FAQ

Part A: Covers hospitalization. This part only applies when you’re admitted as an inpatient in a hospital. Deductible for this part is $1364 in 2019.

Part B: Covers medical expenses. The cost for most people for Medicare Part B in 2019 is $135.50 per month. It covers 80% of the vast majority of medical costs, from office visits and diagnostic tests to surgeons’ fees. The remaining 20% represents your out-of-pocket copayment unless you’re covered by a policy that addresses this gap.

Part C: This is the part of Medicare that allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits. These Medicare private health plans, such as HMO's and PPO's, are known as Medicare Advantage Plans.

Part D: Called the Medicare prescription drug benefit, Part D is a U.S. federal government program to help lower the costs of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare recipients are responsible for the Part A Hospital Deductible ($1364.00 in 2019) and coinsurance. In addition, they must pay the Part B contribution of $134.00 per month in 2017, the Part B deductible of $185 in 2019 and 20% copayments which can be significant. There are no upper limits on these 20% copayments. This is why you need additional coverage to fill in these gaps.

Supplements are insurance policies provided by competing insurance companies for Medicare recipients to cover all or most of the out-of-pocket deductibles and copayments for all the parts of Medicare.

Yes. You have the choice between a Supplement or Advantage plan. Check out the differences here.