Once you turn 65 years old, you may think you have insurance all figured out since you've more than likely dealt with it some sort of way, either professionally or personally, throughout the years. After getting insurance from your employer or the marketplace for so many years, it can seem intimidating to learn a totally new form of insurance. After all, insurance itself can be complicated. Medicare can be even more confusing and complex! There's an alphabet soup of plans, coverage choices, premium levels, enrollment rules, and so much more.
Not only is there a lot of information available that may overwhelm you, but there are so many parts to Medicare available for you to choose from. Choosing the right Medicare plan for your needs takes time, effort, and energy. From enrollment periods, differences between Parts A, B, C, & D, to "donut holes"—we're here to explain Medicare and your options in plain, easy to understand terms so that you can make an educated decision.
We'll break down key concepts of Medicare so you'll feel confident in the coverage decision you ultimately make once you or a loved one becomes eligible to enroll. Medicare can be an extremely beneficial resource. Once you have the right knowledge and understanding of Medicare, you're able to maximize its benefits in your life.
Medicare is a federal insurance program that helps seniors and disabled individuals throughout the United States cover some of their healthcare costs, including providing access to the quality and affordable healthcare they need.
Medicare was signed into law in 1965. Since then, Medicare has helped and continues to help millions of Americans every year. Medicare is a different program than Medicaid, which offers health and other services to eligible low-income people of all ages. Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
Once you're at least 65 years old and are a United States citizen or permanent legal resident for the past five years, you are entitled to Medicare. Along with people who are 65 years old, Medicare also covers some disabled people under age 65.
People who receive Social Security disability insurance usually become eligible for Medicare after a two-year waiting period, although those with end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) can be eligible immediately.
Generally, you're eligible for Original Medicare (either Parts A and/or B) if you're a U.S. citizen or you've been a legal permanent resident for at least five consecutive years, and one of the following applies to you:
You're 65 or older and have paid into Medicare through payroll taxes during your (or your spouse's) working years
You're under 65, permanently disabled, and you're receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board
You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring ongoing dialysis or a transplant
You have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease
There are four different parts of Medicare that help cover specific services. Part A and Part B are often referred to as Original Medicare. Medicare Part C, or Medicare Advantage, is private health insurance, while Medicare Part D offers coverage for prescription drugs.
Part C and Part D 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.
In addition to the four plans above, you also have the option to add additional coverage with Medicare Supplement plans. These plans are often referred to as Medigap plans because they fill the gaps in the coverage you receive from Original Medicare Part A and Part B. Private insurers offer these Medigap plans to supplement your Original Medicare benefits. Medigap plans have an additional premium, but only cover costs of some of the care Original Medicare doesn't cover. These plans often don't include any additional perks or optional benefits. You may also be wondering how Medicare is paid.
Nowadays, there are plenty of options for you to choose from when designing and setting up your Medicare plan. There are guidelines and rules around the type of Medicare plans you can be enrolled in at any given time based on what the plans offer:
Option 1
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B)
Option 2
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and add a Medicare Supplement plan to help pay for Original Medicare's out-of-pocket costs
Option 3
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and add a stand-alone Part D Prescription Drug Plan
Option 4
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and add a Medicare Supplement plan to help pay for Original Medicare's out-of-pocket costs + add a Part D plan to cover your prescription costs
Option 5
Receive your Part A and Part B coverage from a Medicare Advantage plan. You can also get additional coverage, including prescription drugs with a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan.
When comparing Medicare vs. Medicaid, it’s easy to mix up the programs because they have similar names. Both Medicare and Medicaid are social insurance programs administered by the United States government to provide health care coverage and assistance with health care costs. Although Medicare and Medicaid sound similar, the two programs differ greatly based on their coverage and eligibility requirements. Let’s talk about Medicaid first.
Medicaid is a federal- and state-funded assistance program that provides health care coverage for low-income individuals and families, families with children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. To qualify, Medicaid recipients must go through a redetermination process that occurs every 12 months. There are usually no out-of-pocket costs for covered medical expenses. Medicaid eligibility can cover the entire household if income requirements are met. There are various programs under the Medicaid umbrella designed to help specific populations. Now, let’s talk about Medicare.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, under 65 with certain disabilities, or are any age and have ESRD or ALS. You have several coverage options through Medicare, which may include: Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance/outpatient coverage), or Prescription Drug coverage (Part D). Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans combine Part A and Part B coverage. They also often include Part D coverage. Medicare costs depend on the coverage you choose and may include premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Many people are enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically once they turn 65.
There are instances where people may qualify for coverage through both Medicare and Medicaid. To qualify for a Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP), you must receive Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and full Medicaid benefits. In these situations, Medicaid is always secondary to Medicare or any other commercial coverage. To get a better understanding of Medicare vs Medicaid, what it covers and what it doesn’t cover, please give us a call at: (866) 327‑0148.
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