Medicare 101: What Is Medicare?

Medicare is run and administered by the federal government but the plans available to you vary based on the state you live in. If you or your spouse worked in the country for 10 years you can get Medicare Part A (hospital) for no charge however Part B (doctor) of Medicare has a monthly fee to it.

If you are collecting Social Security retirement benefits you are automatically enrolled in Parts A (hospital) and Part B (doctor) when you reach age 65. If if you’re not collecting Social Security you will need to manually enroll in Medicare Part A & B. This can be done by applying through your local Social Security office or on Social Security’s website.

Medicare 101: What Are The Types Of Medicare?

• Original Medicare -
  • Medicare Part A, which covers hospital care, home health, or care in nursing facilities,
  • Medicare Part B, which is for doctors, outpatient hospital visits, X-rays, and lab tests.
• Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) - Insurance policies which are regulated by Medicare but run through private insurance companies.  These plans help pay the cost of medications but follow a structure regulated by Medicare.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) - Insurance policies which use private companies to administer your Medicare coverage.  These plans must be at least as good as what you would get with Original Medicare, but will have different cost sharing.  Many of these plans include additional benefits such as prescriptions (you don’t have to have a separate drug plan), gym membership, and limited dental and vision coverage.  In New Jersey Medicare Advantage plans are either an HMO or PPO which have networks of doctors and hospitals. It’s important to know whether your doctors and hospitals will accept this option before enrolling.

• Medigap - Also called Medicare supplemental plans.  These can help pay the deductibles and coinsurance that are not covered by Original Medicare.