You should spend a lot of time at this site -
http://www.medicare.gov/Library/PDFN...ub&PubID=10050
It will answer most of your questions.
Here is another site that looks to be very helpful
http://www.medicareconsumerguide.com/ I think this link is very helpful and easy to understand.
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance provided by Medicare. Most people do not pay a premium for this coverage. Part A covers inpatient care in skilled nursing facilities, critical access hospitals, and hospitals. Hospice and home health care are also covered by Part A.
Medicare Part B is medical insurance to pay for medically necessary services and supplies provided by Medicare. Most people will have to pay a premium to receive this coverage (about $70 per month). Part B covers outpatient care, doctor's services, physical or occupational therapists, and additional home health care.
Medicare Part C is optional and it is the combination of Part A and Part B. The main difference in Part C is that it is provided through private insurance companies approved by Medicare. With this program, you may have lower costs and receive extra benefits. What this means is that you will have Medicare Part C INSTEAD of A&B. It is sorta like a Medicare HMO.
Medicare Part D is stand-alone prescription drug coverage insurance. Most people do have to pay a premium for this coverage. Plans vary and cover different drugs, but all medically necessary drugs are covered. You can choose what drug plan will be best suited to your needs.
If you have insurance from your retirement job or from your husband's job (such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield), then Medicare will become your primary health insurance and the work insurance becomes secondary.
If the work related insurance has prescription drug benefits, then you don't need Part D. BUT if you don't have prescription benefits you NEED to enroll in Part D - because if you don't enroll when you are first eligible, and then later want to enroll, your premiums will be MUCH higher than they would have been if you had enrolled when you were first eligible.
Medicare only covers 80% of everything, so you really need "gap" insurance (your work related insurance is considered gap insurance). If you don't have any work related insurance, then you can buy "gap" policies. I would recommend a gap policy - unless you have quite a bit of disposable income. It is not uncommon to have a $100,000.00 hospital bill, which would leave you paying $20,000.00 out of pocket. My husband was in the hospital for 3 days in October and his bill was one hundred thousand dollars
Thankfully, he has Medicare (he is only 60 but is disabled) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield through is former employer.
You will be automatically enrolled in Part A (free) when you turn 65. You have to enroll in Part B (costs about $70 per month), it is voluntary.