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

Learn the Medicare Alphabet