Medicare Basics

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Medicare Basics

Medicare Program Overview

Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older, under age 65 with certain disabilities, and any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).

Medicare includes these parts:

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), including Medicare preventive services
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)--a health coverage option that combines Part A, Part B, and generally Part D coverage)
Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage)

Medicare 2011 Premiums & Cost Sharing

Medicare Premiums for 2011

Part A (Hospital Insurance) Premium
Part B (Medical Insurance) Premium
Part A Deductible & Coinsurance
Part A Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
Part B Deductible & Coinsurance

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Plans

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

There are many differences between the ways in which you can choose to receive your Medicare benefits, including the fact that Medicare Advantage contracts operate on a calendar year basis (annually renewable) and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies are guaranteed renewable. Guaranteed renewable means that the insurance company cannot change what your Medigap policy covers once it is issued, or terminate your policy, unless you do not pay your premium within the grace period and/or you made a material misrepresentation on your application.

How and When to Sign Up For Medicare

General Information
Is Medicare Enrollment Automatic?
Do I need to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA)?
When can you add, drop, or change forms of Medicare coverage?

General Information.

The Social Security Administration is responsible for enrolling eligible individuals in the Medicare program. As a matter of fact, the SSA takes care of the following Medicare items:

Sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B
Ask for a replacement Medicare card
Change your address
Apply for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug costs if you have limited income and resources
Ask questions about Medicare Part A and Part B eligibility and enrollment
Ask Medicare premium questions
Report a death

Is Medicare enrollment automatic?

Anyone who is receiving a Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) check is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. Part A is Hospital Insurance; Part B is Medical Insurance. However, if you are not planning on drawing a Social Security retirement check when you turn 65, you must contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare.

Medicare Enrollment Periods

You are able to enroll in or change your Medicare plan during one or more of the following enrollment periods:

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)
Medigap Open Enrollment Period
General Enrollment Period
Annual Coordinated Election Period (AEP)
Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP)
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

Senior Health Directory

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Medicare Disclaimer

This website is a private website and is not associated, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This site contains basic information about Medicare, services related to Medicare and services for people with Medicare. If you would like to find more information about the Federal Government's Medicare program, please visit the official U.S. Government's Site for people with Medicare located at www.medicare.gov.

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A Non-Government Resource

Toll Free: (888) 815-3313

Medicare Basics

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Senior Health Directory

State Websites and Medicare Resources

Medicare Disclaimer