Part A
Hospital insurance. It generally helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice and certain home health services.
Senior Health Solutions
New to Medicare
A simple starting point for understanding Medicare and the decisions that come with becoming eligible.
Start with the basics
Medicare has several parts, and understanding what each one does makes the rest of the conversation easier.
Part B
Medical insurance. It generally helps cover physician services, outpatient care, preventive services and certain medical equipment.
Part D
Prescription drug coverage available through private plans. Formularies, pharmacies and costs can vary.
When should I enroll?
Your enrollment timing can depend on age, disability eligibility, current employer coverage and other circumstances. If you are approaching 65, it is helpful to begin reviewing your situation before your eligibility date.
Still working? Do not assume everyone must enroll in exactly the same way at 65. Employer coverage and other factors can affect your choices.
What happens next?
Once you understand Original Medicare, you can learn how Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and prescription drug coverage fit into the picture.