What is Medicare?

Medicare is federal health insurance for those:

  • Age 65 and older, and

  • Under age 65 on Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or diagnosed with certain diseases including End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and Lou Gehrig's Disease (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS).

Important Important:  Medicare is a complicated topic and everyone's situation is different. The information on these pages presents a broad overview.

Your Medicare choices


Original Medicare

 

Part A

Part A

Hospital care
Part B

Part B

Doctor and outpatient care

or

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Medicare Advantage

Also known as Medicare Health Plan

Part C
Part C

Hospital, doctor and outpatient care
Most Part C plans include drug coverage

There are gaps in
coverage. You may
want to add more
insurance
If you don't have
drug coverage, you
may want to add
Part D
Medigap

Medigap

Medicare Supplement
Part D

Part D

Prescription drug coverage
Avoid penalties for late enrollment

Part D

Part A

Prescription drug coverage
Avoid penalties for late enrollment

You may have other Medicare options

If you are: 

  • A member of a tribe
  • A retired federal or state employee
  • On COBRA
  • Age 65 but not receiving Social Security benefits

You may also be eligible for health care coverage through other programs such as Indian Health Service, TRICARE for Life, the Department of Veterans Affairs and more.

Updated 01/18/2013

See also

Need more help?

  • Our Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling.
  • Call SHIBA at 800-562-6900
  • Email us