## Find the answers you need If you’re eligible for Medicare, or soon will be, congratulations. To tailor coverage that fits your needs and budget, it’s important to understand your benefits. Medicare provides valuable protection against high medical costs, but it doesn’t cover everything. We can help you make informed and confident Medicare choices. Learn how Medicare works ## Follow these steps ## Step 1: Get to know Original Medicare Medicare is a government health insurance program for Americans who are 65 or older and younger people who have certain disabilities and receive Social Security benefits. Medicare was first created in two parts, Part A and Part B. Together, they’re called Original Medicare. ### Part A: Hospital coverage Original Medicare **Partial coverage for:** - Inpatient hospital stay - Skilled nursing care - Hospice - Home care [Learn more about Part A](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/understanding-medicare/original) ### Part B: Medical coverage Original Medicare **Partial coverage for:** - Doctors visits - Surgery - Lab tests - Medical equipment - Preventive exams [Learn more about Part B](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/understanding-medicare/original) ## Step 2: Learn how to cover what Original Medicare doesn't You can add additional coverage, which is offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, to help pay for costs that Medicare doesn’t cover. Depending on where you live, you may have different Medicare plan options available. [View our Medicare plans](/our-plans/medicare-plans "Medicare plans") SVG .cls-1 { fill: #231f20; } .cls-2 { fill: none; stroke: #231f20; stroke-linecap: square; stroke-miterlimit: 10; stroke-width: 2px; } ### Part C: Medicare Advantage Offered through private insurers, Medicare Part C combines your Medicare Part A, Part B, and usually Part D benefits under one Medicare Advantage plan. Plans may offer benefits for: - Dental - Vision - Hearing - Acupuncture - Over-the-counter items and more [Learn more about Part C](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/understanding-medicare/medicare-part-c) SVG .cls-1, .cls-2 { fill: none; stroke: #231f20; stroke-miterlimit: 10; stroke-width: 2px; } .cls-2 { stroke-linecap: square; } ### Part D: Drug coverage Medicare Part D helps pay prescription drug costs. It can be added to Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Cost plan that doesn’t have prescription drug benefits. Part D prescription drug plans are offered through private insurance companies. [Learn more about Part D](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/understanding-medicare/medicare-part-d) SVG .cls-1 { fill: none; stroke: #231f20; stroke-linecap: square; stroke-miterlimit: 10; stroke-width: 2px; } ### Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Medicare Supplement, also known as Medigap, are medical-only plans offered through private insurers that help cover what Original Medicare doesn’t cover, including: - Copays - Coinsurance - Deductibles [Learn more about Medicare Supplement](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/understanding-medicare/supplement) SVG .cls-1 { fill: #231f20; } .cls-2 { fill: none; stroke: #231f20; stroke-linecap: square; stroke-miterlimit: 10; stroke-width: 2px; } ### Medicare Cost Medicare Cost plans give you all the benefits of Original Medicare, plus additional benefits like dental, vision, hearing and more. Some Cost plans also offer optional Part D prescription drug coverage. Available in 21 Minnesota counties. [Learn more about Medicare Cost](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/understanding-medicare/medicare-part-c#cost-plans) ## Step 3: Enroll at the right time Your Initial Enrollment Period into Original Medicare is a seven-month window — from three months before your 65th birthday month to three months after your 65th birthday month. Coverage can begin as soon as the first day of the month you turn 65. [Learn more about Medicare enrollment](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/medicare-eligibility-and-enrollment "Medicare eligibility and enrollment") ![Medicare enrollment timeframe graphic](/sites/default/files/images/2023-05/medicare-enrollment-timeframe.png "medicare-enrollment-timeframe") ### Enrollment order You must enroll in Original Medicare Part A and Part B before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) or Part D prescription drug plan. ### Social Security benefits If you already receive Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. ### Disabled and under 65 If you are disabled and under 65, you will get Part A and Part B automatically after you’ve received disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months. ### Working past 65 If you or your spouse plan to work past age 65, you may not need to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65. [Learn about working past 65](/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/working-past-65) ## Step 4: How to enroll in a Blue Cross Medicare plan You can choose how you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Medicare Cost or Part D Prescription Drug plan. [Learn more about enrolling in a plan](https://www.bluecrossmn.com/understanding-health-insurance/learn-about-medicare/medicare-eligibility-and-enrollment#how-to-enroll) ## Support and resources ![Step-by-Step Guide iPad cover](/sites/default/files/styles/3x2_third/public/dam/iv0inhrfua/2026-step-by-step-guide-cover-550x285.png.webp?itok=By4gAGYy "2026-step-by-step-guide-cover-550x285.png") ### Understanding Medicare Use this free step-by-step guide to learn about the essentials of Medicare. It covers the four parts of Medicare, when to enroll, how to avoid penalties and more. [Download 2026 Step-by-Step Guide (English)](https://bluecrossmn.widen.net/content/2cf29zsxge/original/2026-medicare-step-by-step-guide.pdf "2026-medicare-step-by-step-guide.pdf") [Download 2026 Step-by-Step Guide (Spanish)](https://bluecrossmn.widen.net/content/4mwivywokv/original/2026-medicare-step-by-step-guide-spanish.pdf "2026-medicare-step-by-step-guide-spanish.pdf") ![Adults attending a workshop](/sites/default/files/styles/3x2_third/public/dam/mqmm6zgmxy/adults-medicare-workshop-istock-1145049554-rt-web.jpg.webp?itok=BCx5gJJV "adults-medicare-workshop-istock-1145049554-rt-web.jpg") ### Free Medicare Workshops Join us for a free, no obligation, in-person or virtual Medicare workshop to learn about Medicare and available plans based on the county you live in. [Register for a workshop](https://bcbsmn-retail.my.salesforce-sites.com/registration/) ![Advisor helping senior couple](/sites/default/files/styles/3x2_third/public/dam/uwanwdnnuo/seniors-advisor-meeting-istock-1461150525-rt-web.jpg.webp?itok=7lTqhNHb "seniors-advisor-meeting-istock-1461150525-rt-web.jpg") ### It doesn't have to be hard **Our Blue Cross Advisors are here to:** - Help you learn about Medicare basics and our plans - Assist you in finding a plan that meets your needs - Help you enroll in a plan [Connect with a Blue Cross Advisor](/our-plans/blue-cross-advisors) ## Enroll today ### Compare plans and enroll online Enter your ZIP code [Compare and enroll](https://bcbsminnesota1.destinationrx.com/PC/2026/Shopping/PlanList) Blue Cross offers Cost, PPO, and PDP plans with Medicare contracts. Enrollment in these Blue Cross plans depends on contract renewal. S5743\_090825\_G02\_M Y0138\_090825\_ G01\_M