What It Covers

If you get Medicare coverage, it helps with many different types of medical expenses. The exact coverage you have depends on:

• Whether you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare
• If you have Medicare Advantage, which plan you have
• If you have Original Medicare, whether you have Part B and Part D, and, if so, which Part D plan you have

What Full Medicare Coverage Usually Offers

This list presents many of the medical expenses that Original Medicare Parts A and B help pay for. Medicare Advantage plans also pay for all of these services, but some plans also pay for more services not listed here. For all of these, you may have to pay copayments, co-insurance, or a deductible. Learn more about what Medicare costs and how to get help paying for it.

Part A and Medicare Advantage plans both cover hospitalization expenses, including:

• Medical care when you are admitted to the hospital
• Hospital stays
• Short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility
• Hospice care

Part B and Medicare Advantage plans both cover outpatient expenses, including:

• Medical care when you are not in the hospital
• Preventive screenings and services, including an annual checkup and some vaccines
• Lab tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, and blood tests
• Home health care
• Emergency services, including ambulance transit and emergency room treatment
• Medical and surgical services and supplies
• Mental health care
• Urgent care
• Doctor and practitioner services
• Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy or speech therapy
• Supplies and equipment, such as prosthetics, orthotics, diabetes supplies, or wheelchairs
• In some situations, other things like chiropractic services, eye exams, eyeglasses, diabetes management, hearing and balance exams, and injectable cancer or immunosuppressive drugs.

Part D and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage pay for prescription drugs on a plan’s formulary. Formularies are reviewed by Medicare and must cover certain types of medications.

Get more information about what Medicare covers:

• For Original Medicare, read Medicare & You or download Medicare's "What's Covered" app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
• For Part D, a Medigap policy, or Medicare Advantage, contact your private insurance company.
• See Medicare.gov’s list of services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as dental care, eye exams, hearing aids, cosmetic surgery, and acupuncture.