No, Medicare is not entirely free once you retire. While most retirees qualify for premium-free Part A (hospital insurance) due to their lifetime employment tax contributions, they must still pay a standard monthly Part B premium (medical insurance) for outpatient care and doctor visits. Furthermore, beneficiaries are responsible for annual deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and extra costs if they choose to purchase optional private supplemental insurance (Medigap), Medicare Advantage, or Part D prescription drug coverage.