Medicare Coverage 101 | Common Questions From Eligible New Members
When you hit the age of retirement, you may be facing a lot of changes in your daily life, and one of those changes could be becoming eligible for Medicare insurance. Even though most Americans understand that Medicare is a federally offered health insurance for people who have paid in payroll taxes, many people get a little confused about all the specifics. So, you can ensure you get the most out of your new Medicare insurance if you do take part, it is best to get the answers to some common questions. Here's a look at a few questions about Medicare and the answers you should know.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare covers most of the typical forms of health care that are covered by other types of insurance, and in a lot of cases, more types of health care. For example, Medicare will usually cover things like in-home nursing care to some extent, when traditional medical insurance may not. You should expect Medicare to cover hospital services, doctor's care, surgical treatments, physical therapy, and even mental health services to some extent.
Can you have Medicare and Medicaid?
Some people do actually qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid is designed to help people who have a low-income level, and they need help paying for medical care. Many people reach the age where they qualify for Medicare but also have low income or little assets, so they can then qualify for Medicaid to cover health care costs that may not be covered by Medicare insurance. For example, if a plan member has Medicare, but they are still responsible for 20 percent of their doctor visit costs, Medicaid would pick up and pay the rest of the charges.
What's the difference between Medicare A, B, C, or D?
Medicare is divided into different parts that different people will be eligible to have, and most of the time, one individual will have more than one part of Medicare coverage. Medicare Part D, for example, is specifically for covering outpatient prescription drugs, and it is an optional coverage. Therefore, many people do have Medicare Part D along with other parts of coverage.
Each Medicare part that a member has will have its own designations of what is covered, and each plan usually has its own deductible. People who are eligible for Medicare and have to pay most of their premiums may pick and choose between parts to build the best, most affordable plan.
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