Medicare Coverage Cheat Sheet
Keep the main Medicare parts, timing rules, and decision checkpoints in one concise reference.
Part A versus Part B
Part A generally covers eligible inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice and certain home health services. Part B covers medically necessary outpatient and physician services and certain preventive care. Hospital observation status is different from formal inpatient admission.
Official source: Medicare: Part A coverage ↗ · Medicare: Part B coverage ↗ · Medicare: Inpatient hospital care ↗
Part C versus Part D
Part C, Medicare Advantage, is a private way to receive A/B benefits, with plan networks and cost sharing; many plans include drug coverage. Part D covers eligible outpatient prescription drugs under a plan formulary and pharmacy rules.
Official source: Medicare: Parts of Medicare ↗ · Medicare: What drug plans cover ↗
What Original Medicare can leave unpaid
Original Medicare has Part A/B deductibles and coinsurance and no overall annual A/B out-of-pocket maximum. It generally excludes routine dental, hearing aids, many routine vision services and long-term custodial care. Some Advantage plans offer extra benefits with limits.
Official source: Medicare: Original versus Advantage ↗ · Medicare: Services Original Medicare does not cover ↗
Where to verify
Use Medicare’s coverage checker for a particular service, the Evidence of Coverage for a specific private plan, and Medicare Plan Compare for locally available options. Medicare eligibility and Part A/B applications go through the Social Security route.
Official source: Medicare: Evidence of Coverage ↗ · Medicare: Compare plans ↗ · SSA: Sign up for Medicare ↗