Medicare

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for older adults and for some people with disabilities. It is divided into parts that cover hospital care, doctor visits, private plan options, and prescription drugs. The topic covers enrollment, costs, coverage decisions, and the agencies, insurers, and Congress that shape how it runs and how it is funded.

People usually want to know when and how to sign up and what each part covers. They ask about premiums and other costs, how private Medicare plans differ from the original program, how Medicare and Medicaid work together, how to appeal a decision, and what long-term questions exist about its funding.