Final answer:
To be eligible for Medicare Advantage or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans, one must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. Part A covers hospital care, while Part B covers outpatient healthcare services. Prescription drug coverage is included in MAPD plans, so separate Part D enrollment is not required.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eligibility for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) Plans
To be eligible for a Medicare Advantage (MA) or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan, an individual must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Part A covers hospital care and is funded through payroll deductions, while Part B is an optional insurance covering non-hospital healthcare services like physician services, medical tests, and outpatient visits. Since MAPD plans offer prescription drug coverage, enrollment in Part D is not a separate requirement as it is included in the MAPD plan itself. However, enrolling in Part D is necessary for those who remain with original Medicare and seek prescription drug coverage.
Medicare is the public healthcare system that provides insurance primarily to people over sixty-five and to others who meet specific disability standards.