Medicare: Ask the expert

I am going to retire soon. Can you give me some basic info on Medicare Part A?

Part A is hospital insurance. Most Americans get this at no cost. You should sign up for this as soon as you are eligible. There is a $1,600 deductible for each hospital visit in 2023.

Generally, Part A covers 80 percent of an inpatient hospital stays after the deductible.

When you sign up for Part A, you also sign up for Part B which covers doctor and outpatient care. A fee for this is deducted from your Social Security check.

You will also have a choice to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan instead of Original Medicare (Part A and B). This is private insurance that covers at least as much as Medicare, but could be less expensive.