Are you confused by Medicare? If you are, you are not alone. When you first begin to learn about Medicare, you are confronted with a whole new set of information, like Medicare Part, and then it seems like the whole alphabet. There is Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C & Medicare Part D

If that were not confusing enough, you can add Medicare Supplement insurance to your new knowledge base, and you have a whole new set of Parts (or at least plans). Medigap Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, all the way through Plan L. Now, in 2010, that whole structure is changing yet again.

An then, to add insult to injury, even if you learned how to decipher all of these Medicare Part something or others, you still need to have a basic knowledge of health insurance terms. Deductibles, co-insurnace, co-pays, etc. ad nauseam.

The truth is, if you are like most people newly qualifying for Medicare, you don’t care about becoming an expert in Medicare, but you would like to know at least a little about the system that will cover you, perhaps for the rest of your life.

Following is a very simple primer, in which I give you everything you need to know and probably care to know.

Medicare Part A

Part A is the Medicare Part that pays for in-patient hospital expenses. The way I like to remember it is that it pays your expenses (A)fter you get (A)dmitted.

Medicare Part B

Part B is the Part of Medicare that pays for most out-patient expenses like visits to your doctor. The way I like to remember it is that it pays for your expenses (B)efore you get admitted to a hospital.

Medicare Part C

Part C is that Part of Medicare that insurance companies to manage your healthcare (instead of Original Medicare). You probably know someone who accesses their Medicare benefits via an HMO, or network. That person is most likely participating in a Medicare Advantage Plan (which is another word for Part C).

Medicare Part D

Part D is the Part of Medicare that provides insurance plans for your prescription medicines. This one is easy to remember also. Part D stands for (D)rugs.

I should note that you can’t access Parts C & D directly from Medicare. As of this writing, you have to participate in these parts through a privately contracted insurance company.

For example, both Company ABC and Company XYZ offer Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C). You have to enroll with those companies to participate. Every company that offers these plans, is highly regulated and works closely with Medicare.

The same goes for Part D. Both Company ABC and Company XYZ offer Prescription Drug Plans. You have to get your drug coverage through a company that sells one of the plans.

Speaking of plans, what about all of those Medigap Plans? A,B,C,D,E, Etc.?

A Medicare Supplement Plan is also known as a Medigap Plan, because it “fills in the gaps” left by Original Medicare. Remember all of those insurance terms? Deductibles, Co-insurance, etc. These plans (also available only through private insurance companies) pay for some or all of your share of the cost. The plan letter, like “A” or “F” simply have to do with the level of coverage you desire.

So that is all for this primer. I have a 4 year old, and if he walks in any time soon, I am sure I will be tempted to sing that tune… “Now I said my ABC’s, won’t you sing along with me?”

To get help with the Medicare Part that might be confusing you, go now to MedicareNational.com

Watch our new video below that answers the question, “What is Medigap Insurance?”

There are some people who believe that Medicare Supplement Insurance may be a waste of money. Here is why some people believe that to be true.

Original Medicare is a government-run health insurance program for people aged 65 and older and for people who receive social security, disability benefits for at least 24 months.

Original Medicare, it has been argued, is the best insurance plan in the united states and among the best in the world. The premiums for Medicare Part A (hospitalization) are most likely paid for you (by the taxes you paid) and the Part B premium is only $110 per month for people newly getting Medicare in 2010.

Your share of costs for Original Medicare are also relatively low. If you go in the hospital for example, each stay in the hospital is only $1,100 total for up to 60 days (in 2010). If you go to the doctor or have tests done (such as an MRI), you normally only pay 20% of the Medicare Approved amount (an amount much lower than the “regular” or “customary” amount charged by most health care providers).

In addition to low costs, you have tremendous freedom in your access to health care. You can travel anywhere in the country and find a doctor or hospital that will accept Medicare.

So the question is, if Medicare alone is such a great plan, then why in the world would anyone buy Medicare Supplement Insurance? A Medicare Supplement Plan is an insurance plan sold by a private insurance company. The purpose of these plans is to “fill in the gaps” left by Medicare. This is why these plans are often referred to as “Medigap Plans.”

Following are three reasons why “The Case Against Medicare Supplement Insurance” should be thrown out of court.

1. Guaranteed Insurability

When you first qualify for Medicare (such as when you turn 65), you are “guaranteed issue” of a Medicare Supplement Policy. In most situations, and in most states, you could be in the advanced stages of some dread disease and a Medicare Supplement company must sell you insurance at the preferred rate.

Also, once you do qualify for a Medicare Supplement Plan, you can never lose your coverage, as long as you pay your premiums.

2. Protection Against the “Big Stuff”
If you have to pay a few dollar here or there for an xray, or a co-pay at your doctor, that is probably no big deal. But if you get into trouble, meaning if you get really sick, the original Medicare protection may not be as robust as you thought. $1,100 per stay at the hospital can add up very quickly, as can your share of expensive diagnostic exams.

The fact is, most of us don’t buy insurance for the little things, such as a ding on the car. But we do want insurance for when the “just in case” happens, such as a major car accident.

3. Affordability

Medicare Supplement Plans are very affordable for most people. As of this writing for example, a man turning 65 in Tarrant County, Texas can get a Medicare Supplement Plan F (a very popular plan) for a little more than $100 per month. A 70 year old female can get the same Plan F about $130 per month.

Not only is that very affordable, but more importantly, it makes your health care costs very predictable. With a Plan F for example, your only health care costs (apart from prescription drugs) is the cost of your monthly Part B premium and your Medigap premium.

When you consider all of these factors, the case for Medicare Supplement Insurance is really much stronger than the case against it.

To compare rates for Medicare Supplements now, visit our website at MedicareNational.com, or call 1-877-7-MEDIGAP.

Tony Jackson is an Expert Author on the subjects of Medicare and Medicare related insurance.