Different parts of Medicare cover specific services. Most people choose to receive their Part A and B benefits at the time of retirement via Original Medicare. Original Medicare is also the traditional health insurance route offered directly by the federal government. Under Original Medicare, the US government pays for a person’s health care services. One can see any doctor and hospital that accepts Medicare anywhere in the country.
With Original Medicare, a person goes directly to the doctor or hospital when they need care. One doesn’t need to get prior permission from Medicare or their primary care doctor. Enrolled individuals are responsible for their monthly premium for Part B of their plan. Some might also pay a premium for Part A.
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Typically most individuals pay coinsurance for every service they receive. There are a few limits on the bills that doctors and hospitals can charge. It’s important to remember that government programs help reduce health care and prescription drug costs if a person meets the eligibility requirements. If a person wants prescription drug coverage with Original Medicare, they’ll need to opt for Medicare Part D.
Instead of Original Medicare, one can decide to get their Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan. This is also called Part C. Medicare Advantage Plans provide most of the Part A and Part B services that Original Medicare covers. In addition, these plans also offer coverage for dental services, hearing aids, and vision-related expenses.
It’s important for an individual to pick their coverage carefully. How a person chooses to get their benefits can affect their out-of-pocket costs and where they can get their care from. For example, in Original Medicare, a person is covered to go to nearly all doctors and hospitals in the US. On the other hand, with Medicare Advantage Plans, one typically has network restrictions. This means they’ll be limited in their choice of doctors and hospitals. However, Medicare Advantage Plans can provide additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, so that’s something to consider before making a decision regarding what type of Medicare plan to enroll for.
