Medicare is Health Insurance for:

  • People 65 years of age and older.
  • Some people with disabilities under age 65.
  • People with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant).

Medicare has Two Parts:

  • Part A - Hospital Insurance. Most people do not have to pay for Part A.
  • Part B - Medical Insurance. Most people pay monthly for Part B.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part A Helps Pay For:

Care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home health care. Information about your coverage under Medicare Part A can be found in the Your Medicare Coverage database.


Cost: Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They do not have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working.

If you (or your spouse) did not pay Medicare taxes while you worked and you are age 65 or older, you still may be able to buy Part A.

Part B (Medical Insurance) Helps Pay For:

Doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, such as the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary. Information about your coverage under Medicare Part B can be found in the Your Medicare Coverage database.

Medicare Cost:

You pay the Medicare Part B premium of $58.70 per month in 2003. This amount may change January 1, 2003. In some cases this amount may be higher if you did not choose Part B when you first became eligible at age 65. The cost of Part B may go up 10% for each 12-month period that you could have had Part B but did not sign up for it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this extra 10% for the rest of your life.

Enrolling in part B is your choice. You can sign up for Part B anytime during a 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65.

For More Information About Medicare Part B Coverage:

Visit the Your Medicare Coverage database.

Call your Medicare Carrier about bills and services.

You may have choices in how you get your health care including the Original Medicare Plan, Medicare Managed Care Plans (like HMOs), and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans.

For more information, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.