Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 or older, certain people under 65 with disabilities, and people of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease. Medicare is administered by the U.S. Federal government. The program is funded by a payroll tax, premiums and surtaxes from beneficiaries, and general revenue.

Medicare consists of four different parts:

• Medicare Part A – Hospital insurance which includes inpatient care hospital care, inpatient care in a Skilled Nursing Facility, hospice care, and some home health services)
• Medicare Part B – Medical insurance which includes physician services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, home health services, and many preventive services)
• Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage (MA) (Medicare-approved private insurance companies provide all Part A and Part B services and may provide prescription drug coverage and other supplemental benefits)
• Medicare Part D – The Prescription Drug Benefit (Medicare-approved private companies provide outpatient [[prescription drug

coverage]]).