Medicare is a healthcare plan designed to help meet the needs of people over 65. During the seven months surrounding your 65th birthday, you can enroll in Original Medicare. Your agent can help you decide if a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan may be a good fit.
Choosing the right Medicare coverage can be confusing. Contact the Medicare experts at Lohman Companies in Moline, Illinois, to get help choosing coverage that works for your situation.
What Are the Parts of Medicare?
There are four parts of Medicare that may help cover your ongoing healthcare expenses, including:
· Original Medicare is Part A and Part B coverage.
o Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. Many people do not have to pay a monthly premium for Part A coverage.
o Medicare Part B is medical insurance. Most people pay a monthly Part B premium based on their annual income.
· Medicare Part C, also called Medicare Advantage (MA), is an optional replacement for Original Medicare coverage provided by private insurance companies. MA plans may include prescription drug coverage. Many plans provide coverage for healthcare services not covered by Medicare, including vision, dental and hearing care. MA plans typically cover in-network healthcare providers only.
· Medicare Part D helps cover prescription drugs. This plan is optional and provided by private insurance companies. Part D coverage comes with a premium, and if you choose to forgo coverage during your initial enrollment period, you may pay higher rates when you decide to sign up.
Medigap
In addition to the parts of Medicare, you can purchase a Medigap plan as an alternative to Medicare Part C. Medigap plans work with Original Medicare to help cover your out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
Some plans provide coverage for Part A coinsurance and hospital costs, Part B coinsurance, hospice care coinsurance, Part A deductibles, and foreign travel emergencies. Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medigap plans are standardized and are identified as plans A – D, F, G and K – N in most states.
Is Medicare Required?
While signing up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period isn’t mandatory for many people, you may pay a late enrollment fee if you don’t sign up for Parts A and B when you are first eligible. Part B late enrollment penalties last for as long as you receive Part B coverage.
If you are under the age of 65 and have a disability, you’ll get Part A and B coverage automatically after you get disability benefits. If you already receive benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or Social Security, you’ll automatically be signed up for Part A and B coverage during the month you turn 65.
If you are close to 65 and are not receiving RRB or Social Security benefits, you must sign up for Medicare Parts A and B to get coverage.
How to Get Medicare Coverages
Contact Lohman Companies today to learn more about your Medicare coverage options. We can help you get a personalized quote for a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan to help cover your out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.