance, helps cover:

• Inpatient hospital care
• Skilled nursing facility care
• Hospice Care
• Home Health Care

PART B=Medical Insurance, helps cover:

• Services from doctors, and other health care providers
• Outpatient care
• Home Health Care (not to be confused with custodial home care)
• Durable Medical Equipment
• Some preventive services

PART C=Medicare Advantage Plans

• Includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B
• Usually includes Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) as part of the plan
• It is administered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies
• May include extra benefits and services with or without extra cost

Part D=Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

• Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs
• It is administered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies
• May help lower your prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs inthe future