Medicare FAQ
You may become eligible for medicare if you are approaching age 65. This FAQ will get you started in understanding what benefits are available to you.
What Is Medicare?
Medicare is a medical insurance service that is funded by social security. It is designed to help people with disabilities and illnesses related to aging support their medical costs. People over the age of 65 and those receiving disability payments are eligible for medicare if they are citizens of the United States.
How Do I Apply for Medicare?
If you have a social security disability lawyer, they should be able to help you apply for medicare. Otherwise, you can look up an application with the Social Security Administration. They will require a completed application, plus documents to show your age, legal status, income, and disability status. Ask for help with whether you should apply for medicare part A or part B, or both. Medicare part A is more comprehensive than medicare part B, but many people over the age of 65 can qualify for both benefits.
How Does Medicare Work?
Medicare works just like many other insurance benefits. You will have an insurance card to present to a health care provider. They may assess you a copay or deductible fee, depending on what services you require. The difference is that medicare is free for those who qualify. You only pay the copays as determined by your policy.
Will I Pay Anything Out of Pocket?
Sometimes, you will have to pay things out of pocket, such as deductibles and copays. But you can also get insurance to cover these items. That's what is known as medicare supplemental plans, and they are an affordable option if you have many medical needs that are not fully covered by medicare. These are sold by private insurance companies, but there is some oversight for fairness of pricing.
So, in short, if you think you could be eligible for medicare and medicare supplemental plans, it is often a good idea to switch over from your previous health insurance carrier. The plans are designed to be affordable for those who don't have an income and who are suffering with health problems. Plus, if you have been working your whole life and have become eligible for medicare, it's a benefit that you have been paying into for years; why not reap in the benefits of reduced cost medical insurance?
If you have more questions about Medicare, give representatives at companies like Senior Advisors a call.
