Medicare Explained Simply: A Clear Guide to Part A, B, D, Medicare Advantage & Supplement Plans
- Mark Farmer
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
If you’re turning 65 soon or helping a loved one figure out Medicare, you’ve probably searched questions like:
“What is Medicare and how does it work?”
“What does Medicare Part B cover in 2025?”
“Should I choose Medicare Advantage or a Supplement Plan?”
We get it — Medicare can feel confusing. But it doesn’t have to be.
At Affordable Health Insurance Club, we help people just like you every day make smart, confident choices about Medicare coverage. In this guide, we break it all down: Medicare Part A, B, D, Medicare Advantage, and Supplement Plans G and N — in plain English.
What Is Medicare?
Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for:
People age 65 or older
Some younger individuals with disabilities
People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
There are two main ways to get Medicare in 2025:
Original Medicare (Parts A & B, with optional Part D and Supplement)
Medicare Advantage (also called Part C, an all-in-one alternative)
Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance
What Medicare Part A covers:
Inpatient hospital care
Skilled nursing facility care (short-term)
Hospice care
Limited home health services
Medicare Part A Cost: Most people pay $0 monthly premium for Part A if they worked at least 10 years and paid Medicare taxes.
Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance
What Medicare Part B covers:
Doctor visits
Preventive care (screenings, vaccines)
Outpatient services
Durable medical equipment (DME)
Mental health services
Medicare Part B Cost: Most people pay a monthly premium (based on income). There is also an annual deductible and 20% coinsurance for most services.
Medicare Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage
Why you need Part D:
Original Medicare does not cover most prescription medications. A standalone Medicare Part D plan can help cover the cost of your prescriptions.
What Part D plans cover:
Prescription drugs (coverage depends on the plan’s formulary)
Some vaccines not covered by Part B
Medicare Part D Cost: Monthly premiums vary by plan and income. Plans may also have deductibles and copays.
Pro Tip: Enrolling in Part D late? You'll face a late enrollment penalty If you go 63 consecutive days without Part D or other credible drug coverage — even if you don’t take any medications now. The penalty is 1% of the "national base beneficiary premium" for every month you delayed enrollment. There was a free Part D plan Introduced to the market to circumvent this penalty. Contact us if you need help with Part D.
Medicare Advantage (Part C): All-in-One Coverage
What is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a private insurance plan that replaces Original Medicare. It includes Part A, Part B, and usually Part D — plus extra benefits.
What Medicare Advantage plans cover in 2025:
All Medicare-covered services
Often include dental, vision, hearing, OTC items, gym memberships, transportation, etc.
May offer $0 monthly premiums
Key Considerations:
Plans may require in-network providers
You’ll often have copays and coinsurance instead of the 20% under Original Medicare
Every plan is different, so comparison shopping is key
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap): Extra Coverage for Out-of-Pocket Costs
What is Medigap?
If you stick with Original Medicare, you can add a Medicare Supplement insurance plan to help pay for what Medicare doesn’t—like deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
The two most popular Medigap plans in 2025 are:
Supplement Plan G Overview
Covers all gaps except the Part B deductible
Offers broad coverage and peace of mind
No network restrictions — see any doctor that accepts Medicare
Supplement Plan N Overview
Lower monthly premium than Plan G
Small copays for doctor and ER visits
Doesn’t cover excess charges (rare but possible)
Important: You can’t combine a Medigap plan with a Medicare Advantage plan. It’s one or the other.
Need Help Choosing the Right Medicare Plan?
At Affordable Health Insurance Club, we’re licensed, local, and ready to help — at no cost to you. We’ll walk you through your Medicare options, explain the fine print, and help you find the best plan for your needs and budget.
Call us today at (470) 977-2708
Or Email us at info@affordablehealthinsuranceclub.com
We're not here to sell you one plan vs the other. We'll present all the options, educate you on key differences to pay attention to, and let you make an informed decision!
Comments