What You Should Know Before Enrolling in Medicare: Part 1

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You're about to enter Medicare, you've reached retirement age, and you don't know where to start. That's completely normal. Medicare has several parts, costs, and coverages that can get confusing fast if no one explains them in plain language.

The good news is you can put the whole picture in order once you understand four main components: Part A, Part B, Medigap, and Part D. With that foundation, it becomes much easier to see how complete coverage is built around Original Medicare.

The first two components: Medicare Part A and Part B

Original Medicare starts with Parts A and B. Think of them as the starting point of your medical coverage.

Part A: hospitalization

Medicare Part A mainly covers hospital services. When you need care inside a hospital, this is the part that kicks in.

Part A is focused on hospital coverage.

Part B: care and procedures outside the hospital

Medicare Part B covers medical services performed outside the hospital. This includes doctor visits and outpatient procedures.

In simple terms, Part B helps with services like:

• Doctor visits
• X-rays
• Vision exams
• Lab tests
• Other medical procedures outside the hospital

Part B covers medical procedures and services outside the hospital.

The key point: Part A and Part B cover about 80%

With Medicare Part A and Part B you have an important base of coverage. However, Original Medicare typically covers about 80% of approved medical costs.

That means there's a remaining 20% that can be your responsibility. And this is where a lot of people stop to think: how do I cover that remaining percentage?

One of the routes to handle it is combining Original Medicare with a supplemental plan called Medigap.

Original Medicare and Medigap: how the combination works

First you have Medicare Part A and Part B. From there, you can add a Medicare supplemental plan, known as Medigap.

Medigap's main job is to help cover that 20% of medical expenses left over after Original Medicare.

Medigap is designed to help with the portion of expenses that Original Medicare leaves to the individual.

With Part A, Part B, and Medigap, your coverage can help with:

• Hospitalization
• Doctors
• Procedures inside the hospital
• Procedures outside the hospital
• The 20% that would normally remain after Original Medicare

Monthly costs mentioned for 2026

Costs can vary depending on your state, ZIP code, and the plan you choose. As a reference, this is the monthly payment structure shared:

• Part A: usually free.
• Part B: $202.90 per month in 2026.
• Medigap: roughly $130 to $150 per month, depending on where you live.

Part A usually has no monthly premium for many people, while Part B does. Medigap adds another premium, but its purpose is to reduce the impact of that remaining 20% on medical services.

Part D: the prescription drug plan

Even with Part A, Part B, and Medigap, there's still an important piece missing: medications. That's what Medicare Part D is for.

Part D is a separate policy for prescription drugs. It's the coverage that helps you with the cost of your medicines.

Part D is the coverage dedicated to prescription drugs.

On average, a Part D policy can cost between $30 and $40 per month. That price can also change based on your ZIP code, the state where you live, and the policy available.

An example of how the components add up

When you put together Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and a Part D policy, the monthly cost structure looks like this:

• Part A: usually free.
• Part B: $202.90.
• Medigap: roughly $130 to $150.
• Part D: roughly $30 to $40.

The combination of Original Medicare, Medigap, and Part D brings together the hospital, medical care, remaining-expense, and prescription drug pieces.

This combination is meant to give you coverage for hospital, doctors, medical procedures, and prescription drugs — without leaving you exposed to the 20% that normally remains with Part A and Part B alone.

The freedom to use doctors and hospitals

One of the biggest advantages of Original Medicare with Medigap is freedom of care. You don't have to be limited to a specific network of providers.

With this structure you can seek care anywhere in the United States. Based on the figures shared, roughly 99% of doctors and 100% of hospitals accept Original Medicare and Medigap.

In short, this isn't just about having a Medicare card. It's about understanding what each part covers, how much it can cost, and how they work together.

The basic structure to get started

Before making decisions, keep this sequence clear:

1. Get Medicare Part A for hospitalization.
2. Add Medicare Part B for doctors and procedures outside the hospital.
3. Consider a Medigap plan to help with the remaining 20%.
4. Get a Part D policy for your prescription drugs.

Understanding these four components lets you enter Medicare with more clarity, avoid costly confusion, and know exactly which part of your coverage takes care of each medical need.