Medicare Overview

Since its official inception more than four decades ago, the Medicare initiative has been a program designed to provide citizens with medical benefits, if they meet certain qualifying criteria.

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Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

The basic criterion for being eligible for participation in the Medicare health insurance program is that you must be 65 years or older. If you are under the age of 65 but have one or more of the qualifying disabilities, you will also be eligible to join the program.

The other age-related exception for Medicare is for Americans who have ESRD. The term ESRD stands for end-stage renal disease and means that your kidney has failed permanently, leaving you with the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant. If you meet any of these requirements, then you would be eligible to become a member of the Medicare health insurance programs.

The Medicare program is divided into four separate parts: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D. Each part should be considered separately when considering your health insurance requirements and options, since they cover different expenses and have their own set of rules and conditions.

1. Medicare Part A is regarded as your hospital coverage, wherein various inpatient expenses would be covered.
2. Medicare Part B is the out-of-hospital benefit which covers your general medical expenses such as doctors' fees and outpatient expenses, and certain preventative health care services.
3. Medicare Part C is a different type of coverage, in that it is facilitated by private insurers who are contracted with the government's Medicare program. Commonly called a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Part C includes a variety of different types of coverage, including those applicable to Medicare Part A and Part B.
4. Finally, Medicare Part D makes provision for prescription drug coverage and is another option that is available through private insurers who are contracted with the program.

The Medicare program initially consisted only of Parts A and B, and that is why today it is referred to as "original Medicare" by many people.

By comparison, Parts C and D are the plans that were later added to Medicare in order to give individuals the choice of electing coverage from a private health insurance company.

To review your Medicare Advantage or Medigap (Medicare Supplements) options, use the free GoMedicare quoting platform above.