Medicare Part A and Part B describe different parts of your health coverage. They do not tell you the complete amount you will pay for a particular appointment or hospital stay. Start by separating the service, the coverage rules and your share of the bill. That makes later comparisons with retiree coverage or a private plan easier to follow.
What do Parts A and B help cover?
Part A generally helps with inpatient hospital care, certain skilled nursing facility care, hospice and home health care. Part B generally helps with doctors' services, outpatient care, medical equipment and many preventive services. These are broad categories; they do not establish that every service in a building is covered. Ask the provider which service is being billed and check the applicable coverage requirements.
Original Medicare includes Parts A and B. Prescription drug coverage and supplemental insurance are separate decisions. A Medicare Advantage plan is another way to receive Medicare benefits, rather than an extra Medigap policy added to Original Medicare.
Separate four kinds of cost
Most people qualify for Part A without a monthly premium, but premium-free does not mean every covered service is free. Part B normally has a monthly premium. Deductibles, coinsurance and copayments describe different ways a person shares costs. The official cost page identifies the year for its figures; check that year before putting an amount in a retirement budget.
| Budget line | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Monthly coverage | Which premiums continue even in a month without a visit? |
| Service charge | Which deductible or cost-sharing rule applies to this service? |
| Other insurance | Which plan pays first, and what might the second plan pay? |
| Uncovered service | Is there a written coverage decision or only an estimate? |
| Annual review | Which figures or policy terms change for the coming year? |
Write the name and date of the source beside each answer. Leave an uncertain amount blank instead of copying a neighbor's bill. A benefit estimate and an actual claim decision serve different purposes.
Connect the next decision
Use the Original Medicare and Advantage comparison to organize provider and coverage questions. Federal households should separately review FEHB and Medicare at 65; do not assume a general Medicare summary decides an FEHB election.
Your next step is to confirm the applicable coverage and current costs with Medicare and your plan. Keep Medicare numbers, bills and medical records in your own files. This guide explains a comparison process and does not determine eligibility, coverage or a plan recommendation.
Browse federal benefits, retirement and insurance topics or read how we prepare and check our guides.
Sources
- Medicare: Parts of Medicare, checked November 4, 2026
- Medicare: What does Medicare cost?, checked November 4, 2026
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