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

Part A is the hospital side of Medicare. It helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.

Most people pay no monthly premium for Part A because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes while working for at least 10 years. You may still owe a deductible and coinsurance for a hospital stay.

Part B is the medical side. It helps cover doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, preventive screenings, and durable medical equipment like walkers and wheelchairs.

Part B has a standard monthly premium, and higher-income households may pay more. Together, Part A and Part B make up what's known as Original Medicare.

Part C, better known as Medicare Advantage, is an all-in-one alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurers approved by Medicare. These plans bundle your Part A and Part B benefits — and usually Part D drug coverage — into a single plan.

Many Advantage plans add benefits Original Medicare doesn't include, such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness memberships, and every plan caps your annual out-of-pocket spending. In exchange, you typically use a provider network.

Part D helps pay for prescription medications. You can get it as a standalone drug plan added to Original Medicare, or built into most Medicare Advantage plans.

Each Part D plan has its own formulary (covered drug list), pharmacy network, and cost tiers, so the best plan depends on the specific medications you take.

Most people choose one of two paths: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) often paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and a standalone Part D plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) that combines coverage into one plan.

There's no single right answer — the best fit depends on your doctors, medications, budget, and how you like to get care. That's exactly what a no-cost consultation helps you sort out.