Cost of Medicare Part A in 2024 and How It Works
Medicare Part A is usually free and covers hospital care, home health services and hospice care. Part A is part of Original Medicare, along... Read More
Medicare
Medicare is government health insurance for people 65 or older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities.
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
Learn about the different types of Medicare insurance policies
Medicare can be broken down into four different types of coverage.
The two main types of Medicare coverage are:
- Get Part A and B, with the option of adding Part D or Medigap.
- Get a Part C plan (bundles Part A and B and usually Part D).
Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, hospice care and, in some cases, home health care. If you worked for more than 10 years, or 40 quarters, you'll probably get Part A for free.
Part A
Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, hospice care and, in some cases, home health care. If you worked for more than 10 years, or 40 quarters, you'll probably get Part A for free.
Part B
Part B provides coverage for outpatient medical needs, like doctor visits. It covers both preventative and medically necessary care. Medicare Part A and part B make up Original Medicare, which is managed by the federal government.
Part C
Also known as Medicare Advantage, Part C is offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. People who buy Part C pay for:
- Part A: Usually free
- Part B: Cost set each year by the government
- Part C: Cost set by the private insurance company
Part C usually offers coverage for services not offered by Parts A and B, such as dental and vision care.
Part D
Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of a wide range of medications, including prescription drugs.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Medigap is a supplemental health insurance coverage that you can add to Original Medicare. It gives you coverage for things not covered by Medicare Parts A and B, like deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket costs.
Guide to Medicare
1. How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
You must be 65 or older in order to qualify for Medicare. However, some younger people with certain disabilities can also qualify for Medicare.
Medicare Eligibility Calculator
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Your initial enrollment period based on your age is
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Note that your enrollment period may differ if you currently have a disability or have certain medical conditions.
2. How do I sign up for Medicare?
There are a couple of ways to sign up for Medicare. If you apply for retirement or disability benefits through Social Security, the process includes an application for Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
You can also submit an application on the Social Security Administration website. You can apply for Medicare Parts C and D at Medicare.gov.
It's important to note that you must have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a Medicare account number to sign up for Part C or D.
You can also apply for Medicare by calling 1-800-772-1213.
3. What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?
You will likely need your birth certificate, U.S. driver's license or passport, Social Security number, current health insurance info, tax records (W-2) and records of military service, if applicable.
Helpful Guides to Medicare
Read the latest updates on Medicare
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Callers will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls will be routed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more nationally recognized insurance companies. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website.
Medicare supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end stage renal disease.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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