What types of services are covered under Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for those who are over the age of 65. It has multiple parts, each of which provides health coverage for different services and various aspects of care. If you are eligible for Medicare, learning more about the services and supplies that are covered can help you better manage your expenses.

Medicare Part A is essentially hospital insurance. It covers medical care provided during inpatient hospital and nursing facility stays, and it may also cover home health care and hospice care in some situations. Services such as blood products, diagnostics, anesthesia, and nursing care may all be covered as well.

Medicare Part B provides coverage for outpatient health care, such as physician’s visits, outpatient hospital care, durable medical equipment, and preventative care. Unlike Medicare Part A, Part B is not free and generally requires most enrollees to pay a monthly premium and annual deductible.

Medicare Part C plans are also known as Medicare Advantage plans. These are structured more like personal health insurance plans and provide more customizable coverage, similar to HMOs or PPOs. This group-style coverage can be used to fill in the gaps of coverage in Medicare Part A and B and often provide prescription drug coverage or dental and vision care. They may involve premiums, coinsurance, deductibles, and other costs associated with traditional insurance plans.

Medicare Part D is often known as the prescription drug plan and covers prescription drugs.

Other supplemental plans are available as well. These are private insurance plans called Medigap plans, and they cover expenses that are otherwise not covered through traditional Medicare plans.

Medicare is an insurance plan for those over the age of 65 and is not appropriate as a family health insurance plan. To learn more about your options for supplemental Medicare plans, contact one of our knowledgeable insurance agents today.

Back to Blog