Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD).
The different parts of Medicare help cover specific services:
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
Part B covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
Factors that affect Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs
- Whether you have Part A and/or Part B. Most people have both.
- Whether your doctor, other health care provider, or supplier accepts assignment.
- The type of health care you need and how often you need it.
- Whether you choose to get services or supplies Medicare doesn’t cover. If you do, you pay all the costs unless you have other insurance that covers it.
- Whether you have other health insurance that works with Medicare.
- Whether you have Medicaid or get state help paying your Medicare costs.
- Whether you have a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy.
- Whether you and your doctor or other health care provider sign a private contract.