When you first sign up for Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose how you get your Medicare coverage.

There are 2 main ways to get Medicare:

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). After you pay a deductible, Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount, and you pay your share (coinsurance). If you want Medicare drug coverage (Part D), you can join a separate Medicare drug plan.

Medicare Advantage (also known as “Part C”) is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D. Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t.

Your decision about how to get Medicare affects how much you pay for coverage, what services you get, and what doctors you can use.

Source: Medicare.gov