1. The Original Medicare Plan - This plan is available nationwide. The patient may go to any doctor, specialist, or hospital that accepts Medicare. The patient pays his/her share, and Medicare pays its share. Some things are not covered, like prescription drugs.

2. Medicare + Choice Plans. In 1997, congress created a set of health care options which offered benefits from service not covered by traditional Medicare programs, known as Medicare Part C, including:
� Medicare Managed Care Plans - A Medicare managed care plan is a health plan available in some areas of the country. They are offered by private companies. They are sometimes called a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Medicare pays a set amount of money every month to the private company for a person�s health care. The individual must continue to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium ($50.00 in 2001). The individual may also have to pay an additional monthly premium to the health plan. Many people with Medicare choose managed care as an option.
� Private Fee-for-Service Plans - A Private Fee-for-Service plan is a Medicare health plan available in some areas of the country. They are offered by a private company. It is not the same as the Original Medicare Plan. In a Private Fee-for Service plan The individual must continue to pay the monthly Part B premium. Medicare pays a set amount of money every month to the private company for the individual�s health care. The private company provides health care coverage to people with Medicare who join this plan. The individual pays, and the private company pays, a fee for each doctor visit or service you get. The private company, rather than the Medicare program, decides how much it pays, and how much the individual pays for the services he/she get. The individual can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts the terms of the plan�s payment. The individual may be able to get extra benefits, like coverage for additional days in the hospital.

To get more information about Medicare health plans, look at www.medicare.gov. Select �Publications� and then select Medicare & You handbook. You can read or print a copy of this handbook from the Web.