Enrollment in Part B is the choice of the beneficiary. Medicare Part A and B cover many, but not all, health care services. Part A pays for some costs for hospital stays, some costs of a stay in a skilled nursing facility, home health care, hospice care and some other services. Part B helps pay for doctor's services, outpatient hospital care and some other medical services that Part A does not cover such as the services of physical and occupational therapists and some home health care. While Medicare does cover a significant number of health care services, it does not cover everything.
Many beneficiaries choose a supplementary plan.
Two methods of supplementing Medicare are 1. A beneficiary enrolls in one or the other but not both. A third way to supplement Medicare is the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program. There are income and assets guidelines for this program. A Medicare managed care plan, offered by an HMO, is a health plan offered by private insurance companies.