Do you know the ABC’s of Medicare? The alphabet got even larger with the new Medicare Part D for prescription drug coverage. Here’s a quick primer, but visit the Texas Medicare Benefts Blog for more information.

Medicare Part A: Hospital Coverage - available free to all eligible people.

• Inpatient hospital stays Stays at a skilled nursing facility (i.e., where medically necessary skilled nursing and rehabilitation care are provided), in contrast to a nursing home providing custodial care
• Home health care
• Psychiatric inpatient care
• Hospice care

Medicare Part B — also known as Medical. Medicare Part B has a premium which is often deducted from a covered person’s social security payment.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctors’ services and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A doesn’t cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.

Medicare Part C is now called Medicare Advantage. These are plans from private insurance companies that a Medicare covered person (part A and part B) may join. They may be HMO, PPO, or FFS plans. Some Medicare Advantage are specialized for people with certain health conditions.Medicare Advantage plans may have an additional premium beyond the Part B premium, or they may not. In some cases, the plans may even refund a portion of the Part B premium.

Medicare Part D — Prescription Drug Program. These plans also carry a premium.

This is a very basic primer. For more information, visit Medicare Tx RX!

Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part C, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage

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