1. Medicare Part A primarily helps pay for:

Inpatient hospital and related institutional care

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance covering inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, and related institutional care.

2. Medicare Part B generally helps pay for:

Physician services and outpatient care

Medicare Part B is medical insurance covering physician services, outpatient care, and certain preventive services.

3. Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are:

Offered by private insurers approved by Medicare to provide Part A and B benefits

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is offered by private insurers approved by Medicare to deliver Part A and B benefits, often with extras.

4. Medicare Part D provides coverage for:

Prescription drugs

Medicare Part D is the prescription drug benefit offered through private plans approved by Medicare.