I'm choosing a plan
What do Medicare Parts A, B, C and D each cover?
Photo: Gustavo Fring / Pexels
Part A is hospital, Part B is doctors and outpatient care, Part D is prescription drugs. Part C, Medicare Advantage, is a private plan that bundles A and B, and usually D, with its own network and rules.
What to do
- Start with Parts A and B, called Original Medicare. The federal government runs it, and you can use any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare.
- Decide how you want drugs covered: a separate Part D plan alongside Original Medicare, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs.
- Compare the two paths. Original Medicare has no network and no yearly limit on what you pay, though you can add a Medigap policy. Medicare Advantage (Part C) has a network and a yearly out-of-pocket limit.
- Ask a SHIP counselor (your State Health Insurance Assistance Program) to walk you through the choice for free.
What to say
Can you explain what I would pay for a hospital stay and for my regular medications under Original Medicare with a Part D plan, compared with this Advantage plan?
A SHIP counselor or 1-800-MEDICARE can answer this without selling you anything.
What to watch out for
Every situation is differentIf you’d like a second pair of eyes on yours, book a free 15-minute call.
Thinking Medicare covers everything. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum and does not cover most dental, vision, hearing or long-term custodial care, so plan for those costs.
Better done together
We’re here to help
Medicare's letters and parts can be confusing, and choices made early can follow you for years. We walk you through how the parts fit your life, your doctors and your medications.
Every situation is different, and these are sensitive moments, so we look at yours with care. We often see what others miss, and we never take commissions from insurance companies: the only thing we are working for is what is right for you.
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The rule behind it
Medicare is the federal health program for people 65 and over and some younger people with certain disabilities or conditions. Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) are Original Medicare, run by the federal government; everyone with Part B pays a monthly premium, while most people get Part A without one. Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (drug plans) are sold by private companies that must follow Medicare's rules. Each plan's details are in its Evidence of Coverage.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Parts of Medicare
- Medicare.gov — Compare Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- SHIP — State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Amanda Alcodia
Education, not medical, legal or insurance advice.
Useful next steps
Start with the free Kit. If your situation needs a person, the intro call is free too.