Medicare Made Simple: Your Guide to Parts A, B, C & D

Medicare terminology can often feel like a foreign language. It’s full of letters, rules and fine print that can quickly become overwhelming. If you’ve ever wondered what all the different “parts” mean or worried about making the wrong choice, you’re not alone. Many people feel unsure when first exploring Medicare, and it’s completely normal to need a little guidance.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you break it down into simple terms, Medicare becomes much easier to understand and much less intimidating. We’re here to walk you through it in plain, straightforward language so you can feel more confident about your healthcare decisions.

Part A: Hospital insurance

Part A helps pay for care when you are admitted to a hospital. It usually covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care (not long-term nursing home care), hospice care and limited home health care.

Most people do not pay a monthly premium for Part A because they paid Medicare taxes while working.

It’s helpful to think of Part A as coverage for inpatient care when someone stays overnight.

Part B: Medical insurance

Part B helps to pay for everyday medical care. Provider visits and routine care are useful frames of reference, too.

It usually covers provider visits, outpatient care, preventive services like screenings and vaccines, lab tests and x-rays and medical equipment (walkers or wheelchairs).

Part B does have a monthly premium, which is usually taken out of your social security check. 

Part C: Medicare Advantage plans

Part C is another way to get your Medicare benefits. These are plans offered by private insurance companies, and they combine Part A and Part B into one plan. In fact, our health plan is an example of Part C, or a Medicare Advantage plan. 

Most also include Part D (prescription drug coverage) and offer extra benefits, such as dental, vision, hearing and gym memberships. 

Part C is considered an “all-in-one” Medicare plan with added benefits. 

Part D: Prescription drug coverage

Part D helps pay for prescription medications. It is offered by private insurance companies and helps lower the cost of medicines you take at home. Each plan has a list of covered drugs (called a formulary). Click here to check out the formulary for your plan.

You can get Part D as a stand-alone plan or built into a Part C plan. 

How does my health plan fit into all of this?

When you join M, you are still enrolled in Medicare, but your benefits are delivered through one coordinated Medicare Advantage plan.

In other words, instead of managing separate coverage for Part A (hospital care), Part B (provider and outpatient care) and Part D (prescription drugs), your health plan combines these parts into a single plan. It covers everything Original Medicare does, including hospital stays, provider visits, preventive services, lab work and treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. You continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium and use your member ID card for most services.

As a member, having your benefits under one plan means simpler, more connected care. Many plans also include extra benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental, vision, hearing, wellness programs and care coordination. For members with chronic conditions, your plan helps manage care across providers, hospitals and prescriptions, often with an annual limit on out-of-pocket costs to make expenses more predictable.

For more information on Parts A, B, C and D, or if you would like to know which Part is best for your lifestyle and needs, call Member Services at 800-240-3851 (TTY: 711). Our representatives are available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to assist you.