Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D

Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D provide healthcare to millions of Americans over 65. Each Medicare part covers different aspects of medical care, from hospital stays to prescription drugs.

Medicare Parts A and B are the most common parts and provide hospital and medical insurance, respectively. If you aren’t sure what parts you want on your Medicare plan, our expert guide to Medicare parts is for you.

We cover what each different part of Medicare covers in detail, as well as exclusions and costs.

To speak with a licensed insurance agent about your Medicare needs, call (855) 634-0435 today. You can also enter your ZIP in our free tool to get quotes.

Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D Explained

What are Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D? Medicare Parts A and B make up Original Medicare plans. These plans will provide you with hospital and medical insurance.

Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, provide Part A and Part B and may include additional benefits.

Is Medicare Part C better than Parts A and B? Check out our article on Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare to see which better fits your needs. For example, Medicare Advantage Plans often also include Medicare Part D, which helps cover the cost of prescription drugs.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of each of the parts of Medicare that make up both the Original and Advantage plans.

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A is a crucial coverage component of all Medicare plans. If you need hospital care or other advanced medical care, it will help cover your costs.

For example, Part A helps cover medical care at other facilities besides hospitals, such as helping cover the cost of nursing home stays as well as hospice care for recipients.

It is important to note that there are some limitations to Medicare Part A’s hospital insurance. Not every aspect of care will be covered.

For instance, Medicare Part A only covers short-term rehab at skilled nursing facilities. You must have had a three-day hospital stay beforehand to qualify for short-term rehab.

Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance

Hospice care will be covered if a terminal illness is confirmed. It’s important to note that with all the insurance coverages of Part A, the benefits period resets after 60 days.

This means that even if you used Part A’s services, if it has been longer than 60 days, it will reset, and you will have to pay a deductible again if you need to use Medicare Part A again.

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B is an important coverage that helps pay for the majority of healthcare needs and complements Medicare Part A by covering healthcare outside of the hospital.

If you’re considering which parts of Medicare to buy, make sure your plan includes Medicare Part B, as it will help with care such as regular doctor appointments and lab tests.

As with Medicare Part A, policyholders must meet certain criteria to have Medicare Part B help cover some healthcare aspects, which is typical of any health insurance coverage.

For example, you must have a doctor’s prescription to get medical equipment like hospital beds or oxygen covered.

Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance

Most customers will make the most use out of coverage from Medicare Part B, as it helps cover preventive care, doctor visits, and testing.

Taking advantage of coverage for screening, vaccinations, and more will also help customers stay on top of their health and catch conditions earlier.

Medicare Part C

Medicare Part C, also known as a Medicare Advantage plan, is slightly different than the Original Medicare plans we talked about earlier.

Like Original Medicare Plans, Medicare Part C also combines Part A and Part B, but it may also include Part D, which helps cover prescription drugs.

The catch is that customers have to sign up to get Medicare Advantage through a private insurance plan, which can be more time-consuming (Read More: How to Sign up for Medicare).

Medicare Advantage may also not be as widely accepted by healthcare providers as Medicare Original plans, so it’s important to check provider coverage beforehand.

Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage

However, Part C Medicare Advantage plans may include additional benefits. Some plans may also include Part D prescription drug coverage. The disadvantage of Medicare Advantage is that these plans may not be as widely accepted as Original Medicare (Parts A and B). Benefits also vary based on your state laws and the provider you choose.

Always compare Medicare plans online before you buy or call (855) 634-0435 to speak with a local agent about your options.

Medicare Part D

The last Medicare Part is Medicare Part D. It can be added to your Medicare plan, but is not automatically included in Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans.

To get Medicare Part D on your Medicare Plan, you must have at least Medicare Part A. You can’t purchase Medicare D without having Medicare Part A.

What does Medicare Part D cover? The primary purpose of Medicare Part D is to help cover prescription drug costs, which can be a large expense for some individuals. Costs for prescription drugs may not all be covered by Part D.

For example, you may still have a deductible or copay you have to meet on your Medicare plan, so prescription drugs may not be 100% covered by Part D.

Medicare Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage

However, Medicare Part D can still be a significant financial help to those on multiple medications, especially those who need very expensive medications.

If you have multiple medications that need to be filled regularly, you should consider looking into Medicare plans that include Medicare Part D.

How Much Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D Costs

Curious about your Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D cost? Standard copays and deductibles are the same on most plans, and generally increase after certain time limits.

For example, Medicare Part A copays for skilled nursing costs $0 on days one through 20, and then $209 per day on days 21 through 100.

Medicare Premium, Copay, & Coinsurance Breakdown

With Medicare Part A, copays and coinsurance are $0 for a certain set amount of time. After the specific time period has passed, there is a per-day copay or coinsurance charge (Learn More: How much does Medicare cost?).

However, premiums will vary by plan if you are getting Medicare insurance through a private insurance company.

Not sure what Medicare Parts you should pay for? The majority of Medicare holders use their Medicare coverage for hospital stays, outpatient care, and doctor visits.

Because of this, you should at least consider having Medicare Part A and Part B on your Medicare insurance plan.

Coverage is used less for prescription drugs, so Medicare Part D may not be necessary for all customers to purchase.

However, there is a penalty for buying Medicare Part D late, so if you think you’ll need it, it is best to buy it when you first enroll in Medicare coverage.

Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D Exclusions

Medicare helps cover a majority of medical costs, but like all healthcare plans, it doesn’t cover every medical bill that a patient receives.

There are certain exclusions to Medicare insurance coverage that are specific to each Medicare Part’s coverage policies.

For example, Medicare Part D only covers certain medications that are considered medically necessary. It won’t cover drugs for cosmetic or fertility purposes, for instance.

And if you are in the hospital, Medicare Part A won’t cover private duty nursing or a private room, unless a private room is deemed medically necessary.

Medicare Coverage & Exclusions by Part

If you want to get extra coverage to help with copays and deductibles on what is covered, you may want to look into Medigap supplemental insurance (Medigap).

However, the restrictions and exclusions don’t mean that Medicare still doesn’t benefit patients. There are still plenty of pros to each Medicare Part that help balance out the cons.

Comparing Medicare Parts A, B, C, & D

Medicare offers seniors and eligible individuals a reliable way to manage healthcare costs, with different parts designed to cover hospital care, medical services, prescription drugs, and bundled benefits.

These separate plans exist to give people flexibility in choosing healthcare coverage that matches their needs and budgets (Learn More: How to Finance What Your Health Insurance Won’t Cover).

Medicare Parts A-D Comparison: Pros & Cons

The main cons of all Medicare Parts are that there are deductibles and copays to be met. For the most part, though, the potential benefits of Medicare outweigh the cons.

For example, Medicare Part A is often premium-free for most customers and covers everything from inpatient hospital care to hospice. While coverage can be limited for long-term care, it still helps reduce costs for customers.

Need more assistance with your Medicare options? Call (855) 634-0435 to speak to a licensed representative or enter your ZIP code to learn more about your Medicare options.