Medicare Part A comes with your Social Security at no cost to you when you enroll in SS.
There is also Part B—which costs about 10% of your SS payments
There is also Part D, which I don’t know how much it costs.
Can this article be a little more specific??
Part A is “free”.
My part B costs me $96.40 monthly
Part D (drug plan) price varies with plan. AARP was charging me $41.00 each month. I dropped them for Humana/walmart. I get similar coverage for $14.70.
I get Plan F (Medigap)for $ 123/mo with mutual of omaha.
Clicking the link to the Washington Times article, the issue is that the plaintiffs do not want any part of Medicare, but wish to remain with their current private health insurance. The problem with Medicare is that doctors must put up with Medicare's reimbursement rates. This means you are stuck with the set of docs willing to accept Medicare rates for treating you.
Part A (hospital) is at no charge and mandatory. Parts B (medical) and D (drugs) are optional...you don’t have to take them but you’ll pay if you do.
I was given the option of signing up for Part A for which I paid during my entire working career. I declined the rest. I have private insurance which becomes second payor for hospitalization only.