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Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 and over. If you are under 65, you may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

There are four parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.

Part A (hospital insurance) helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care and home health care.

Part B (medical insurance) helps cover services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and other equipment).

Part C (Medicare Advantage) offers an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare-approved plans from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These "bundled" plans include Part A, Part B and usually Part D. Many plans also include added benefits that Original Medicare doesn't include like some dental, vision, hearing, fitness and over-to-counter items.

Part D (prescription drug coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. Part D plans are Medicare-approved plans from a private company.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for specific groups of people in the U.S. The original Medicare program included Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Today these two parts are called "Original Medicare."

As an alternative for those on Medicare to get their health coverage, they can join a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. An MA plan must include Part A and Part B coverage just like Original Medicare. Most MA plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D) and added benefits that Original Medicare doesn't include.

To be eligible for Medicare a person must:

• Be age 65 or older
• Be a U.S. resident AND
• Be either a U.S. citizen OR  
• Be an alien who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and has been residing in the U.S. for five continuous years prior to the month of filing an application for Medicare.

Part A premium

Most people don't pay a premium for Part A coverage. This is sometimes called "premium-free Part A." You won't pay a Part A premium if you:

• Qualify to get (or are already getting) retirement or disability benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board).
• Get Medicare earlier than 65 due to a disability or medical condition.
• Are 65 or older and you (or another qualifying person, like your current or former spouse) paid Medicare taxes while working for a certain amount of time (usually at least 10 years).
• If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A, you might be able to buy it.

Part B premium

You'll pay a premium for Part B coverage every month, even if you don't get any Part B-covered services. The monthly premium can change each year and may be higher depending on your income. Most people don't get a bill from Medicare because they get the premium deducted automatically from their Social Security, Railroad Retirement Board or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don't get any of these payments, you'll get a bill for your Part B premium so you can pay Medicare directly.

Part C premium

Monthly premiums for Part C coverage vary based on which plan you join. The premium amount can change each year.

Part D premium

Monthly premiums for Part D coverage vary based on which plan you join. The premium amount can change each year. You may also have to pay an extra amount each month based on your income.

Attain Health provides simple tools, useful guidance and personalized Medicare recommendations backed by CVS^® to help you choose a health plan from leading insurers that meets your needs.

Here are some ways you can enroll with help from Attain Health™.

• The Attain Health easy-to-use plan comparison tool can help. Just type in your ZIP code to find plans in your area.
• Enroll directly through Medicare.gov

Most people sign up for Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) when they are first eligible, typically at age 65.

It's important to sign up promptly to avoid gaps in coverage or late enrollment penalties. However, if you're already covered through an employer group health plan, it might make sense to sign up for Medicare later or delay Part B.

If you are age 65 or older and receive Social Security benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Part A.

The 3 enrollment periods:

1. When you're turning 65

   This is the “Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).”

   There are no penalties if you sign up during this time. It's a seven-month window that begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the birthday month and begins three months after it. Coverage beings the month after you sign up.

2. After 65 and you've been covered by an employer group health plan

   This is a “Special Enrollment Period (SEP).”

   There are no penalties if you sign up or add Part B during this time.

   If you or your spouse have health insurance through your job, you can sign up:

   • Any time while working and still covered by the group health plan.
   • Within eight months of the day you or your spouse stop working, even if your group health plan continues for a time.
   • Within eight months of the group health plan ending while you or your spouse continue to work.

3. When you miss the other periods (likely penalties involved)

   This is the “General Enrollment Period (GEP).”

   There is typically a life-long penalty if you sign up during this time.

   If you have not filed during the other periods, you can still sign up between January 1 and March 31 each year.

   Your coverage begins the month after you sign up.

   Special situations

   Medicare offers “Special Enrollment Period” for some unique situations.

El Annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP) occurs each year. It runs October 15 to December 7. New coverage starts January 1. During this period, you can change your choice of Medicare coverage. Individuals can enroll, drop or change their Medicare health and drug coverage if they choose to do so. This includes Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug plans.

If a Medicare-eligible individual misses their Initial Enrollment Period for enrolling in Medicare, they can do so now. Depending on the timing, they may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

El Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) occurs each year. It runs January 1 to March 31. New coverage starts the first of the month after the plan gets your request. This period is only for those already on a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). You can only switch plans once. It provides one more chance to change a Medicare Advantage plan. Puede:

• Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage). 
• Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare—in addition, you’ll be able to join a separate Medicare drug plan. 

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)—this is when you can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug coverage when certain events happen in your life. Like if you move out of the plan's area or lose other health care coverage. The types of changes you can make and the timing depend on the life event.

CVS Pharmacy acepta la mayoría de los planes Medicare Parte D y no avala ningún plan en particular.

Medicare drug plans have contracts with "network pharmacies." These pharmacies agree to provide members of certain Medicare plans with services and supplies at a discounted price. In some Medicare plans, your prescriptions are only covered if you get them filled at network pharmacies.

• Preferred in-network pharmacy*: most often offer prescriptions at lowest cost-sharing amount. 
• Standard in-network pharmacy: typically, prescriptions will have a higher cost-sharing amount. 
• Out-of-network pharmacy: at an out-of-network pharmacy you will not be able to utilize your prescription drug coverage.