Medicare Overview

Background on Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that pays for a variety of health care expenses. It's administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Medicare-eligibles are typically citizens or legal residents age 65 and older. Those with certain medical conditions (such as Lou Gehrig's disease), kidney dialysis, or qualifying permanent disabilities may also be eligible for Medicare benefits.

Like Social Security, Medicare is an entitlement program. Most citizens and legal residents earn the right to enroll in Medicare by working and paying their taxes for a minimum required period. Even if you didn't work long enough to be entitled to Medicare benefits, you may still be eligible to enroll, but you might have to pay more.

There are four different parts to the Medicare program. Parts A and B are often referred to as "Original" Medicare or "Fee for Service" Medicare. Both Medicare Part C ( Medicare Advantage) and Part D (outpatient drug coverage) are offered through Medicare-approved private insurance carriers that must follow rules set by Medicare.

You can learn more about Medicare at www.medicare.gov, which is the official site of CMS. Medicare & You 2023 is the official government handbook with information about Medicare. This handbook is mailed to all Medicare households each fall. It includes a summary of Medicare benefits, rights, and protections and answers to frequently asked questions about Medicare. The copy mailed to you contains an abbreviated list of available health and drug plans in your geographic area.

What You Need to Decide

Your biggest decision, and the one to make first, is whether you want Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or Medicare Advantage (Part C). They cover the same basic services, but they work differently. Your choice depends on what you need.

Once you decide, you'll have other choices to make:

If you choose Medicare Advantage, you'll have to pick a particular plan and decide whether or not you want a plan that includes coverage for outpatient drugs:

BUT

If you choose Original Medicare, you have more choices to make:

• You can elect to stay in Part A and B ("Original" Medicare) only.
• You can choose to supplement Original Medicare (Parts A and B) with a Medicare Supplement (also called "Medigap") plan. Medicare Supplements are standardized in all states except MA, MN, and WI. There are 10 basic standardized plans as well as the Hi Deductible F and HI Deductible G variations. Beginning January 1, 2020, if your birthdate is January 1, 1955 or later and you have not previously become eligible for Part A through disability, you won't be able to buy Medicare Supplement plans that offer no deductibles (i.e., Plan C or F). Plan Hi Deductible F won’t be available, as well. Depending on your state, zip code, and carrier, one or more of the standardized plans may be available in a Medicare Select version.

You'll also need to decide whether you want a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plan to cover your outpatient medications.

The following chart outlines your choices. You can obtain additional information by looking at the Medicare Supplement Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, and Part D Prescription Drug Plans pages, as well as this You Tube video.