Medicare is the federal insurance program for people age 65 or older and for some people with certain illnesses.
Here are the different types of Medicare and what they cover:
- Part A covers hospital stays.
- Part B covers doctor visits. All Medicare enrollees pay a Part B premium each month.
- Part C (or Medicare Advantage) combines Part A and Part B coverage. It also offers additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as care advocacy and wellness programs.
- Part D covers prescription drugs.
You can apply for Medicare online at socialsecurity.gov, or enroll at your local Social Security office.1
1 State of Illinois recommends enrolling in Medicare as early as possible to avoid a delay in the start of your Medicare coverage, which could result in out-of-pocket expenses.