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Feature Intro: Medicare Open Enrollment: What You Need to Know As of 2021, over 2 million North Carolinians were enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance program primarily serving Americans 65 years of age and older. Medicare is made up of three important parts: Part A, Part B and Part D. Part A includes hospital coverage for beneficiaries including inpatient hospital stays, care in skilled nursing facilities, hospice care and some home health care. Part B covers medical insurance including outpatient care, doctor’s services, preventative care/services and medical supplies. Finally, Part D helps cover the cost of prescription medication including some recommended shots and vaccines. Two Medicare programs exist for coverage: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans (the latter are sometimes referred to as “Part C”). Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical); if you want drug coverage, you probably will want to add a separate plan for Part D. Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private health insurance company and are usually a “bundle” of Parts A, B and D.
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ASK THE EXPERT: APPETITE LOSS RECIPE: FALL APPLE CRISP SMOOTHIE FEATURE: MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW STORYTELLING: MYTHS AND BARRIERS TO WRITING