Medicare Part A covers a wide range of hospitalization and inpatient services. Most people get Part A automatically when they turn 65, or 24 months after they become disabled. There is no premium for Medicare Part A if you or your spouse have worked 40 quarters or more (10 years total). If you and your spouse have worked less than 10 years, you will have a Part A premium.

Medicare Part B helps pay for doctors’ services, outpatient, and other medically necessary services that aren’t covered under Part A. Some preventative services are also covered, but annual physicals are not. Unlike with Part A, nearly everyone pays a premium for Part B.

Part D, the most recent addition to Medicare, provides prescription drug coverage to Medicare recipients. Part D is available only through private insurance companies, either as an Integrated Medicare Advantage Part D Prescription Drug Plan (MA-PD) or a standalone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP).

Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage, is Medicare administered through private insurance companies. Part C works somewhat differently than Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), but, by law, it is at least as good as Original Medicare. Part C often includes all elements of original Medicare plus Part D, or prescription drug coverage.

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