The 4 Parts of Medicare
Part A helps pay for:
- Inpatient hospital care
- Inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) after a covered hospital stay
- Some home health care
- Hospice care
Part B helps pay for medical services, including:
- Physician services
- Some preventive services
- Home health for people without Part A
- Ambulance
- Laboratory and diagnostic services
- Surgical supplies
- Durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS)
- Hospital outpatient services
Part C refers to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that private insurance companies offer. MA plans must cover all services that Part A and Part B cover, except hospice care. MA plans also can offer other benefits that traditional Medicare doesn’t pay for.
Part D is the Medicare drug plan. Insurance plans or private companies provide these services. Plans vary in cost and what drugs they cover.