Medicare Coverage

We believe that the better educated you are about Medicare, the easier it will be for you to make the right decisions about your Medicare health insurance choices.

This Medicare information section is here to educate you about your insurance options and provide you with the resources you need to help you select the right plan for your unique needs.
If there's anything you need or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We are here to help.

Medicare 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).

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

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.

Part B Medical Insurance

Most 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.

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.

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)

If you have Part A and Part B, you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan, sometimes called “Part C” or an “MA plan.” This type of Medicare health plan is offered by Medicare-approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage Plans include

drug coverage (Part D). If you join one of these plans, you generally get all your Medicare-covered health care through the Medicare Advantage Plan. This coverage can include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans include:

Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Medicare Special Needs Plans

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is extra insurance you can buy from a private health insurance company to help pay your share of out-of-pocket costs that original Medicare does not cover.

What you need to know about Medicare Supplement policies

You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can switch to a Medicare Supplement insurance policy during certain enrollment periods or if you meet certain criteria (underwriting may apply), but make sure you can leave the Medicare Advantage Plan before your Medicare Supplement insurance policy begins.
You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium for your Medicare Supplement insurance policy in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you'll each have to buy separate policies.
You can buy a Medicare Supplement insurance policy from any insurance company that's licensed in your state to sell one.
Any standardized Medicare Supplement insurance policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can't cancel your Medicare Supplement insurance policy, as long as you pay the premium.
Medicare Supplement insurance policies sold after January 1, 2006 aren't allowed to include prescription drug coverage. If you want prescription drug coverage, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).
It's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless you're switching back to Original Medicare.

Source: www.medicare.gov and www.cms.gov.

Medicare Disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. To get information on all your options please visit www.medicare.gov, call 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP).