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The answer

What are the parts of Medicare?


Medicare has four parts, labeled A, B, C, and D.

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing care, and some home health care. Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. Together, Part A and Part B are called Original Medicare. Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, is a way to get your Part A and Part B benefits bundled through a private plan, often with extra benefits. Part D covers prescription drugs. You can keep Original Medicare and add a separate Part D drug plan, or you can choose a Part C plan that may include drug coverage. Each path has different costs and rules.

Source medicare.govReviewed May 2026
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