Medicare is the federal health insurance program. It covers most people age 65 or older, some people younger than 65 with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease.

Medicare is not a comprehensive health care program. Even though it pays for some preventive services and covers most services considered medically necessary, Medicare pays for less than half of the health care costs for seniors .

Medicare won't pay for items like routine physicals, hearing aids, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, or long-term care at home or in a nursing home. (Note: starting in 2006 Medicare will cover some prescription drugs under the new Medicare Part D Prescription Drug benefit. Until then, Medicare has started a voluntary drug discount card program.

Medicare Supplements also referred to as Medigap plans are a health insurance policy sold by private heath insurance companies to fill the "gaps" in Medicare coverage.  Medicare Advantage (formerly Medicare + Choice) Plans - Available in many areas are also available. If you have one of these plans, you don’t need a Medigap policy. Medicare Advantage Plans include:

• Medicare Managed Care Plans

• Medicare Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO)

• Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans

• Medicare Specialty Plans