08/13/2026
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Are you sure you know what Medicare really covers?
In all my years at Social Security, I saw this constantly: people signed up for Medicare but couldn’t tell you what each part actually pays for — or, worse, they were completely surprised when something wasn’t covered. That confusion costs time and money every single day.
Here’s the plain-English breakdown:
• Part A — Hospital insurance. Inpatient care, skilled nursing, hospice. Most people get it premium‑free.
• Part B — Medical insurance. Doctor visits, outpatient services, preventive care. Current standard premium is $202.90 a month, with a $283 annual deductible.
• Part C — Medicare Advantage. Private‑plan alternative that bundles Part A, Part B, and usually drug coverage. Rules differ from Original Medicare.
• Part D — Prescription drug coverage. Stand‑alone plans cap your out‑of‑pocket drug costs at $2,100 this year.
And here’s the gap that trips people up the most: Original Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental, vision, or hearing services. You pay for cleanings, exams, glasses, and hearing aids entirely out of pocket unless you have separate coverage.
📋 Once you see it spelled out this way, it’s not complicated — but you have to know which part does what before you use it. Share this with someone on Medicare so they know exactly what’s covered.