What is Medicare?
Medicare is basic health insurance provided by the Federal government for people 65 and older, and people under 65 who meet certain criteria.
Medicare consists of 4 separate parts:
- Part A (Part of Original Medicare offered by the Federal government)
- Part B (Part of Original Medicare offered by the Federal government)
- Part C (Additional coverage offered by private insurance companies)
- Part D (Drug coverage offered by private insurance companies)
Learn more about Medicare with our Medicare Made Simple Guide:
Download Medicare Made Simple Guide
You are not automatically enrolled in Medicare!
Many people think you automatically get Medicare (Part A and Part B) when you turn 65, but that’s not true. To get Medicare coverage, you must enroll through the Social Security Administration. You can enroll on the Social Security website, by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office in person.
Find your local Social Security office here.
Add Part C and Part D for complete coverage.
Once you sign up for Medicare (Part A and Part B) you will want to consider adding Part C and Part D to have complete coverage. Many people find that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not provide enough coverage on its own. Medicare Advantage plans, such as CarePartners of Connecticut, offer Part C plans that include Part D coverage so you can have all your coverage in one plan.