Nobody ever plans on visiting the emergency room. But nearly 150 million have done exactly that in the last year. That’s why it’s so important to be proactive about figuring out how you’ll pay for an emergency room visit if the need should ever arise.
Thankfully, you’re not alone in this if you have Medicare. Keep reading to get an overview of how various Medicare plans can off-set some of the costs you may incur during a visit to the emergency room (ER).
Original Medicare plans cover the bulk of the costs that you would face after visiting the emergency room. For example, you’ll get coverage if you have an injury, a sudden illness, or a quickly worsening illness that requires you to visit the emergency room.
If you visit the ER with one of these problems, then you’re out-of-pocket costs would include:
That being said, it is worth mentioning that you may not be eligible for this coverage in some situations. For example, if you visit the ER to receive non-emergency care, then Original Medicare may not cover the costs of the care that you receive.
Medicare Advantage plans include all of the same ER coverages offered under Original Medicare. However, they tend to expand upon these offerings in certain areas. For example, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your copayment may be less. Or, you might have a plan that stipulates that you don’t need to pay anything for certain types of emergency room visits.
Medigap is supplemental insurance that’s meant to “fill the gaps” of Original Medicare. It’s sold by private companies and is supposed to help you cover the costs of health care services and supplies that aren’t covered under Original Medicare plans.
Medigap insurance can be useful to have in the event of an ER visit. Plans vary, but they often will help you cover the costs of your copayment. This could be quite a big difference to your out-of-pocket expenses, given how costly ER services and stays can be.
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Medicare can be a bit confusing. There are several different plans to consider, each of which offers its own set of benefits. But if you want to prepare yourself for an unforeseen ER visit, then you need to choose a Medicare plan that will meet your needs.
Time for 65 can help with that. Consider reaching out to one of our partnered licensed agents today. They’ll walk you through your options and provide you with a personalized recommendation for the Medicare plan that’s right for you.
Getting in touch with an agent is easy. You can do so today by either filling out this form or giving us a call. We hope to hear from you soon.
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