Who Medicare is for
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Some people qualify sooner: anyone who has been paid Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months, people with ALS who get disability benefits, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure). Medicare is not Medicaid. Medicaid is run jointly by the federal government and the states for people with limited income, and some people qualify for both.
The four parts at a glance
Part A: hospital insurance
Helps pay for an inpatient stay in a hospital, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice, and some home health care. For most people it carries no monthly premium.
Part B: medical insurance
Helps pay for doctor visits, outpatient care, medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs, and many preventive services like screenings and shots. It has a monthly premium.
Part C: Medicare Advantage
Not an extra benefit but another way to get your Part A and Part B benefits: through a private plan that Medicare approves. Most of these plans include drug coverage as well.
Part D: drug coverage
Helps pay for prescriptions. You get it as a separate plan alongside Original Medicare, or built into a Medicare Advantage plan.
Two main ways to get your coverage
Original Medicare is Parts A and B, run by the federal government. You can see any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S., and you pay your share as you use care; for most Part B services, after the yearly deductible, that share is 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when the provider accepts assignment. Original Medicare puts no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket, which is why many people add a Medigap policy and a Part D plan.
Medicare Advantage puts everything in one private plan that covers your Part A and Part B benefits and usually Part D. These plans often use a network of doctors, may need approval before certain services, and set a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for covered care. Most offer extras that Original Medicare does not, such as dental, vision and hearing benefits. We compare the two paths side by side in Medicare Advantage vs Medigap.
What Medicare costs in 2026
What you pay depends on the coverage you choose and the care you use. For 2026, Part B costs $202.90 a month, or more at higher incomes, and its deductible is $283 for the year. Part A has a deductible of $1,736 for each benefit period when you are admitted to a hospital. People with higher incomes pay more for Part B and Part D. Each part has its own guide: Part A explained and Part B explained.
When to sign up
Your first chance is your Initial Enrollment Period, which runs for seven months, centered on the month you turn 65. If you already get Social Security benefits, Parts A and B usually start automatically and your card comes in the mail. If you are still working and covered through an employer, you may be able to wait without a penalty. Our guide to turning 65 and signing up walks through the dates.
Common questions
Is Medicare free?
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Do I have to sign up for Medicare at 65?
Can I have both Medigap and Medicare Advantage?
Does it cost anything to talk with you?
Not sure which path fits you?
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Get your free reviewSources (8)
Medicare.gov: Parts of Medicare
Medicare.gov: Your coverage options
Medicare.gov: Medicare costs
Medicare.gov: How do I sign up for Medicare?
Medicare.gov: When does Medicare coverage start?
Medicare.gov: How Medigap works
SHIP Medicare FAQ (SHIP National Technical Assistance Center)
Medicare parts (Social Security Administration)
Last reviewed October 2026. Medicare rules, dates and dollar amounts can change each year; Medicare.gov has the official details.