What Does Medicare Cover
Medicare covers a lot, including hospital care, preventative services, and much more. Your exact coverage will depend on the combination of the plans you choose.
There are 5 broad categories of Medicare coverage:
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- Medicare Supplements (Medigap)
- Medicare Part D
Almost all Medicare beneficiaries have both Part A and B, jointly referred to as Original Medicare. Once you have these plans, you can choose one of these combinations of plans for additional coverage:
- Original Medicare and a Supplement Plan
- Original Medicare and an Advantage Plan
- Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D
Here is a closer look at what each plan covers.
Original Medicare Coverage
Generally, Original Medicare covers short-term emergency and medical care. Medicare Part A coverage includes:
- Hospital Inpatient Care (Up to 60 Days)
- Nursing Facility Care (Up to 60 Days)
- Nursing Home Care (Upon Approval)
- Hospice Care (Upon Approval)
- Home Health Services (Upon Approval)
Medicare Part B coverage includes:
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Limited Chiropractic Services
- Ambulance Services
- Diabetes Supplies
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
- Kidney Dialysis Services and Supplies
- Outpatient Mental Healthcare
- Physical Therapy
- And Much More
Medicare Advantage Coverage
There are 5 plan options, including Special Needs Plans (SNPs), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans, and Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans.
These plans will provide the same coverage as Original Medicare, but will also include additional benefits. These benefits can include coverage for dental, vision, hearing services, prescriptions, and even gym memberships.
Your Coverage with a Supplement Plan
Medicare Supplement plans are an additional option to your Original Medicare coverage. These plans fill in the gaps of Original Medicare and can cover costs such as copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, foreign travel emergency costs, and more.
There are 10 different supplement plans—A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.
Prescription Drug Coverage and Part D
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage. With Original Medicare alone, very few prescriptions will be covered. Some Advantage plans provide this coverage as part of the plan, but if not, you can purchase Part D.
Insurance Plans Tailored to Your Needs
✔ Explore Options and Coverages
✔ Find a Plan for your Lifestyle
✔ Get Help with Enrollment