Frequently Asked Questions
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Medicare is our country’s health insurance program. Although most commonly used by people age 65 or older, some younger people are eligible for Medicare, too. Those include people with disabilities, permanent kidney failure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Medicare helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. Medicare has four parts:
- Part A—Hospital insurance;
- Part B—Medical insurance;
- Part C—Medicare Advantage; and
- Part D—Prescription drug coverage.
Learn more about Medicare Plans.
States must help pay some of the Medicare costs for beneficiaries who have limited income and resources. Under these programs, states help pay for Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles and copayments. Some of these programs also pay additional Medicare expenses for elderly and disabled people.
Contact us for further details and to see if you qualify.
In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a higher monthly premium.
More information on Medicare late enrollment penalties:
Contact us for further details on Late Enrollment Penalties.
The Medicare program has four parts:
Part A (hospital insurance): Hospital insurance helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay), some home health care and hospice care.
The other three parts of Medicare require premium payments, and if you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have coverage. Also, you may have to wait to enroll, which will delay coverage.
Part B (medical insurance): Medical insurance helps pay for doctors’ services and many other medical services and supplies that hospital insurance does not cover.
Part C (Medicare Advantage plans): If you have Medicare Parts A and B, you can join a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare. These plans generally help you pay the medical costs not covered by Medicare Part A and B.
Part D (prescription drug coverage): Prescription drug coverage helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment.
The standard Medicare Part B premium for medical insurance in 2020 is $144.60.
Some people who collect Social Security benefits and have their Part B premiums deducted from their payment will pay less. This is because their Part B premium increased more than the cost-of-living increase for 2020 Social Security benefits. Social Security will send a letter to all people who collect Social Security benefits (and those who pay higher premiums because of their income) that states each person’s exact Part B premium amount for 2020.
Since 2007, higher-income beneficiaries have paid a larger percentage of their Medicare Part B premium than most. Depending on their income, these higher-income beneficiaries will pay premiums that amount to 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost of coverage.
It is essential to review your benefits each year between October 15th and Dec 7th. Unless there is a special exception, this is the time you can enroll, disenroll, or change your plan. This timeframe is referred to as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).
Whether you’re moving out of state or making a town move, there are opportunities to change your plan or to enroll in a new plan if necessary. Special Enrollment Period allows you to change your policy outside of the Open Enrollment Period. Typically, you have 60 days to change your plan if you move. This will enable you to either keep your existing plan or enroll in new coverage.Your Content Goes Here