WHAT IS ORIGINAL MEDICARE?

 Original Medicare is the traditional fee-for-service health insurance program offered directly by the federal government to people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It consists of two main parts:
 

1. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance):
   - Covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
   - Most people don't pay a premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.
 

2. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance):
   - Covers outpatient care, doctor visits, preventive services, and some home health care.
   - It also covers durable medical equipment and some preventive services, like flu shots.
   - Part B has a monthly premium, which is typically deducted from Social Security benefits.
 

Original Medicare allows beneficiaries to choose their own doctors and hospitals that accept Medicare and does not require referrals to see specialists. However, it doesn't cover everything, like most dental care, vision care, hearing aids, and long-term care. Beneficiaries often purchase supplemental insurance (Medigap) to help cover out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
 

Original Medicare is different from Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), which are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits.