Medicare Basics
Medicare can feel like alphabet soup. This page walks through the building blocks in plain language, so you know what each part does before you make any decisions.
Key points
- Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older, and for some younger people with certain disabilities or conditions.
- Part A and Part B together are called Original Medicare.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (drug coverage) are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.
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Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older. Some people under 65 also qualify — for example, those who have received Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months, or people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure) or ALS.
Medicare is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency. It is different from Medicaid, which is a joint federal and state program based on income and resources. Some people qualify for both.
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Frequently asked questions
Sources from Medicare.gov
The facts on this page come from official Medicare.gov information. Rules, premiums, deductibles, and income limits can change every year — check these pages for the current details.
- What's Medicare? (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- Parts of Medicare (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- Your coverage options: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- What Medicare covers (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
- Medicare costs (current premiums & deductibles — updated yearly) (opens Medicare.gov in a new tab)
You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
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More Medicare topics
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
To send a complaint to Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week. If your complaint involves a broker or agent, be sure to include the name of the person when filing your grievance.
This website is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. The information on this page is general education, not advice about a specific plan.