What Do Medicare Parts A, B, C, D Mean?

By Staff Reporter Jun 08, 2021 11:42 AM EDT

Navigating and understanding Medicare can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if it is your first time learning. Medicare is a federal health insurance program comprised of four parts: Parts A, B, C, and D. Each Medicare part provides coverage for different healthcare-related expenses. To learn more about the four different parts of Medicare, continue reading the article.

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is comparable to the health insurance coverage you might have received in the past from an employer or through an individual policy. Like your previous health insurance policies, Medicare can cover doctor appointments, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, lab tests, and prescription medication. Depending on your plan, Medicare can also cover dental and vision.

Who Qualifies For Medicare?

People who are age 65 and older qualify for Medicare. Additionally, if you are 18-years-old or older and meet the requirements for specific disabilities, you may also be eligible for Medicare. It should be noted that the prerequisites for those under the age of 65 vary among the different Medicare parts.

What Is Medicare Part A?

Medicare Part A, also commonly referred to as "hospital insurance," according to medicareinsuranceaz.com, provides coverage for:

Inpatient hospital care. After being admitted into a hospital, you are covered for up to 90 days each benefit period in a general period and 60 lifetime reserve days. You also receive coverage for up to 190 lifetime days in a Medicare-certified psychiatric hospital.
Skilled nursing facility care. This includes the room, board, and the range of services provided in a skilled nursing facility, such as administering medications, wound care, and tube feedings.
Home health care. For those that are homebound and require skilled care.
Hospice care. You may receive hospice care if it has been determined that you are terminally ill. Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospice care for as long as your provider certifies that you require care.

Although Medicare Part A provides coverage, it does not usually pay the entire cost of your care; so, you will be responsible for the remaining portion.

What Is Medicare Part B?

Part A and Part B are often called the Original Medicare; the federal government runs both parts. While Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, Medicare Part B helps cover medical costs that take place outside of the hospital, including doctor visits, ambulance services, mental health services, therapy services, and outpatient procedures. Part B also covers preventive services, such as flu vaccines and annual screenings.

What is Medicare Part C?

Medicare Part C, also referred to as Medicare Advantage, can be considered the "one-stop-shop" of Medicare. At a minimum, Medicare Part C plans must cover the same benefits as Medicare Parts A and B. In addition to the benefits of Medicare Parts A and B, many Medicare Part C plans also cover prescription drugs, vision, hearing, dental, or health and wellness programs.

What is Medicare Part D?

Medicare Part D provides prescription drug benefits and offers prescription drug plans that cover commonly used brand-name and generic medications. However, not all Medicare Part D plans are built the same; some plans cover more drugs than others. Separately, unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Part D is provided through private insurance companies that hold contracts with the federal government.