Get Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for senior citizens and for those with certain specific medical conditions, such as advanced renal disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease. To get Medicare benefits, you must be at least age 65, or be diagnosed with one of these conditions. To find out if you are eligible, you can visit the Medicare eligibility tool on the official Medicare website, www.medicare.gov.
The ABC’s of Medicare
Before you apply for Illinois Medicare, you should know what you’re getting. Medicare has four basic parts:
Medicare Part A-is the original Medicare insurance coverage and helps pay for hospital bills.
Medicare Part B-is a supplemental insurance option for people who qualify for. It pays for physician services and supplies outside of the hospital.
Medicare Part C- Part C is also called “Medicare Advantage.” These plans (like HMOs and PPOs) allow you to access Medicare benefits through private managed care companies approved.
Medicare Part D-is the newest addition to Medicare. It is prescription drug coverage. You must be enrolled in Medicare before you can apply for Part D coverage.
You must pay a monthly premium for Parts B, C and D. However, Part A is free, provided you meet the eligibility requirements, including 40 qualifying quarters of work during your career. When you turn 65, or when you apply for Social Security benefits, you are automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. You must specifically opt out of Part B. If you do not enroll in Part B when you are eligible, you may have to pay a higher premium to get back in. The longer you wait, the higher the premium you may incur. You will also need to wait until the Medicare general enrollment period comes around again, which is January through March of each year. You will not be able to get Medicare Part B benefits until the open enrollment period occurs.
How to Get Medicare
Your enrollment in Part A is automatic. You don’t have to do anything. To apply for Medicare Part B, if you are not already enrolled, visit your local Social Security office, or call 800-772-1213. TTY users can call 800-325-0778. If your income is above a certain amount, you may have to pay an additional Medicare Part B premium.
Medicare Health Insurance Deductibles
Medicare health insurance enrollees are often surprised when they get a bill from their hospital or other health care providers after a hospital stay. Medicare only provides partial coverage, though. The Illinois Medicare enrollee may still have to pay significant deductibles. Specifically, Medicare Part A still leaves you with a $1,132 bill for a hospital stay of between 1 and 60 days. After that, you will have to pay $283 per day to the hospital for days 61-90, and $566 per day for days 91 through 150.
Medicare Part B only covers 80 percent of your physicians and lab fees, at best. Illinois Medicaid enrollees must pick up the rest. To get help paying medical expenses where Medicare health insurance leaves off, you may want to consider enrolling in a Medigap plan, which is a supplementary Medicare health plan, or purchasing a Medicare Advantage plan.
Get Medicare Supplemental Coverage
To get Medicare supplemental coverage to protect you against the deductibles and co-pays that are part of Medicare, simply visit our free online quote engine at www.abchealthplans.com. You will have your free, no obligation quote in just minutes.