Medicare coverage choices may include:
Original Medicare-Parts A and B
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers you for care in a hospital, hospice and some home health care services. Part A is premium-free if you or your spouse have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years. If you have worked less than 10 years, you can still get Part A. However, you will be responsible for paying a premium.
Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It covers doctor visits, outpatient surgery, physical, speech and occupational therapy, immunizations, chiropractic services, lab services and medical equipment and supplies. You pay a monthly premium for Part B and the premium amount depends on your annual income. Learn more about Part B premiums at medicare.gov.
Important: Original Medicare Parts A and B do not cover everything. There are deductibles for Part A and Part B. And, after you pay those deductibles, generally Medicare pays 80% of covered costs and you pay 20%.
Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage (MA). MA plans are run by private companies that are approved by Medicare, like ConnectiCare. They include all of your Part A and Part B coverage, plus extra benefits and services like routine care, dental services, and wellness programs.
Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part D is not offered by Medicare itself. It is offered by private companies approved by Medicare. Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. They are called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans (MAPD). You can also get a plan that offers Medicare Part D alone. This is called a Medicare Prescription Drug plan, or PDP.
