Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) Questions

1. Can I get help with Part B payment?

   There are four programs that can pay some or all of your Medicare Part B premiums, deductible and copayments. You must have low income and assets to qualify for any of these programs. Which program you're eligible for depends on how much you have in income and assets. The programs are:
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2. Can my husband enroll in Medicare Part B after his 65th birthday and what will the penalty be?

   Yes, your husband can enroll in Medicare Part B at any time after he turns 65. But because he has waited more than three months after the end of his birthday month, he will have to pay a Medicare Part B penalty. But he'd better hurry and enroll by March 31, or else he'll have to wait until next January...
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3. Can I charge for speech therapy under Part B?

   Several different Medicare rules come into play in answering your question. First of all, if Medicare Part A covers the skilled nursing facility stay, all medically necessary inpatient services -- including speech therapy -- are usually provided by the facility itself and would be included in the daily facility charge paid by Medicare Part A...
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4. If I have Medicare Part B, will I still be eligible for Medicaid?

   Many people are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. If someone is enrolled in both programs (what's known as being a "dual-eligible"), Medicaid pays many of the costs that Medicare leaves unpaid. This includes the Medicare Part B premium, as well as copayments for doctor visits...
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5. Why did I not yet get my Medicare Part B card after retirement?

   Yes, the fact that you kept working and -- assuming from what you say -- hadn't yet begun collecting Social Security retirement benefits when you turned 65 is most likely the reason you didn't receive a Medicare Part B card when you retired...
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6. Do I need Medicare Parts B and C if I'm a federal retiree?

   Whether your government retiree health plan is better than Medicare Part B or a Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage health plan depends mostly on how good the terms are of your current health plan. You need to sit down and compare the coverage -- including the deductibles and copayments you must pay...
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7. What are Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts in 2010?

   Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change each year for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. (For people who receive their Medicare hospital and medical coverage through a Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage managed care plan, premiums, deductibles, and co-payments are determined by the plan itself, not by Medicare...
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8. How Can I Increase the Odds That Medicare Will Cover My Medical Service?

   It's usually obvious whether a medical service is covered by Medicare Part A or Part B, or by a private Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plan. But occasionally Medicare, or a Medicare Part C plan, denies payment for care that a patient expects to be covered...
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9. FAQ: What Are the Changes to Medicare Part A and Part B Costs for 2012?

   Every year on January 1, Medicare makes changes to the premiums it requires participants to pay for their coverage, and for the deductibles and coinsurance amounts an enrollee has to pay out of pocket when using Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B coverage. Here are the changes for 2012.
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10. Will Medicare Parts A and B pay for treatment in a psychiatric hospital?

    Yes, Medicare Part A can cover the inpatient costs for her care in a psychiatric hospital -- meaning a hospital that accepts patients only for mental health care. Medicare can also cover her inpatient psychiatric care in a general hospital. The rules of payment are the same for either type of hospital, but the total amount of coverage is different...
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11. Do disabled veterans need Medicare?

    A veteran who is eligible for both VA medical benefits and Medicare may enroll in both programs and receive benefits from both. For any specific medical treatment or service, however, a veteran enrolled in both programs has to choose one or the other...
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12. Will Medicare pay for any part of getting new custom made orthotics?

    Medicare only cover therapeutic shoes or inserts for people with diabetes who have severe diabetic foot disease.
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13. Do a husband and wife both receiving Medicare pay seperate premiums?

    Yes, each spouse in a married couple must pay his or her own monthly premium for Medicare Part B. In 2012, that monthly premium will be $99.90. If you happen to have joint net income of more than $170,000 per year (based on your 2010 tax returns), you'll each pay a higher monthly premium, between $139...
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14. FAQ: What Are Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B Premiums, Deductibles, and Coinsurance Amounts for 2011?

    Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts change each year for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. (For people who receive their Medicare hospital and medical coverage through a Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage plan, premiums, deductibles, and co-payments are determined by the plan itself, not by Medicare...
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15. Will Medicaid pay for my dad's ventilator and skilled nursing care in my home?

    The answer probably depends on how much actual skilled care he needs. Medicaid coverage varies from state to state. But in all states, the extent of home care Medicaid will cover is far less than what is provided -- and paid for by Medicaid -- in a nursing home...
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16. Does Medicare pay for oral surgery for patients with osteoporosis?

    The answer depends on the exact kind of oral surgery, and on who performs it. Usually, Medicare Part B doesn't cover oral surgery. That's because Medicare considers most work performed by an oral surgeon to be "dental" rather than "medical." But Medicare Part B can cover oral surgery in a few instances...
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17. If I have a Medicare Advantage (Plan C) managed care plan, can I switch back to regular Medicare Parts A and B?

    You can leave your Medicare Advantage plan and return to traditional Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) at any time. Just give your managed care plan 30 days written notice, and they will notify Medicare.
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18. How does inheritance affect Medicare eligibility?

    No, it won't affect your eligibility for Medicare at all. Qualifying for Medicare has nothing to do with how much money or property you have. The only possible effect on your Medicare coverage would be on the amount you have to pay each month for Medicare Part B coverage. Most people pay $96.40 per month (in 2008) for Medicare Part B coverage...
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19. Does Medicare cover massage therapy, physical trainer and physical therapy?

    Medicare Part B can cover outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy as prescribed by your doctor. Neither a physical trainer nor a massage therapist is covered by Medicare, but similar services may be part of what's provided by a physical therapist who's experienced with Parkinson's patients...
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20. How long will coverage for Medicare physical therapy last after a knee replacement?

    Not long. First of all, your physician needs to prescribe the therapy, and periodically needs to review your continuing need for it. But no matter how much therapy your doctor prescribes, Medicare will only pay a limited amount...
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