What is Medicare?
Medicare Part A
Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. For Part A, you typically don’t pay a premium and you will be automatically signed up in most cases. However, Medicare does not cover everything and it does not cover the total cost for many of the medical supplies or covered services.
Medicare Part B
Part B covers certain doctor's services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services (i.e. x-rays, diagnostic tests, and renal dialysis) A premium has to be paid by most people to access Part B.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Part C is a combination of Part A and Part B and must cover nothing less than all the services covered under Original Medicare Part A & Part B. The key difference here is that this type of coverage is provided by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.
Medicare Part D
Your Prescription Drug Coverage.
It is available to everyone on Medicare, but you will pay a separate monthly premium for this coverage directly to the insurance company providing the coverage. Your premium is withheld from your monthly social security check or paid by you directly to the insurance company.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans (Part E)
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) can help you pay for some of the costs not covered by original Medicare. Coverage includes co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles as well as medical care when you travel outside of the United States. You’re required to pay a premium for a Medigap policy in addition to your Medicare Part B premium. Private insurance companies are required to offer standardized benefits for each Medicare Supplement policy, the only difference is the premium.
You must have Medicare parts A and B to purchase a Medigap policy.
Dental & Vision
Find out more information on Humana's dental and vision coverages in your area now. Learn More!
When is the Best Time to Buy?
Initial Enrollment Period
When you first become eligible for Medicare, you can sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period. This is the 7-month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. If you sign up during the first 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, in most cases, your coverage starts the first day of your birthday month. However, if your birthday is on the first day of the month, your coverage will start the first day of the prior month. If you enroll the month you turn 65 or during the last 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, your start date for coverage will be delayed.
Open Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7)
Anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medigap, Medicare Advantage or drug plan. Your coverage will begin on January 1, as long as the plan gets your request by December 7.
General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31)
If you already have Part A coverage and you get Part B for the first time during the General Enrollment Period (January 1— March 31), you can also join a Medigap or Medicare Advantage Plan at that time. Your coverage may not start until July 1.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. This is a proprietary website and is not associated, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This site contains decision-support content and information about Medicare, services related to Medicare and services for people with Medicare. If you would like to find more information about the Medicare program please visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare located at http://www.medicare.gov