Medicare
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Summary
Medicare is the U.S. government's health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Some people under age 65 can qualify for Medicare, too. They include those with disabilities, permanent kidney failure, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Medicare helps with the cost of health care. It does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. The program has four parts:
- Part A is hospital insurance
- Part B helps pay for medical services that Part A doesn't cover
- Part C is called Medicare Advantage. If you have Parts A and B, you can choose this option to receive all of your health care through a provider organization, like an HMO.
- Part D is prescription drug coverage. It helps pay for some medicines.
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Preventive Visit and Yearly Wellness Exams (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
- Your Guide to Medicare's Preventive Services (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - PDF
Related Issues
- Claims and Appeals (Medicare) (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
- Inpatient hospital care (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
- Medicare and Other Health Benefits: Your Guide to Who Pays First (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - PDF
- Medicare and Rural Health (Rural Health Information Hub)
- Medicare Hospice Benefits (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Your Medicare Coverage: Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Coverage (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Find and Compare Doctors, Plans, Hospitals, Suppliers and Other Providers (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish
- Medicare (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) Also in Spanish
- Medicare: Helpful Contacts (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Patient Handouts
- Understanding medicare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish