Overview

Original Medicare is comprised of Part A and Part B. Think of Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) benefits as your foundational coverage. If you choose to replace this coverage with a Medicare Advantage plan, you are guaranteed to receive at least the same level of benefits as you'd get with Original Medicare. Medicare Supplement insurance (Medigap) can fill in some of the gaps in Original Medicare coverage.

    Benefit Period

    is the way the Original Medicare program measures your use of inpatient hospital and skilled nursing facility (SNF) services. It begins the day that you enter a hospital or SNF and ends when you have not received inpatient hospital or Medicare-covered skilled care in a SNF for 60 days in a row.
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