Medicare is our country's health insurance program for people age 65 or older. You may also qualify if you have permanent kidney failure or receive Disability benefits. It started in 1965 under the Social Security Administration and is now administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare is divided into four parts: A, B, C, and D. Part A covers hospital, skilled nursing, and hospice services. Part B covers outpatient services. Once you have Medicare, you can use any of these free and secure identity verification services to log in to or create your Medicare account. Learn about the new options. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) - Part B helps cover doctors' services and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Understanding Medicare costs is one of the most important parts of planning for healthcare in retirement. Each year, Medicare updates its premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing amounts. For 2026, several key figures have changed across Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D. Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. You’ll sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B through Social Security, so you can make both retirement and Medicare choices and withhold any premiums from your benefit payments. The official U.S. government website for Medicare, a health insurance program for people age 65 or older and younger people with disabilities. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people over 65. AARP makes Medicare easy with information on coverage, benefits, costs and more. This page contains information on Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B eligibility and enrollment. For more information about Medicare for people who are still working, go to our Employer page or I’m 65 and Still Working page. Learn how Medicare works for people 65 and older or with a disability. See if you are eligible, how to enroll, and locate a Medicare-certified provider.