This section covers the different parts of Medicare, Medicare managed care plans, medigap insurance, and Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Medicare
Part A pays for most of the cost of hospitalization and other in-patient stays
for Americans who are over 65 or disabled (if they are insured for Social
Security/Medicare). Medicare Part B, which charges a premium, pays for doctor's
visits and othermedical care. Medicare Part D is a prescritpion drug program
that helps seniors with the cost of precribed medications. Medigap insurance,
regulated by the federal government, helps fill in the gaps that aren't covered
by Medicare. These parts of Medicare are called traditional Medicare, and each
program charges copays and deductibles for services. Medicare managed care plans are Medicare Part C, an
alternative to traditional Medicare.