Medicare is the United States federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, and for younger people with disabilities, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While some people automatically are enrolled in Medicare, others have to actively sign up – depending on if you’re getting Social Security benefits before turning 65.
For many, getting older means a shift in the type of medical care they need. Whether it’s needing particular care for a certain illness or simply going to the doctor more often for checkups, you want to know that you’re covered for whatever life throws at you.
My Insured Choice strives for transparency, and there is a lot of information and moving parts surrounding any Medicare plan.
Here’s some general information about Medicare, how it works, and some of the basics of its plans. Please keep in mind that this is a very basic overview, but My Insured Choice is here to answer any and all questions to make sure you’re up to date on your medical coverage.
is comprised of Parts A and B. These cover hospital insurance and medical insurance, but coverage can be added by choosing other plans. You can also add Medigap coverage to this plan to help lower the costs of some treatments or services.
is a plan that adds in other types of coverage. These plans are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare, making them essentially private insurance plans much like you see through many employers. This can add prescription drug plans or change the access to different providers.
This program is funded by the government, and is primarily funded through payroll taxes through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). If you’re eligible to receive Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (which covers hospital costs) and Part B (which covers doctor’s visits).
However, you must enroll to receive the other parts of Medicare, such as Medicare Part D (which covers prescription drugs) or Medicare Supplemental Insurance – which is also known as Medigap. If you miss your initial enrollment period, don’t worry. There are a number of Medicare open enrollment periods throughout the year.
Typically, any United States citizen or permanent resident aged 65 or older can qualify for Medicare. You can qualify for Part A at no cost if you or your spouse receive or meet eligibility requirements for Social Security benefits; or if you or your spouse worked for the government and paid Medicare taxes for a sufficient period of time; or if you’re the dependent parent of a fully-insured deceased child. If you don’t meet these requirements, you may be able to get Part A through payment of a monthly premium.
People under the age of 65 may qualify for Medicare Part A at no cost if they meet any of these criteria:
There are a number of conditions for qualifying for Medicare before age 65. If you think you might be eligible, reach out to My Insured Choice today.
Both Medicare and Medicaid are government-run health insurance programs. However, they differ in how much the cost, who is eligible, and in their administration.
Medicare is completely run by the federal government, while Medicaid is a program run jointly by federal and state governments.
Medicare typically has a cost attached, and those costs vary depending on the plan – particularly if you use Medicare Advantage. Medicaid members usually pay no premium and the cost-sharing is nominal.
Medicare is for people that are 65 or older, or have certain disabilities or conditions. Medicaid is for people with low incomes, or who need long-term care and have run out of resources.
It is possible to be eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and they can work together to provide health coverage and lower costs for the patient. Check with My Insured Choice to find out how these plans can work together.
While Medicare can get some pretty comprehensive coverage, not everything is covered by their plans. Most importantly, Medicare does not pay for long-term care or custodial care. Medicaid may be able to pay some of those costs, but they are not covered by Medicare.
Medicare also typically doesn’t cover most dental care, eye exams or eye glasses, cosmetic surgery, massage therapy, or medical care overseas. Some of these things might be able to be filled with other types of supplemental insurance, which is why it’s important to work with a broker that can deliver solutions to help fill all of these gaps in medical coverage.
My Insured Choice was created in a way to be a broker to deliver all of these options. We know that your coverage is important to you, so make sure you have the right coverage. Peace of mind is just a phone call away. Reach out to My Insured Choice today.
By providing my e-mail address or telephone number, I agree to allow a licensed sales representative to contact me regarding information related to Medicare health plans and health insurance plans, products, services and/or educational information related to health care.
We do not offer every plan in your area. Currently, we represent 6 organizations which offer 96 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options
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