Medicare Program - General Information

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Medicare is a health insurance program for:

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• People age 65 or older.

• People under age 65 with certain disabilities.

• People of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).

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You are eligible to enroll in Medicare beginning 3 months before your 65th birthday, you may be eligible to enroll in Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). (Ref: medicare.gov)

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Medicare has different parts that help cover specific services:

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Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) - Part A 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. 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. (Ref: medicare.gov)

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Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) - Part B 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. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B. (Ref: medicare.gov)

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Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) - Medicare prescription drug coverage is available to everyone with Medicare. To get Medicare prescription drug coverage, people must join a plan approved by Medicare that offers Medicare drug coverage. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part D. (Ref: medicare.gov)

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Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) - Medicare Advantage is another way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans," are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll still have Medicare, but you'll get most of your Part A and Part B coverage from your Medicare Advantage Plan, not Original Medicare. These "bundled" plans include Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and usually Medicare drug coverage (Part D). (Ref: medicare.gov)

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Medicare Supplement (Medigap) - Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance that helps fill "gaps" in Original Medicare and is sold by private companies. Original Medicare pays for much, but not all, of the cost for covered health care services and supplies. A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy can help pay some of the remaining health care costs, like: Ref: medicare.gov)

• Copayments

• Coinsurance

• Deductibles

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