What you need to know about Medicare

DMedicare is a health insurance program for:

people age 65 or older,

people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and

people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).escription text goes here

Most people don't pay a premium for Part A because they or a spouse already paid for it through their payroll taxes while working. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. Beneficiaries must meet certain conditions to get these benefits.Description text goes here

DMost people pay a monthly premium for Part B. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctors' services and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.escription text goes here

IteMost people will pay a monthly premium for this coverage. On January 1, 2006, Medicare prescription drug coverage became available to everyone with Medicare. This coverage is to help you lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future. Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage is insurance. Private companies provide the coverage. Beneficiaries choose the drug plan and pay a monthly premium. If a beneficiary decides not to enroll in a drug plan when they are first eligible, they may pay a penalty if they choose to join later.m description

DescIn most HMO Plans, you can only go to doctors, other health care providers, or hospitals on the plan's list except in an emergency, for out-of-area urgent care or for temporary out-of-area dialysis. You may also need to get a referral from your primary care doctor to see other doctors or specialists. Find and compare HMO Plans in your area.ription text goes here

DesA Medicare PFFS Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) offered by a private insurance company. PFFS plans aren’t the same as Original Medicare or Medicare supplement. The plan determines how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals, and how much you must pay when you get care.cription text goes here

DesA Medicare PPO Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) offered by a private insurance company. In a PPO Plan, you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan's network. You pay more if you use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network.cription text goes here

Item descA Medicare PPO Plan is a type of Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) offered by a private insurance company. In a PPO Plan, you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan's network. You pay more if you use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network.ription

Open enrollment occurs each year October 15-December 7th

Age 65+

You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

• You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

• You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad retirement benefits but have not yet filed for them.

• You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you are under 65, you can get Part A

without having to pay for premiums if:

• You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement disability benefits for 24 months.

• You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare to provide all your Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) benefits. Many plans also include Part D (prescription drug coverage) and additional benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental, vision, and hearing services

A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs. Your Medigap policy pays its share. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits.