Medicare General Information What is Medicare? | What is Medicare? |
| Medicare General Information | |
Favored by 0 users
(Register to add this entry to your favorites)
Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for:
Medicare has Two Parts:
You can choose different ways to get the services covered by Medicare. Depending on where you live, you may have different choices. In most cases, when you first get Medicare, you are in the Original Medicare Plan. You may want to consider a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Or, you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that provides all your Part A, Part B, and often Part D coverage. You make a choice when you are first eligible for Medicare. Each year you can review your health and prescription needs and switch to a different plan in the fall. As long as you have both Part A and Part B, items covered by Part A and Part B are covered whether you have the Original Medicare Plan, or you belong to a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO). For more information see the Your Medicare Coverage database. Part A (Hospital Insurance)Helps Pay For: Care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care), hospice care, and some home health care. Information about your coverage under Medicare Part A can be found in the Your Medicare Coverage database. If you aren’t sure if you have Part A, look on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have Part A, “HOSPITAL (PART A)” is printed on your card. Cost: Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They don't have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. If you don’t automatically get premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it if
If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A and/or Part B. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov on the web or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-800-808-0772. Part B (Medical Insurance)Helps Pay For: Doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary. Information about your coverage under Medicare Part B can be found in the Your Medicare Coverage database. Cost: Most people pay the Medicare Part B premium of $96.40* per month in 2008. This amount may change January 1, 2009. In some cases this amount may be higher if you didn’t choose Part B when you first became eligible at age 65. The cost of Part B may go up 10% for each 12-month period that you could have had Part B but did not sign up for it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this extra 10% as long as you have Medicare Part B. Enrolling in Part B is your choice. You can sign up for Part B anytime during a 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65. Please call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit or call your local Social Security office to sign up. If you choose to have Part B, the premium is usually taken out of your monthly Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement payment. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months. You should get your Medicare premium bill by the 10th of the month. If you don’t get your bill by the 10th, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or your local Social Security office. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-800-808-0772. Source: Medicare- The Official US Government Site for People with Medicare User reviews There are no user reviews for this item. Add new review |
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
 |
Am I Eligible?
Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren’t yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if: You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board. You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven't yet filed for them. You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment. If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if you have: Received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months. End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain requirements. While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. The Part B monthly premium in 2008 is $96.40. (Note: The Part B premium may be higher if your income is above a certain amount. For more information, see our FAQ: Medicare Part B Monthly Premiums in 2008. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.Note: You will be eligible for Medicare when you turn 65 even if you are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. For more information, please visit our retirement age FAQ.
Turning 65 and Joining Medicare
Turning 65 and Joining Medicare
What is Medicare?
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 transplant). Medicare has Two Parts:Part A (Hospital Insurance) Most people don't have to pay for Part A.Part B (Medical Insurance) Most people pay monthly for Part B.You can choose different ways to get the services covered by Medicare. Depending on where you live, you may have different choices. In most cases, when you first get Medicare, you are in the Original Medicare Plan. You may want to consider a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to add drug coverage. Or, you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) that provides all your Part A, Part B, and often Part D coverage. You make a choice when you are first eligible for Medicare. Each year you can review your health and prescription needs and switch to a different plan in the fall. As long as you have both Part A and Part B, items covered by Part A and Part B are covered whether you have the Original Medicare Plan, or you belong to a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO). For more information see the Your Medicare Coverage database.Recent Reviews
No entries were found.