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Medicare is government health insurance for people 65 or older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities.
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Learn about the different types of Medicare insurance policies
Medicare can be broken down into four different types of coverage.
The main types of Medicare coverage you can get are:
- Parts A and B, with the option of adding Part D and Medigap
- Part C plan (bundles Part A and B and usually Part D)
Part A
Part B
Part C
Part D
Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers care in a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, hospice care and, in some cases, home health care. If you worked for more than 10 years, you'll probably get Part A for free.
Part A
Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers care in a hospital, skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, hospice care and, in some cases, home health care. If you worked for more than 10 years, you'll probably get Part A for free.
Part B
Part B provides coverage for things like doctor visits, called "outpatient care," and medical equipment like crutches or wheelchairs. It covers both preventive and medically necessary care. Medicare Part A and Part B make up Original Medicare, which is managed by the federal government.
Part C
Also known as Medicare Advantage, Part C is offered by private companies that contract with Medicare. People who buy Part C pay for:
- Part A: Usually free
- Part B: Cost set each year by the government
- Part C: Cost set by the private insurance company
Part C usually offers coverage for services not offered by Parts A and B, such as dental and vision care.
Part D
Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription medications. When you buy a Part D plan, check to make sure your prescriptions are included in the coverage.
Guide to Medicare
1. How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
Generally, you must be 65 or older in order to get Medicare. However, some younger people with certain disabilities can also qualify for Medicare.
Medicare Eligibility Calculator
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Note that your enrollment period may differ if you currently have a disability or have certain medical conditions.
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2. How do I sign up for Medicare?
There are a couple of ways to sign up for Medicare. If you apply for retirement or disability benefits through Social Security, the process includes an application for Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
You can also put in an application on the Social Security Administration website. You can get Medicare Parts C and D at Medicare.gov.
You need to have Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and a Medicare account number to sign up for Part C or D.
You can also apply for Medicare by calling 1-800-772-1213.
3. What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?
You will likely need your birth certificate and a U.S. driver's license or passport. You'll also need your Social Security number, current health insurance info, tax records (W-2) and military service records, if you were a member of the military.
Medicare costs in 2026
How much you pay for Medicare depends on the type of plan you have. Each plan comes with different costs.
Original Medicare
- Part A: Free for most people
- Part B: $185/month
Medicare Advantage
- Part A: Free for most people
- Part B: $185/month
- Part C: $27/month
Original Medicare add-ons
- Part D: $62/month
- Medigap: $180/month for Plan G
For example, if you have Original Medicare plus Medigap Plan G and a Part D plan, you'll pay an average rate of $427 per month. But if you have a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, you'll pay an average of $212 per month.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans bundle your Original Medicare — Parts A and B — together into one plan. These plans also usually include extra benefits, like coverage for hearing, dental and vision care. Some plans include perks like a gym membership, a meal delivery program and coverage for over-the-counter health supplies like bandages.
Medicare Advantage plans are also called Medicare Part C plans. These plans can be convenient, but they come with serious drawbacks. For example, you'll have to stay within a network of doctors, and you might not have any coverage if you go outside the network. If you stick with Original Medicare, you'll have the ability to see most doctors in your area.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Medigap gives you coverage for things not covered by Medicare Parts A and B, like deductibles, coinsurance and out-of-pocket costs. Also called Medicare Supplement, it's a supplemental health insurance plan that you can add to Original Medicare.
Depending on the plan you buy, Medigap pays for most or all of your remaining medical bills after Original Medicare pays. That means you don't have to pay much, if anything, for most medical care.
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Methodology
Medicare Advantage and Part D rates come from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, while Medigap rates are from actuarial data for private insurance companies. Original Medicare rates are for 2025, while Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap rates are for 2026.
Medicare Advantage
Rates are for Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage. Special needs plans, sanctioned plans, PACE plans, prepayment plans (HCPPs), Medicare medical savings account (MSA) plans and employer-sponsored plans are not included in ValuePenguin's cost analysis. Rates also exclude U.S. territories.
Medicare Part D
Part D rates are averages for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., but exclude U.S. territories.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Rates are for a 65-year-old woman who doesn't smoke and who purchased a plan when she was first eligible, before medical history is factored into the cost for a plan. Select plans, as well as the unique Medigap plans in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Massachusetts, are not included in the average rates.
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Invitations for application for insurance may be made through QW Insurance Solutions, LLC ("QWIS"), a separate subsidiary of QuoteWizard, LLC ("QuoteWizard"), a LendingTree subsidiary, or through its designated agents, only where licensed and appointed. QWIS is a nongovernment licensed health insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. Find licensing information for QWIS.
Callers will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls will be routed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more nationally recognized insurance companies. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.
Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information contained on this website.
Medicare Supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end-stage renal disease.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corp., Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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About the Author
Analyst
Stephanie Guinan is an Analyst for ValuePenguin/LendingTree. She specializes in simplifying complex insurance topics for consumers.
She’s also worked as an award-winning data journalist and content marketing writer. Stephanie’s work has been cited by Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Rolling Stone and more.
Expertise
- Health insurance and Medicare
- Home and auto insurance
- Crunching numbers
Referenced by
- Wall Street Journal
- New York Times
- Rolling Stone
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