What is Medicare?
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 or older. You might be able to get Medicare sooner if you have certain disabilities.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare has four parts: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.
Medicare Part A and Part B (Original Medicare)
Medicare Parts A and B are known as Original Medicare and are managed by the federal government. Original Medicare does not cover all your Medicare expenses. It excludes things like prescription drugs, dental, vision and hearing.
Calculate your expected Original Medicare premium at Medicare.gov. You can also learn more about Medicare Part A and Part B.
What is Medicare Supplement (Medigap) coverage?
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans are sold by private health insurance companies like Wellmark.
Medicare Supplement plans help with costs not covered by Original Medicare, such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance. But they don’t cover prescription drugs, dental, vision or fitness. Wellmark offers stand-alone plans for that coverage.
Learn more about Medigap coverage
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans combine Medicare Parts A and B, plus additional coverage for prescription drugs, dental, vision and virtual care.
You may pay copays, coinsurance or deductibles for hospital and physician services.
Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D helps you pay for your prescription drugs. It covers generic and brand-name drugs. You MUST enroll in Part D as soon as you are eligible for Medicare to avoid a lifetime penalty. The longer you wait, the more expensive the penalty becomes.
Learn more about Medicare Part D
Yes, you can keep your provider as long as they accept Medicare or are in network.
For Medicare Supplement, you can see any national provider who accepts Medicare. Check to see if your provider accepts Medicare.
For Medicare Advantage, you need to see a provider who participates in your plan’s network. Check to see if your provider is in network.
For current Medicare Supplement members, use the Provider Finder tool on myWellmark® to see if your provider is in network.
While not legally required, it’s recommended you enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) to avoid a late enrollment penalty. Your IEP starts three months before your 65th birthday month, includes the month of your 65th birthday and continues three months after.
During the seven-month IEP, you can enroll in any part of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D.
Disclosures
MedicareBlue SupplementSM plans presented on this page are specific to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and can only be purchased by Iowa and South Dakota residents. Enrollment and coverage in a MedicareBlue Supplement insurance plan is with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. MedicareBlue Supplement insurance plans and the Blue365® member discount program are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
This is a solicitation of insurance.
The policies listed above have exclusions and limitations. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call your producer or Wellmark.
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Last updated: 10/1/2026