Health & Benefits

Medicare is a federal health insurance program. Medicare pays a portion of hospital and other medical bills.

Who is eligible for Medicare?

The following people are eligible for Medicare:

• People 65 or older,
• Younger people with disabilities,
• People of any age with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and
• People of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease. This includes people who have permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Medicare is run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is a federal government agency within the broader U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) works with CMS. If someone receives benefits from social security, Medicare premiums Money that must be paid every month, such as for health insurance are often taken from that check. 

Many doctors and medical providers participate in Medicare.

Are there different types of Medicare?

There are 4 parts to Medicare: A, B, C, and D.

Medicare A: Hospital insurance and Medicare B: Medical insurance

You or any supplemental insurance you buy will pay the deductibles and coinsurance. You usually pay a monthly premium for Part B.

Medicare Part A covers things like:

• Inpatient hospital care,
• Skilled nursing care
• Surgery

Medicare Part B covers things like:

• Medically necessary services,
• Outpatient care,
• Some Home health care,
• Durable medical equipment, and
• Certain preventive services to maintain health and prevent certain illnesses.

Learn more about Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

Medicare C: Managed care

A Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is another choice you may have. These plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare and are called Medicare Part C. Medicare advantage plans bundle Part A and Part B coverage, and may offer additional services. 

These companies must follow rules set by Medicare.

Learn more about Medicare Part C.

Medicare D: Prescription drug coverage

Medicare Part D plans will help pay for certain prescription drugs. Medicare Part D is run by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These private insurance companies follow the rules set by Medicare. Eligible people can choose to join a prescription drug plan.

Most people will have to pay premiums, a deductible, and co-payments Money paid for health care in addition to what the insurer pays . Low-income persons may get extra help from the government to pay some or all of these costs. The plans will vary in coverage and cost. You can choose from different plans.

Learn more about Medicare Part D.

What is “medigap”?

It is Medicare supplemental insurance that fills the gaps between Medicare and out-of-pocket costs. Medigap policies are purchased from private companies. Costs vary by policy and company. Some employers or unions may offer similar coverage. As of 2025, Medigap policies can no longer be sold with prescription drug coverage.

Note: Medigap policies are not sold to those who have Medicare Advantage plans (Part C).  A person can't use a Medigap policy to pay for out-of-pocket costs under the Medicare Advantage Plan. 

Learn more about Medigap.

Where can I find more information about Medicare?

For general information about Medicare, call (800) 633-4227 (toll-free) or (877) 486-2048 (TTY) or visit Medicare's website. You can also learn more from the official Medicare handbook, Medicare & You.

These are some good internet resources to help you learn more about Medicare:

• The American Association of Retired Persons: The AARP’s website provides a guide to Medicare. It focuses on traditional coverage, prescription drug coverage, and Medigap plans.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: The CMS website describes CMS programs and activities. CMS is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The website contains links to information on these programs.

Medicare Rights Center (MRC): The MRC provides free counseling services. They work with older adults, people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients. MRC ensures these groups can access good, affordable health care. This site provides basic information about Medicare. It also covers questions about prescription drug coverage. It includes a glossary of Medicare terms and a chart that compares plan options.