Medicare is a government health insurance program that covers healthcare services in the United States for people who are 65 and older (as well as some younger people who qualify through Social Security). As Medicare benefits don’t pay for everything, it’s important to understand your options and decide which coverage best fits your individual health needs.
Medicare Part A covers:
Most Americans are enrolled automatically in Medicare Part A, although it alone may not cover all of your healthcare costs. Parts B, C and D are voluntary programs that provide additional coverage.
Medicare Part B covers:
Medicare Advantage Plans cover:
You can’t use and can’t be sold a Medigap policy if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan.
*If you don’t enroll in Part B or Part D when you are first eligible for Medicare, you may have to pay a penalty later.
Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance that helps fill “gaps” in Original Medicare and is sold by private companies. Original Medicare pays for much, but not all, of the cost for covered healthcare services and supplies. A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy can help pay some of the remaining healthcare costs, like:
There are several Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) plans, each with different benefits and premiums, so you can choose the plan that works best for your specific need. Keep in mind that Medigap plans do not offer prescription drug coverage.
You can add:
You can also add:
Supplemental coverage includes Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Or you can use coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.
Most plans include:
Some plans also include:
During OEP, you can:
During this period, you can’t:
All year: 7-month window
Sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan and/or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Varies based on eligibility circumstances
You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs).
During SEP, you can:
Some qualifying life events include:
Rules about when you can make changes and the type of changes you can make are different for each SEP.
You’re now leaving myMoreCare.com and will be directed to our partner’s website.