Medicare 101

(Part C) includes BOTH Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance)

• Private insurance companies approved by Medicare provide this coverage.
  
• In most plans, you need to use plan doctors, hospitals, and other providers or you may pay more or all of the costs.
  
• You pay a monthly premium (in addition to your Part B premium), deductible, copayments, or coinsurance for covered services.
  
• Costs, extra coverage, and rules vary by plan.
  
• Doctors have the ability to leave the network every 30 days.
  
• If you want drug coverage, and it's offered by your Medicare Advantage Plan, in most cases, you must get it through your plan.

In some types of plans that don't offer drug coverage, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

 Decide if you want Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Note: If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can't use Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) to pay for out-of-pocket costs you have in the Medicare Advantage Plan.  If you already have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you cant be sold a Medigap Policy. You can generally only use a Medigap policy if you disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare.