By: Edith Miranda

Each year Medicare allows eligible people to enroll for Medicare benefits. Medicare Open Enrollment for 2017 is from October 15, 2016 to December 7, 2016. To get your health and prescription drug coverage, you can choose from the following Medicare plan options;

• Original Medicare which provides your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. This is managed by the Federal government.

Part A, in general, covers hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, nursing home care, hospice and home health services.

Part B covers medically necessary services or supplies which is needed to diagnose or treat a medical condition. It also covers preventive services needed to prevent illness or detect it at early stage. Part B covers clinical research, ambulance services, durable medical equipment, mental health (inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization), and second opinion before surgery and limited outpatient prescription drugs.

• Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) which you can add to your Original Medicare Plan. These plans are run by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare.
• Medicare Advantage Plans which also referred as Medicare Part C plans. These plans are run by private companies approved by Medicare.
• Medicare Supplemental Insurance or Medigap plans are supplemental policies that fills in the gaps in the Original Medicare plan.
• Other types of Medicare Health plans like Medicare Cost Plans, Demonstrations/Pilot Programs, Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) or Medication Therapy Management (MTM) programs for complex health needs.