Medicare Overview

What is medicare and how does it work?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for:

  • People age 65 and older

  • People under 65 with certain disabilities

  • Individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS

It helps cover hospital stays, doctor visits, outpatient care, and more. But Medicare isn’t one-size-fits-all—there are different parts and options depending on your needs.

The Four Main Parts of Medicare:

  • Part A – Hospital insurance (inpatient care, skilled nursing, hospice)

  • Part B – Medical insurance (doctor visits, lab work, outpatient care)

  • Part C – Medicare Advantage (all-in-one plan through private insurers)

  • Part D – Prescription drug coverage (also through private insurers)

Most people get Part A automatically and may need to sign up for Part B—especially if they are not yet collecting Social Security.

The information provided on this website is intended to help you better understand your Medicare choices. While it is based on publicly available sources such as Medicare.gov and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this content has been created by Peterson Insurance Solutions, operating under the brand Faithfully Planned. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the federal government or the Medicare program. For personalized advice, please consult official resources or speak directly with a licensed insurance agent.