Most people qualify for all Medicare programs if they're 65 or older and are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. However, eligibility rules and availability are different for each plan within Medicare.
- For Part A, people are automatically eligible without paying any premium if, in addition to the age and residency requirements, they worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least ten years. If not, they may still buy into Part A coverage for a yearly premium.
- For Part B, every citizen and legal resident over 65 is eligible. Even if someone is under age 65, he or she may qualify for both Part A and B if he or she has been receiving Social Security disability benefits for two years or has a chronic kidney disease.
- If they're eligible for Parts A and B, they can choose to receive that coverage through a Part C Medicare Advantage managed care plan, if a plan they like is available where they live.
- Anyone eligible for Medicare may purchase a Part D prescription drug plan offered by private insurance companies in the state where they live.
This article is very helpful in a general sort of way. It needs updating. The new dates for the open enrollment period have been moved to October 15 to December 7 starting in 2011. That means to be able to make any changes in your health insurance, without a penalty, is between those dates. Those changes will take effect the next January 1. Also, there is a penalty in Part D that can be very severe. You are penalized if you do NOT select a "credible" drug plan when you are first eligible. For more complete information, go to www.Medicare.gov and get the full story. Other than these two glaring problems, the article lays out the major emphasis.
So much is a mystery about medicaid.
Hi sherr421, Thank you very much for your comment. I am very sorry to hear about your situation. That must be very difficult for you. If you'd like you can post your question in our Ask & Answer section, here : ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). I hope that helps. Take care -- Emily | Community Manager
This is a long story my mother got severly sick cva, while she was in hospital my sister took allher belonging house , money, ect said she did ent them and dident even pay a small bill to sears. I disowened im a sister before my mom was sick she took my son collected his child support . I was hard for me to go to moms it was so intense and i was very very sad, it was all over money, then she slander my name to all my relitives from fla to va. I tried to dight but i was tolld i made too much money for free help to get him back. but with my sister having a business they let her have free help and i signed a paper i though was for medical . i was going through a bad devorice and i had to go to va to get rid od cancer flA wouldent help. . so i left my son till i got back . only i lost him cause of it . I dident do drugs but i was on house arrest cause i coulent pay a 200 fine they wouldent waive fla.I never seen the poa or anything . she broke her hip my sister was out of town and no one could find poa i never seen her finances or anything . i know she had around 25,000 that got spent. my sister filed a lawsuit again either ormc or a nursing home way out in middle of fla which i cloudent get to. I asked what she got from lawsuit she wouldent respond. so now my mom is in nursing home sitting there alll alone . she will let her immidate family live there but not me im hard up . i take alot hardships she sold all the cars after my moms boyfriend died a few days after he was burried . i had no vehicle at time. She has helped lots of strangers in my moms house . i was in there only cause it was vacant to long but it was neglecter or it would have to tear down. I have been unemployed gone through hell is there anything i can do or do i got to accept this abuse . slander my name so eveyone in my family hate me. cause she wanted everything forher self . i was told by here once to go to a homeless sheter. any advice is this legal
This was a great source, thanks
It is important to know who pays first - Medicare or your HMO or PPO. While we pay the Medicare premium (deducted from our Social Security checks), our HMO pays first. I never even show my Medicare card.
mainly good for info for a friend who hasn't enrolled in MC yet even though she is now 68 - still works.....
If you are having trouble with prescriptions not being covered by Medicare/Medicaid or other insurance you should contact : www.pparx.org or print a free prescription savings card at www.SuperRxcard.com or order your medicines from an online Canadian pharmacy. The free SuperRxcard can be used at local pharmacies. Canadian pharmacies have the cheapest prices. pparx.org might be able to help you get into a free or reduced price program if you qualify. Try SuperRxcard.com or any of the free drug cards online first.
Good article! Love to see it so well explained. We do a one page (back and front) fact sheet every year to help people w/the various "parts" as well as updated costs: http://www.agingwisely.com/2011-medicare-fact-sheet/ (here is 2011's). To most people (even many who have been on Medicare for years) it's all a bunch of alphabet soup...
Your website is very informative,and yes,this article on Medicare was very informative to me,and thank you for having such a good,caring,website for people to help each other find help to take care of their relatives..All states should offer a pay to whoever is taking care of their elderly parent,or family member..It would save the government alot of money,instead of plopping them all in nursing homes..which alot of loneliness,and some abuse can be found.They are also finding out its cheaper for the relative to take care of them,especially with not many jobs for people to find right now,with the unemployment so high,the government could give the person a job,and save alot of money,considering what a nursing home costs these days..My ex fatherinlaw was in one,for assisted living,and it was $4000 a month,plus..now he cannot get himself up out of his wheelchair,and the new nursing home is costing him $6,000 a month,its a good thing he has minors black lunch,and a good pension or he would be in one that probably wouldn't take as good of care as the nice one he's in right now..this channeling of the money,could serve two purposes,its a win/win situation..I take care of my Dad at home,and retired from working from the school system for 30 yrs.so,for me,it wasn't a big wage loss,as I get a good pension..and my dad is fairly comfortable..we can afford to pay someone to watch him,when I need to pick up his pills,shop,or for me to go to the doctors..we are very lucky..alot of peoplel aren't,and my heart goes out to them..There will be more people like my dad,since the baby boomers are the largest population in the country right now,arrp can prove that..and they are (the ones who didn't take care of themselves)going to need alot of help in the next 8 yrs..anyway,thank you for your site,its very informative..I can feel for all of you caretakers..my dad just fell sept.15 and broke his hip,he is mending at home very well,after rehab,and surgery,and he has good medical coverage..which I think made a big difference in his recovery...also,he only has some dementia,and is 88 yrs.young(he thinks he's young,he doesn't like to use a cane,since he said only old people use one)he's funny..and was a good dad,and still is(most of the time)he gets sundowners sometimes,and we clash at times..but I love him,and he loves me,and as long as I can take care of him,I will..I do think the government should start some type of system to pay the caregivers,maybe we can all write to our legislators,and start some kind of tea party..the squeaky wheel gets the oil..and the acknowledgement.. Good luck to you all..C.M.
I like my doctor very much. How can I find out if he accepts medicare once I enter the program?
This was really helpful. Thanks!
Is there information somewhere about the 'donut hole' in part D?
Thanks for this article. It's cleared up several misconceptions I had!
My specific question is when a doctor accepts medicare and supplemental like blue cross blueshield, can they still bill you for thedifference between what they charge and what the above covers? Ddoes accepting assignment mean they can still bill, or must they accept what medicare and supplemental pay?
I found your article informative, but I need to understand why a care provider is necessary. I don't want to be restricted as to what doctors I can see or be told who can give me the care I need. As we communicate, I'm disappointed in the medicare system.