Medicare & Supplemental Insurance

Part A covers hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facility care following hospitalization, home health care (when skilled nursing is needed), and hospice. Part B covers outpatient medical services — physician visits, preventive care, durable medical equipment, and many outpatient procedures. Neither covers most prescription drugs (Part D), dental, vision, or hearing care.

Original Medicare is the federal program administered directly by the government. Medicare Advantage (Part C) is Medicare delivered through private insurance companies — plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers and often include extras like dental, vision, hearing, gym memberships, and drug coverage. Advantage plans have networks; Original Medicare works with any provider that accepts Medicare nationwide.

Initial enrollment begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after. If you miss this window and are not covered by employer insurance, late enrollment penalties apply to both Part B and Part D — penalties that last for life. If still covered by employer insurance at 65, a Special Enrollment Period applies when that coverage ends.

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the gaps in Original Medicare — covering copays, coinsurance, and deductibles that Original Medicare does not pay. Plans are standardized (Plan G and Plan N are most popular) so the coverage is identical regardless of insurer; price and company financial stability are the differentiating factors. Medigap cannot be used with a Medicare Advantage plan.