Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people ages 65 and older and people with certain disabilities.
The Medicare program is divided into four separate parts:
- Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance
- Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance
- Medicare Part C: Private Health Plans (Medicare Advantage)
- Medicare Part D: Private Prescription Drug Plans
Parts A and B, known as Original Medicare, work with Part D but they are not compatible with Medicare Advantage plans, which completely replace Part A and B coverage, and may include Part D.
A fifth part, called Medigap, is not part of the Medicare program but is regulated by both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that https://medicarewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Geisinger-logo-1.svgisters Medicare, as well as state insurance boards. Also called Medicare supplements, these private insurance policies help cover some of the gaps in Original Medicare.