Medicare ABCD

The story: Ruth reads the alphabet

At the doctor’s office, a nurse helps Ruth remember the four parts of Medicare: A, B, C and D.

1. Narrator: Ruth reaches Medicare age soon. A letter came full of letters: A, B, C and D.
2. Ruth: It reads like alphabet soup. Which part pays for what?
3. Adult: Here’s an easy way to remember. A is for Admitted, like a hospital stay. B is for Basic care, like doctor visits.
4. Adult: C is a Combined plan from a private company. D is for Drugs, your prescriptions.
5. Narrator: Medicare doesn’t cover everything. Most dental, eye and hearing care is left out. So is long-term help with daily living.
6. Ruth: A, B, C, D. Now I can read the letter.
7. Narrator: A is Admitted, B is Basic care, C is a Combined plan, and D is Drugs.

What you’ll learn

1. Part A: hospital care

   Part A helps pay for hospital stays. It also helps with a short stay in a nursing facility for rehab after a hospital stay, some care at home, and hospice. Most people pay no monthly premium for Part A, because they paid Medicare tax while they worked.

2. Part B: doctors and tests

   Part B helps pay for doctor visits, care where you don’t stay overnight, lab tests, and equipment like walkers. It covers many shots and checkups too. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B. The standard amount is $202.90.

3. Part C and Part D

   Part C is called Medicare Advantage. It is a private plan that puts Parts A and B together, and usually D. Part D helps pay for prescription drugs. You can add a Part D plan to Original Medicare, which means Parts A and B.

4. What Medicare doesn’t cover

   Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term help with daily living, like bathing or dressing, at home or in a nursing home. Most dental, eye and hearing care isn’t covered either. Medicare is not Medicaid. Medicaid is a different program for people with low income.

Key words

Original Medicare

Parts A and B, from the government

Medicare Advantage

a private Part C plan

premium, deductible, coinsurance

the monthly price, what you pay first, and your share after that

Common questions

I’m younger than Medicare age but have a disability. Can I get Medicare?

Often, yes. People who have received Social Security disability checks for a set time, and people with certain illnesses, can get Medicare early. SSA.gov explains when.

Where can I get free help with Medicare?

Every state has a free SHIP program with trained counselors who don’t sell anything. Find yours at SHIPhelp.org.

Remember this

A = Admitted, B = Basic care, C = Combined plan, D = Drugs.

Try it: Find your Medicare start date

1. Go to Medicare.gov and make a free account, or bookmark the site.
2. Find the date your Medicare can start.
3. Write the date on your calendar.

The whole mission works with no account or app.

Live facts

Numbers that change over time, with when they were last checked and where they come from.

• Medicare starts at

  65

  The age most people become eligible for Medicare

  As of February 8, 2026

  Source: Medicare.gov(opens in a new tab)

• Medicare Part B standard premium

  $202.90a month

  What most people pay each month for Part B; higher incomes pay more

  As of 2026

  Source: Medicare.gov(opens in a new tab)

• This year’s Medicare costs: premiums, deductibles and coinsurance

  Source: Medicare.gov(opens in a new tab)

• Free, unbiased Medicare help (SHIP)

  Source: SHIPhelp.org(opens in a new tab)