Medicare

Written by Stephanie Guinan
Updated

Medicare is government health insurance for people 65 or older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities.

Learn more about what Medicare covers and use interactive tools to find cheap Medicare plans in your area.

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Learn about the different types of Medicare insurance policies

Medicare can be broken down into four different types of coverage.

The main types of Medicare coverage you can get are:

  1. Parts A and B, with the option of adding Part D and Medigap.
  2. Part C plan (bundles Part A and B and usually Part D).

Part A

Part B

Part C

Part D

Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers care in a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, hospice care and, in some cases, home health care. If you worked for more than 10 years, you'll probably get Part A for free.

Part A

Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers care in a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, hospice care and, in some cases, home health care. If you worked for more than 10 years, you'll probably get Part A for free.

Part B

Part B provides coverage for things like doctor visits, called "outpatient care," and medical equipment like crutches or wheelchairs. It covers both preventive and medically necessary care. Medicare Part A and Part B make up Original Medicare, which is managed by the federal government.

Part C

Also known as Medicare Advantage, Part C is offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. People who buy Part C pay for:

  • Part A: Usually free
  • Part B: Cost set each year by the government
  • Part C: Cost set by the private insurance company

Part C usually offers coverage for services not offered by Parts A and B, such as dental and vision care.

Part D

Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription medications. When you buy a Part D plan, check to make sure your prescriptions are included in the coverage.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Medigap gives you coverage for things not covered by Medicare Parts A and B, like deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket costs. Also called Medicare Supplement, it's a supplemental health insurance plan that you can add to Original Medicare.

Depending on the plan you buy, Medigap pays for most or all of your remaining medical bills after Original Medicare pays. That means you don't have to pay much, if anything, for most medical care.

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement (Medigap): Which Is Best?

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement (Medigap): Which Is Best?

by Talon Abernathy

Guide to Medicare

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1. How old do you have to be to get Medicare?

Generally, you must be 65 or older in order to get Medicare. However, some younger people with certain disabilities can also qualify for Medicare.

Medicare Eligibility Calculator

Birth date

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Your initial enrollment period based on your age is

Enter your birth date

Note that your enrollment period may differ if you currently have a disability or have certain medical conditions.

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2. How do I sign up for Medicare?

There are a couple of ways to sign up for Medicare. If you apply for retirement or disability benefits through Social Security, the process includes an application for Original Medicare (Parts A and B).

You can also put in an application on the Social Security Administration website. You can get Medicare Parts C and D at Medicare.gov.

You need to have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a Medicare account number to sign up for Part C or D.

You can also apply for Medicare by calling 1-800-772-1213.

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3. What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?

You will likely need your birth certificate and a U.S. driver's license or passport. You'll also need your Social Security number, current health insurance info, tax records (W-2) and military service records, if you were a member of the military.

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Read the latest updates on Medicare

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Invitations for application for insurance may be made through QW Insurance Solutions, LLC ("QWIS"), a separate subsidiary of QuoteWizard, LLC ("QuoteWizard"), a LendingTree subsidiary, or through its designated agents, only where licensed and appointed. QWIS is a non-government licensed health insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Find licensing information for QWIS.

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Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.

These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.

Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website.

Medicare supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end stage renal disease.

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.

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