Medicare · 5 min read

Medicare Explained: Parts A, B, C, and D

A plain-English guide to the four parts of Medicare and what each one actually covers.

The four parts in one minute

Medicare is built from four parts. Part A covers hospital/inpatient care. Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. Part C (Medicare Advantage) is an all-in-one alternative offered by private insurers that bundles A, B, and usually D. Part D covers prescription drugs. Most people start with Original Medicare (A and B) and then add either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Supplement plus a Part D plan.

Part A — Hospital insurance

Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for Part A because they paid Medicare taxes while working.

Part B — Medical insurance

Part B helps cover doctor visits, preventive services, lab tests, and durable medical equipment. Part B has a monthly premium set each year by Medicare.

Part C & Part D — Your two main choices

Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare and often include extra benefits like dental, vision, and prescription drugs. Part D adds standalone drug coverage to Original Medicare. Which path is right depends on your doctors, prescriptions, and budget — that is exactly what a licensed agent can compare for you at no cost.

Official resources

Have questions about Medicare?

Talk to a licensed agent for a free, no-obligation review of your options.

Get my free Medicare quote

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical, legal, tax, or insurance advice. Edlando is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, or any government agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area; any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. To learn about all your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.