What Is Original Medicare‡ Part A And Part B
Is Original Medicare‡ Enough?
Original Medicare‡ (Parts A and B) is health insurance provided by the federal government. Part A covers inpatient hospital stays and Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care.
People often choose additional insurance to cover items Parts A & B do not. Most important are prescription drug costs and the 20% coinsurance for medical care not covered by Original Medicare.‡ Deductibles and copays for inpatient stays can also add up quickly. These items alone could burden you with significant annual costs. Even though you may currently be healthy, your future needs can change quickly.
We have plans to enhance your Original Medicare‡ coverage, pay for the things it doesn’t cover, and help control your health care costs.
Medicare Part A |
Medicare Part B |
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Hospital Insurance
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Medical Insurance
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Original Medicare‡ Costs
Let’s look at how most people pay for Original Medicare‡.
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Medicare Part A |
Medicare Part B
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$0 Monthly Premium For Most People You may have to pay a premium for Part A, but most people don't. If you or your spouse made payroll contributions to Social Security for 10 years while you were working, you won’t have to pay premiums for Part A. If not, you'll have to pay a Part A monthly premium.
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$174.70 Monthly Premium For Most People (2024) The cost of Part B varies depending on your income. Social Security uses your tax information to find out what you should pay. Your Part B premium can be automatically deducted from your Social Security check each month.
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Medicare Preventive Health
Original Medicare‡ Part B includes many preventive health benefits. Take advantage of preventive care — it’s one of the best things you can do for your health. Regular checkups, tests, shots and screenings can protect you from disease or injury, or lead to early detection and treatment that is more effective. Original Medicare‡ pays for many preventive health services, and some of our plans cover even more. Here’s a list of preventive services included with Medicare Part B (some limitations and/or exclusions may apply).
Shots
Exams
Other Preventive Benefits
Screenings
Does Original Medicare‡ Cover Ambulance Services?
Original Medicare‡ Part B covers ambulance transportation when you need to go to a hospital or skilled nursing facility for medically necessary treatment. Original Medicare‡ may also pay for emergency transportation in an airplane or helicopter if you need rapid transportation to a hospital that ground transportation can’t provide.
What Is Not Covered By Original Medicare‡?
Though Original Medicare‡ pays for many services, it doesn’t pay for everything. Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug (Part D), Medicare Supplement Plans, and optional vision and dental plans are available for Medicare eligibles to help you with the things that aren’t covered.
Original Medicare‡ vs. Medicare Advantage
Some of the benefits Medicare Advantage plans have that Original Medicare‡ doesn’t include:
Prescription drug overage
Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drugs (Part D) coverage. While Medicare Part D provides only prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage plans can cover that and more.
Supplemental benefits
Many Medicare Advantage plans include allowances for Over-the-Counter (OTC) items, groceries, utilities, transportation and more. Note: Supplemental benefits can vary based on where you live, the plan you chose, and whether you qualify to receive them.
Dental care
Many Medicare Advantage plans offer dental coverage for things like routine checkups and exams, cleanings, dentures, and coverage for unplanned dental procedures like root canals and crowns.
Vision care
Eye health and vision coverage becomes more important as we age. Eye exams, glasses, and contacts are a part of many Medicare Advantage plans.
Hearing care
Original Medicare‡ doesn't cover hearing aids, which can be expensive. Many Medicare Advantage plans provide hearing coverage that includes testing and medically required hearing aids.
Wellness and fitness
Medicare Advantage plans give you options for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Many plans include access to gym memberships, senior fitness programs like SilverSneakers®, and coaching to improve overall well-being.
We offer Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug (Part D), and Medicare Supplement plans in most areas of the country. Depending on the plan you choose, it may help you pay for some of what Medicare doesn’t cover for Medicare-approved services. Our Medicare Supplement plans also include value-added programs like SilverSneakers®.
And, in most states, one of our optional dental or vision packages can easily be purchased in addition to your Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan to complement your coverage. You receive allowances for the glasses or contacts you rely on and your checkups and eye exams will be covered.
How To Sign Up For Medicare
We can help you understand the rules about when and how to sign up for Original Medicare‡ and the Medicare plans we offer such as Medicare Advantage, Prescription Drug (Part D), and Medicare Supplement on our Sign Up For Medicare page.
Get Help Paying For Original Medicare‡
If you need help paying for the costs of Original Medicare‡, like deductibles or premiums, there are many programs to help. You can also apply for a Medicare Savings Program to help cover the costs of Original Medicare.‡ To find out if you qualify for one of these programs, visit Medicare.gov or call your state’s Medicaid or local Social Security office. If you already have Medicaid or are enrolled in certain levels of the Medicare Savings Program, you may be eligible for a Dual Special Needs (D-SNP) plan. These plans are designed for people who have Medicare and Medicaid and have no premium, medical copays or deductibles.
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Read Our Other Medicare Articles
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What Is Medicare Part A?
What Is Medicare Part B?
What Is Medicare Part C?
What Is Medicare Part D?
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Get the facts on Medicare vs Medicaid
What Is Medicare?
Turning 65
Medicare Eligibility
‡Original Medicare: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
Anthem Blue Cross is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company is an LPPO plan with a Medicare contract. Anthem Blue Cross is an HMO SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the California Medicaid program. Enrollment in Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company depends on contract renewal.
For Medicare Supplement only: Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.