There are lots of details with Medicare. But here’s the big picture — you have 2 basic options. Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. And you’ve got a choice to make.

Let’s say you choose Original Medicare.

You’ll need to piece together different plans that give you the coverage you want. For starters, Original Medicare includes:

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

This helps cover the big stuff, like hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

This helps cover services from doctors and other healthcare providers. It also helps cover outpatient care, home health care, and durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs and oxygen tanks).

So far so good, but what about medications? Copays and other fees? Visits to the dentist or eye doctor? You’ll need to buy private plans for each of those, like:

Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) to help pay for drugs

Medigap to pay the fees that come with Original Medicare

Extra insurance plans for things like dental, vision, and hearing

You can see how all those different parts and plans and costs can pile up.

Now let’s take a look at Medicare Advantage.

These plans roll up all the benefits of Original Medicare and (usually) the prescription drug plan into one package.

Many also cover your dentist, eye doctor, and ear doctor. Plus, you might get nice perks like no copays, no monthly payments, and fitness benefits.

You can get just one plan — and often one card — that covers everything.