Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers hospital stays, inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It covers things like doctor’s visits, specialist’s visits, mental health, and durable medical equipment. Part B also covers urgent care and visits to the emergency room.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)
Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.
Medicare Part D
Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage (Part D) are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.
Initial Enrollment Period
The initial enrollment period is seven months long, beginning three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ending three months after your 65th birthday.
Medicare Premium
This is the amount you’ll pay in exchange for coverage under Medicare. Most enrollees don’t pay a premium for Medicare Part A, however Parts B and D come at a cost.