The pieces of your coverage, and how they fit

Part A helps pay for hospital care. Part B helps pay for doctors, outpatient care and dialysis.

After the Part B deductible, you usually pay 20 percent of the cost. There is no yearly limit on that 20 percent.

A Medicare Advantage plan is one plan from a private company that covers Part A and Part B care.

Each plan has a yearly limit on what you pay for covered care in its network. Many plans include drug coverage, and some include dental, vision and hearing.

Plans use networks and may need approval before some care. Some are special plans for people with chronic conditions, such as kidney disease, or for people with both Medicare and Medicaid.

A Medigap policy works with Original Medicare. It helps pay your share, such as the 20 percent.

You can use any doctor or facility in the U.S. that accepts Medicare. You add a separate Part D plan for your drugs.

If you are under 65, your state's rules decide whether a company must sell you a Medigap policy.

Original Medicare does not cover most dental care, eyeglasses or hearing aids.

You can get this coverage through some Medicare Advantage plans, or through separate dental, vision and hearing policies alongside Medigap.

For kidney care, these matter. Many transplant centers ask for a dental exam before listing, and people with diabetes need regular eye exams.