The Most Commonly Asked Questions About Medicare
Medicare is a social welfare program that the government of the United States established in order to provide care for citizens of the country who are above the age of 65. According to statistics, in 2015 almost fifty six million people were enrolled in this program.
Despite the fact that so many people are enrolled in Medicare, there is still a lot of confusion about this program. Here is a list of some of the most common questions that people ask about Medicare:
Are Medicare and Medicaid the same thing?
The answer to this question is no. Medicare and Medicaid are not the same. Medicare is a program that was launched to address the needs of people who are above the age of sixty-five.
Medicaid on the other hand is a program that addresses the needs of people who come from a low-income background and suffer from a disability.
What is the criteria for qualifying for Medicare?
Senior citizens above the age of sixty-five can enroll in Medicare however; Medicare is not only for these individuals. Disabled people can also qualify for Medicare. Eligibility for Medicare also depends on the social security credits that the people applying for Medicare have.
Is the enrollment automatic or manual?
People who have been collecting social security benefits over the years automatically qualify for both Part A and B of Medicare. This does not cover Medicare supplement program and you will have to pay premiums in case you wish to enroll in that particular program.
In case you have not been collecting social security benefits, you will have to enroll for Medicare on your own.
What is the difference between the various Medicare parts?
Medicare comprises four different parts:
- Part A of Medicare involves hospital insurance and provides coverage for the visits to hospital and the care that the patients gets over there.
- Part B of Medicare program provides coverage for insurance. It also covers any kind of preventive treatments that patients undertake.
- Part C of Medicare is known as the Medicare advantage plan. This consist of both part A and B of the original Medicare with the only difference being that it is offered by private insurance companies as opposed to the government.
- Part D of Medicare covers the costs associated with medicines.
What are the areas that Medicare does not cover?
There are certain areas that Medicare does not cover. These include chiropractic care, dental, vision and hearing problems, and stays in nursing homes.
Can you make changes to Medicare after you have enrolled in it?
In case you wish to make changes in your Medicare plan, like switching from original Medicare to Medicare advantage plan, you can do so during the enrollment period, which starts, from 15th October to 7th December.
In case you have any additional queries regarding Medicare, get in touch with us. We have a team of health insurance agents who can provide help regarding Medicare to people who have just turned sixty-five. You can contact us at 800-619-4450 or visit our website for further information.
