Do I need all four parts of Medicare?

Almost everyone takes Part A. Part B is standard unless you have qualifying current-employer coverage. Drug coverage (Part D or through an Advantage plan) is strongly recommended to avoid penalties. "Part C" is optional — it's an alternative delivery method, not an extra requirement.

Is Medicare Advantage the same as Medicare?

Medicare Advantage is a private-plan way of receiving your Medicare benefits. You're still in the Medicare program — the coverage is delivered by a private plan with its own network and rules.

What's the difference between Part D and Medigap?

Part D is drug coverage. Medigap (Medicare Supplement) helps pay the hospital and medical costs that Original Medicare doesn't — it works alongside Parts A and B, not instead of them.

Medicare Basics: Parts A, B, C, and D Explained Simply

Part A: Hospital Insurance

Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no monthly premium for Part A, because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes long enough while working. For most people turning 65, enrolling in Part A is straightforward — the decisions that need real thought live elsewhere.

Part B: Medical Insurance

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, lab work, and durable medical equipment. It carries a monthly premium set each year, plus an annual deductible; higher-income households pay an income-adjusted premium. Part B is where the big timing decision lives: enroll on time, or — only if you have qualifying current-employer coverage — delay without penalty. Getting that call wrong is how lifetime penalties happen, which is why it deserves a real look at your situation.

Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage

Part D is drug coverage sold by private insurance companies in plans approved by Medicare. Plans differ in premiums, pharmacy networks, and — most importantly — which drugs they cover and at what tier. Even people who take no medications usually enroll in some creditable drug coverage, because going 63+ days without it triggers a penalty that lasts as long as you have Medicare drug coverage.

"Part C": Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies as an alternative way to receive your Part A and Part B benefits, usually with drug coverage built in and often with extras like dental, vision, or hearing benefits. In exchange, you generally use the plan's network and follow its rules. Whether Advantage or Original Medicare plus a supplement fits you better is the central decision at 65 — it gets its own full comparison on this site.

How the Pieces Combine

There are two main ways people put it all together:

Original Medicare (A + B) + a Part D drug plan + a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) to help with what A and B don't pay.
A Medicare Advantage plan that wraps A, B, and usually D into one plan.

Which combination fits depends on your health, doctors, prescriptions, budget, and travel. That's exactly what a free consultation walks through.

The Four Parts of Medicare, in Plain English