Part A: Hospital Insurance
Part A helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.
Together with Part B, it forms Original Medicare.
Medicare Basics for Nevada Residents
What Is Medicare? A Plain-English Guide
Medicare is federal health insurance. This page explains its main parts and the two basic ways you can receive your coverage.
- Medicare is generally for people 65 or older, and for some younger people with certain disabilities, End-Stage Renal Disease, or ALS.
- Original Medicare includes Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
- You can keep Original Medicare or choose a Medicare Advantage plan offered by a Medicare-approved private company.
Part A: Hospital Insurance
Part B: Medical Insurance
Part D: Drug Coverage
The Parts of Medicare
Each part covers a different type of care or gives you another way to organize your benefits.
Part B: Medical Insurance
Part B helps cover doctors’ services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, home health care, and many preventive services.
Part C: Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage is an alternative way to receive Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare-approved private company. Many plans also include prescription drug coverage and may offer extra benefits.
Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage
Part D helps cover prescription drugs. You can get it through a separate drug plan with Original Medicare or through many Medicare Advantage plans.
Medigap: Supplemental Coverage
Medigap is extra insurance from a private company that can help pay your share of costs in Original Medicare.
Medigap is not used with Medicare Advantage.
Your enrollment timing can affect which policies are available to you.
Compare premiums, provider access, travel needs, prescriptions, and expected out-of-pocket costs.
Review your options before changing employer, retiree, VA, TRICARE, or other existing coverage.
How Medicare Coverage Choices Fit Together
Original Medicare lets you visit any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare in the United States. You may add a separate Part D plan and, if eligible, a Medigap policy.
Explore Original Medicare →
Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks and plan rules that can vary. They include Part A and Part B benefits and often include Part D drug coverage.
Explore Medicare Advantage →
Coverage is personal. Check your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacies, travel needs, budget, and other insurance before choosing a path.
Learn More →
Medicare can feel overwhelming, especially when helping someone you care about. Learning the basics is the first step toward making confident coverage decisions.
Get Medicare Guidance for Caregivers →
Both options can help reduce your healthcare costs, but they work very differently. The right choice depends on your budget, doctors, travel habits, and healthcare needs.
Learn More →
Medicare Is a Starting Point
Medicare does not cover every health-care cost. Your coverage path determines how deductibles, copays, coinsurance, drug coverage, and provider access work.
Start by understanding Parts A and B, then compare how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage would work for you.
For official information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. For local plan guidance, speak with a licensed Nevada Medicare broker.
Compare Your Medicare Coverage Paths
Review Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, drug coverage, and Medigap side by side using your doctors, prescriptions, budget, and travel needs.
Take the Medicare Fit Quiz