The Four Parts of Medicare Explained
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities or home health care. Most people don’t have to pay a premium. However, each time you're confined, you must pay a deductible of $1,600.
Medicare Part B covers the costs of doctor's visits and other outpatient services. Your annual premium for 2023 is $164.90 (set by the federal government), though it may be higher depending on your income. You also pay a yearly deductible and 20% of the cost of some services.
Medicare Part C: Qualifying for Original Medicare (Part A and B) makes you eligible for Medicare Advantage (Part C). Part C combines the coverages of Original Medicare and may include other benefits, like dental and vision coverage. You can only purchase Medicare Advantage through a private health insurance provider.
Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs. Like Medicare Advantage, you must purchase Part D through a private insurance provider. Your costs will include premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and copays — these vary depending on the plan you get.
What Is Medicare?
Considering the average cost of health insurance, it's always best to know your options. Medicare is known as federal health insurance because it's government-funded. Medicare is available to individuals who are at least 65 years old. Younger people may qualify for it if they have specific disabilities or End-Stage Renal Disease.
Medicare gets funding from two trust funds — Hospital Insurance (HI) and Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI). The former gets funding from several sources, including income taxes. So, the Medicare costs you encounter can be affected by how long you've worked and paid Medicare taxes.
Parts A and B are Original Medicare, and Part C is known as Medicare Advantage. You may also find supplemental plans such as Medigap to fill in the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.
Before you can get health insurance coverage through Medicare, you must ensure you are eligible, which is when one of the following applies:
- You are at least 65 years old.
- You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig's disease.
- You have received Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits for at least four months.
If your primary qualifier is age, you can apply three months before your birthday. Your initial eligibility lasts until three months after you turn 65. After that, you may have a penalty.
Medicare Part A: Hospital Coverage
Medicare Part A, which covers inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and hospice care, is included in Original Medicare (along with Part B). You can use it in any hospital in the U.S. accepting Medicare. However, it does not cover the following:
- Long-term care, room and board in nursing homes or assisted living facilities
- Custodial care (bathing, dressing, eating, bathroom use and others)
- Cost of hiring a private nurse
- The first three pints of blood (except when the hospital gets it free from a blood bank)
Most policyholders don't pay for Medicare Part A — you don’t have to pay if you've worked for at least 40 quarters (ten years) and paid Medicare taxes. However, if you don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you may purchase it for $278 or $506 monthly, depending on your deficit.
Costs of Medicare Part A
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Part A Premium |
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Part A Deductible |
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Hospital Stays Copays |
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Skilled Nursing Facility Copays |
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Hospice Care Costs |
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Home Health Care Costs |
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Medicare Part B: Physician Coverage
The difference between Medicare Parts A and B is the services they cover. While both are components of Original Medicare, the former focuses on inpatient services, and the latter helps with outpatient care costs, including:
- Services from most health care providers
- Ambulance services
- Office visits and tests for some clinical research studies
- Medical equipment
- Inpatient and outpatient services and partial hospitalization for mental health patients
- Cancer treatment
However, Part B won't cover dental and vision services, visits to your chiropractor or acupuncturist or most medical services outside of the U.S. It's also worth noting that Part B has no out-of-pocket maximum. That, plus your $20 copays, can quickly drive up your medical expenses.
Costs of Medicare Part B
Payment | Details |
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Premium |
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Deductible |
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Co-insurance |
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Outpatient Services |
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Inpatient Services |
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There are some health care needs that neither Medicare Parts A nor B cover. These gaps include:
- Custodial or long-term care
- Most dental care, including dentures
- Routine physical exams
- Eye exams
- Hearing aids
- Cosmetic surgery
- Massage therapy
- Prescription drugs
Depending on your medical needs, Medicare Advantage or a supplemental health plan may be worth considering.
Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage
Although Original Medicare is government-funded, only private health insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C). If you qualify for Medicare Parts A and B, you're automatically eligible for Medicare Advantage.
The primary purpose of Medicare Advantage is not to supplement Original Medicare, but to replace it. That's why it covers everything in Parts A and B, along with dental, hearing and vision coverages, plus some prescriptions. It's an excellent option if you prefer to have one plan covering most of your medical needs.
However, purchasing Medicare Advantage doesn't exempt you from Part B costs, like premiums and deductibles.
Costs of Medicare Part C
Payment | Details |
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Part B Premium |
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Part C Premium |
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Deductible |
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Co-insurance |
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Our analysis of the best Medicare Advantage plans led to the following recommendations:
- Best Medicare Advantage PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Best Medicare Advantage HMO: UnitedHealthcare
- Best Medicare Advantage Without Drug Coverage: UnitedHealthcare
- Best Medicare Advantage Plans With Low Costs: Aetna Medicare
While other health care providers also offer Medicare Advantage plans, these ranked highest in our study. They’re a good starting point.
Medicare Part D: Prescription Drug Plans
Like Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage), you can purchase Part D from private insurers. It covers brand-name prescription drugs (or their generic counterparts), and costs may vary widely depending on the plan. Some insurers may require you to pay a deductible or a copay, while others don't.
When exploring Part D plans, ensure your required drug is within its formulary. Otherwise, your plan won't cover it. Another factor affecting your plan's pricing is where the medication falls within its four tiers.
Costs of Medicare Part D
Payment | Details |
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Part D Premium |
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Deductible |
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Co-insurance & Copays |
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Purchasing Medicare Part D does not guarantee 100% coverage of all your prescription drug costs. Most have a coverage gap (known as the “donut hole”), which limits the amount your plan covers within a period.
For 2023, you must shoulder 25% of costs from prescription drugs after you've reached $4,660. Deductibles count toward your out-of-pocket expenses. Once your out-of-pocket expenses hit $7,400, you automatically get catastrophic coverage, which requires you to pay a minimal amount for co-insurance or copayment for the rest of the year.
Combining Medicare Coverage
There are several ways to put a Medicare plan together. One option is to purchase Original Medicare and add Part D to cover the costs of your prescription drugs. Alternatively, you can use Medigap or other supplemental plans as a substitute for Part D.
However, if you prefer an all-in-one plan, you might be better off enrolling in Medicare Advantage. This will save you from purchasing multiple health insurance policies, since most Part C plans include Part A and B coverage, plus some prescription drugs.
Understanding the various costs and coverage gaps will help you determine whether you have the coverage you need and prevent surprises when accessing health care.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Four Types of Medicare
MoneyGeek's guide explains the four parts of Medicare, but you may have other questions. These are the ones policyholders ask and their respective answers.
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sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. " CMS Releases 2023 Projected Medicare Basic Part D Average Premium." Accessed May 15, 2023.
- KFF. "Medicare Part D: A First Look at Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2022." Accessed May 15, 2023.