Medicare Guidance Made Simple

Helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and certain home health services.

Helps cover certain doctors' services, outpatient care, preventive services, medical supplies, and other medically necessary services.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies as an alternative way to receive your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. Many Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare prescription drug coverage, and some plans may offer additional benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing coverage.

Plan benefits, provider networks, premiums, copayments, and availability vary by plan and service area.

Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription medications. Coverage is offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. Formularies, pharmacy networks, premiums, deductibles, and medication costs can vary by plan.

Medicare Supplement Insurance, commonly called Medigap, is additional insurance sold by private insurance companies that can help pay certain out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare, such as copayments, coinsurance, and certain deductibles.

Medigap works with Original Medicare and is not the same as Medicare Advantage.