What Do the Parts of Medicare Cover?

Get the coverage you need to live your best life.

Medicare Coverage

The different parts of Medicare help you pay for different health services. Get to know them to better to ensure you get everything you need in a Medicare health plan.

 

Part A   Part B   Part C   Part D  

Hospital Icon Part A: Hospital Coverage

It also covers:

  • Inpatient care in hospitals
  • Skilled nursing
  • Hospice

For most people, Medicare Part A is free. If you don't qualify for free Part A coverage, you can buy it. Contact your local Social Security office to find out how. Or, use Medicare's eligibility tool to see if you'll need to pay for Part A coverage.

Man at Doctor's Office

Doctor Icon Part B: Medical Coverage

It also covers:

  • Physical therapy
  • Mental health care
  • Annual wellness visit
  • Medical equipment, including wheelchairs and walkers
  • Lab services, such as blood work and X-rays
  • Preventive care, including flu shots, mammograms and screenings

There is a monthly cost for Part B coverage. The cost is set each year by Medicare and based on your yearly income. If you get Social Security, your monthly premium will come out of your Social Security check automatically.

Also, there are certain situations that let you delay enrolling in Medicare Part B to avoid having to pay the monthly premium.

Benefits Icon Part C: Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans are available from healthcare companies like CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. They cover all the benefits under Original Medicare.

Many include prescription drug coverage (Part D) as well as additional benefits, such as:

  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Hearing

Other things you should know:

  • You may have to visit doctors and hospitals within the plan network
  • Once enrolled, you'll only need to use the plans ID card, but you should keep your Original Medicare card
  • If you have end-stage renal disease, you may not be eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan

Dual Special Needs Plan (DSNP)

A DSNP plan is a type of Medicare Advantage plan for those with both Medicare and Medicaid (Maryland Medical Assistance Program).

These plans focus on improving your health and combine the benefits of:

  • Medicare Part A
  • Medicare Part B
  • Medicare Part D
  • Medicaid

A DSNP plan can also include additional benefits like:

  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Hearing

Drug Icon Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage

To add a Part D plan, you must have either:

  • Part B, or
  • Medicare Advantage

Part D drug plans are available from private healthcare companies. They're required to cover certain common types of drugs. However, each plan may choose which specific drugs it covers. Before purchasing a Part D plan, review each plan's list of drugs (also called a formulary) to see if your drugs are on the list.

Medicare prescription drug plans do NOT cover:

  • Drugs not on the plan's formulary
  • Drugs that Part A or Part B cover
  • Drugs excluded by Medicare

Added Benefits Icon Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan: Helping you cover out-of-pocket costs

Medicare Supplement plans are also available from private healthcare companies. They cover some of the costs not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A & B).

These costs may include:

  • Copays
  • Coinsurance
  • Deductibles
  • Some preventive care benefits

Other things you should know:

  • You must have Medicare Parts A and B
  • Medicare Supplement plans do not include prescription drug coverage (Part D), but you can add one
  • If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you cannot have a Medicare Advantage plan.

What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement?

Learn more here.