There are several different kinds of health insurance Health insurance (sometimes called health coverage) pays for some or all of the cost of health services you receive, like doctors’ visits and hospital stays. Programs like Medicare and Medicaid are public health insurance offered through the government. Health insurance can also be administered by private companies that offer individual policies, group health plans, and supplemental insurance. . If you’re becoming eligible for Medicare but you already have insurance, learn whether/how your current plan coordinates with Medicare and whether/how you can delay Medicare enrollment.
- Job-based insurance: Insurance offered by an employer or union for current employees. If you are covered by your or your spouse’s (or in some cases, your family member’s) job-based insurance, it may work with Medicare to cover your health care costs. Job-based insurance may also allow you to delay Medicare enrollment. Job-based insurance either pays primary or secondary to Medicare, depending on the size of the employer.
- Retiree insurance: Insurance plans that employers may provide to former employees who have retired. Retiree insurance always pays secondary to Medicare.
- Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB): Insurance for current and former government employees and their family members. FEHB is either primary or secondary, depending on whether or not you are enrolled in Part B Part B, also known as medical insurance, is the part of Medicare that covers most medically necessary doctors’ services, preventive care, hospital outpatient care, durable medical equipment (DME), laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health services, and some home health care and ambulance services. .
- TRICARE: Insurance provided by the federal government to active duty and retired military personnel and their family members. There are many different TRICARE programs. TRICARE for Life for retirees pays secondary to Medicare.
- Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits: Insurance provided by the federal government to veterans. Benefits include pensions, educational stipends, and health care, among others. VA benefits do not coordinate with Medicare.