What is Medicare?
Medicare is health insurance for people:
• Age 65 or older.
• Under age 65 with certain disabilities.
• Any age with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD - permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).
What is Medicare?
Medicare is health insurance for people:
• Age 65 or older.
• Under age 65 with certain disabilities.
• Any age with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD - permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).
Medicare pays for many health care services and supplies, but does not pay all health care costs. Medicare beneficiaries must pay for costs like coinsurance, copayments and deductibles, which are called out-of-pocket costs, or cost sharing. Medicare does not offer foreign travel coverage. You need a supplement plan to be covered out of the country. Once you’re signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B you qualify for additional coverage options. See your options below:
A Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you all your Part A and Part B benefits.
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare.
Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.
Some Medicare Advantage Plans are at no cost to you and also come with a free gym membership, as long as you are signed up in Medicare Part A and Part B.
People who are enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and buy a Medicare Supplement Plan also known as Medigap will generally have 100 percent of their Medicare-approved health care cost covered (depending on the plan they choose).
• Each Medicare Supplement Plan must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it.
• Usually the differences between Medicare Supplement policies sold by different insurance companies are the cost, underwriting criteria, extra services (value-added) and customer service.
• Medicare Supplement insurance companies must follow federal and state laws.
Plan Features
• Help with managing out-of-pocket costs.
• The freedom to choose any doctor who accepts Medicare (Select plans require hospital networks)
• No claim forms to file.
• National coverage so beneficiaries can use benefits anywhere in the United States. If beneficiaries move, their coverage moves with them, except Select Plans which may not be available everywhere.
• Foreign travel coverage for emergency services
(for most plans)
• A 30-day “free look” evaluation period. Full refund of premiums (minus clains paid, if any) if policies are returned within 30 days of plan issuance.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans also known as (Part D) adds prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare.
These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare.
Medicare Advantage Plans may also offer prescription drug coverage that follows the same rules as Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.
Medicare Open Enrollment Qualification
You will soon be in a unique position when you turn 65. You will be in your "Open Enrollment" period. This means you can choose any Medicare Supplement, Part D or take advantage of any new plans without medical questions. The right choices can save you hundreds of dollars each year. Don't delay, you only have one "Open Enrollment."
Take advantage of this free review of your healthcare benefits and information about Medicare programs for little or no premium cost. Please contact Liz with any questions.
Avoid a Medicare Penalty - Sign up at age 65 Even if you don't plan to receive monthly benefits, be sure to sign up for Medicare three months before turning age 65. If you don't sign up for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) when you're first eligible, your coverage may not start right away and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have it. You can apply online. Visite www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly for informationand to apply.
How is your Medicare Plan working for you? Are you satisfied with it?
• Doctors covered?
• Costs OK?
• All your RX covered?
• Is your gym membership covered?
• O.T.C. covered?
• Transportation to/from doctor covered?
If you are not satisfied you shoul talk to our Medicare Plan Specialist Liz Holenstein to discuss these issues. Every year during "Open Enrollment" you can switch or add a plan. Find more information at our medicare website www.Welcome2Medicare.com