Medicare is a Federal insurance program providing a wide range of benefits for specific periods of time through providers & suppliers participating in the program. Basically, Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for:

• People age 65 or older
• People under age 65 with certain disabilities
• People of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant)

Providers, in Medicare terminology, are resident care institutions such as hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, & home health agencies.

Suppliers are agencies for diagnosis & therapy rather than sustained resident care, such as laboratories, clinics, & physical therapist (PT) offices. The Act designates those providers & suppliers that are subject to Federal health care quality standards.

The Federal Government through designated fiscal intermediaries (FIs) & carriers makes payment for services to the providers & suppliers. Section 1802 of the Act provides that any individual entitled to Medicare may obtain health services from any institution, agency, or person qualified to participate in Medicare if that institution, agency or person provides such services.