Your guide to Medicare
Blue KC is committed to helping you understand your options so you can feel confident in choosing the coverage that best meets your needs. We’re right here in Kansas City, ready to answer your questions and to help guide you through your choices.
Hospital, skilled nursing, hospice, & home health care
Doctor visits, outpatient, & preventive care
Combines Parts A & B, plus additional coverage
Prescription drug coverage
What is Medicare?
Medicare is federal health insurance coverage for eligible individuals ages 65 and older. It is also available for individuals under age 65 with certain disabilities or medical conditions.
Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program for Americans made up of four parts – Parts A, B, C and D – designed to address your healthcare needs. It is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Original Medicare
Part A and Part B are provided through the federal government and are referred to as Original Medicare. These parts provide a specific set of benefits and services.
Part A covers inpatient care provided in hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, home health care services and hospice care for the terminally ill.
Part B covers services from doctors and other healthcare providers, outpatient care, medical supplies, durable medical equipment, and preventive services.
Other Medicare coverage options
Part C and Part D, as well as Medicare Supplemental Insurance, are offered through private insurance companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. These plans may include benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover and may lower your healthcare expenses.
Medicare Advantage is an “all-in-one” alternative to Original Medicare. These bundled plans include the benefits of Part A, Part B and may cover prescription drugs. Part C plans often include extras like dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
Part D is prescription drug coverage that includes the cost of outpatient prescriptions like generic and brand name drugs. Part D is offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies with standardized benefits. You can get Part D coverage as a stand-alone plan if you are enrolled in Original Medicare or as part of your Medicare Advantage plan.
While Medicare Supplement plans are not part of Medicare, they can play an important role in your Original Medicare coverage. Also known as Medigap, Medicare Supplement plans vary in what they cover but help pay some of the health care costs not covered by Original Medicare and may include extra benefits. You must have Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan.