Medicare
Medicare explained — by licensed agents, not algorithms.
Medicare can feel like four programs pretending to be one. This page covers the structure and the vocabulary so you can have a useful conversation about your options. For specific plan comparisons in your area, talk to a licensed El-Mag agent.
How Medicare is structured
Medicare has four parts. Each part covers a different category of care.
- Part A — Hospital Insurance. Inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care after a hospitalization, hospice, and limited home health.
- Part B — Medical Insurance. Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive screenings, durable medical equipment.
- Part C — Medicare Advantage. A way to get your Part A and Part B benefits through a private insurance plan that contracts with Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D drug coverage.
- Part D — Prescription Drug Coverage. Optional drug coverage, sold by private insurers and regulated by Medicare.
Who is eligible
You can enroll in Medicare if you:
- Are 65 or older and a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of at least 5 years; or
- Are under 65 and have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for 24 months; or
- Have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS.
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
Once you qualify, you have a choice between two main paths:
- Original Medicare (Parts A and B, run by the federal government). You can see any provider that accepts Medicare nationwide. You may add a separate Part D plan and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C, offered by private carriers contracted with Medicare). Your Part A and Part B benefits come through one plan, usually with networks of doctors and hospitals. Drug coverage is often built in.
Neither option is universally “better.” The right choice depends on your doctors, prescriptions, travel patterns, and budget.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
If you stay with Original Medicare, you can add a Medigap policy to help with the costs Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Medigap policies are sold by private insurers but standardized by federal law: every Medigap Plan G sold by every carrier covers the same things — what differs is the premium and the company behind it. Medigap plans are identified by letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N.
When you can enroll
There are several enrollment periods, each with its own rules. See /medicare/enrollment-periods for the full calendar.
How a licensed agent helps
We don’t tell you what to choose. We help you compare based on the doctors and prescriptions you actually have, and the way you actually live.
Request a Medicare quote.