Generally, you only need to sign up for Part A and Part B once. Each year, you can choose which way you get your health coverage (and add or switch drug coverage).
Medicare is different from private insurance — it doesn’t offer plans for couples or families. You don’t have to make the same choice as your spouse.
How does Original Medicare work?
Original Medicare covers most, but not all, of the costs for approved health care services and supplies. After you meet your deductible, you pay your share of costs for services and supplies as you get them. There’s no limit on what you’ll pay out-of-pocket in a year unless you have other coverage (like Medigap, Medicaid, or employee or union coverage).
Services covered by Medicare must be medically necessary. Medicare also covers many preventive services, like shots and screenings. If you go to a doctor or other health care provider that accepts the Medicare-approved amount, your share of costs may be less. If you get a service that Medicare doesn’t cover, you pay the full cost.
With Original Medicare, you can:
- Go to any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare, anywhere in the U.S.
- Join a separate Medicare drug plan (Part D) to get drug coverage.
- Buy a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy to help lower your share of costs for services you get.
How does Medicare Advantage work?
Medicare Advantage bundles your Part A, Part B, and usually Part D coverage into one plan. Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like vision, hearing, and dental services.
You join a plan offered by Medicare-approved private companies that follow rules set by Medicare. Each plan can have different rules for how you get services, like needing referrals to see a specialist. Costs for monthly premiums and services you get vary depending on which plan you join.
Plans must cover all emergency and urgent care, and almost all medically necessary services Original Medicare covers. Some plans tailor their benefit packages to offer additional benefits to treat specific conditions.
With Medicare Advantage, you:
- Need to use doctors who are in the plan’s network (for non-emergency or non-urgent care).
- May pay a premium for the plan in addition to the monthly Part B premium. Plans may have a $0 premium or may help pay all or part of your Part B premiums.
- Can’t buy or use separate supplemental coverage (like Medigap).
