Original Medicare

Part A and Part B are together referred to as “Original Medicare.” Original Medicare only includes hospital and medical insurance, so if you need prescription drug coverage, you’ll need to enroll in a separate Part D plan.

Medicare Supplement

Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (also called Medigap) are only available to people who already have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Medigap can help pay for some of the out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare. These plans may be associated with additional costs and some health services are not covered such as vision or dental care, hearing aids and eyeglasses.

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private health insurance companies. These plans combine everything you get in Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance), typically with added benefits, such as prescription drug coverage (Part D), dental, vision, wellness perks, and more.

If you join a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll still have Medicare plus supplemental health benefits—but the Medicare Advantage plan is your primary insurer.

Eligibility and Enrollment

• If you’re not already getting benefits, you should contact Social Security about three months before your 65th birthday to sign up for Medicare. You should sign up for Medicare even if you don’t plan to retire at age 65. If you’re already getting Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, we’ll contact you a few months before you become eligible for Medicare and send you information
• You should receive this red, white, and blue Medicare ID card in the mail

• If you haven’t received your card, connect with your local SS office.
• If you were not automatically enrolled, you can sign up for Original Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) - the seven-month period of time when you can enroll for the first time in a Medicare plan - online at www.ssa.gov/medicare, visit your local Social Security office, or call 1-800-772-1213.