Medicare

The Road to Medicare: Planning Your Drive Toward 65 (PDF)

Medicare has three parts:

Part A - Hospital Insurance
Part B - Medical Insurance
Part D - Prescription Drug Coverage

The Original Medicare Plan consists of :

Part A Hospital Insurance - Most people don’t pay a premium for Part A because they or a spouse already paid for it through their payroll taxes while working. Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. Beneficiaries must meet certain conditions to get these benefits.


Part B Medical Insurance - Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B.  The monthly premium for Part B for 2009 is $96.40.  In addition, Medicare has an annual deductible of $135.00 for 2009.  Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctors’ services and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A doesn’t cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.

Part D Prescription Drug Coverage - Most people will pay a monthly premium for this coverage. Everyone with Medicare can get this coverage that may help lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future. Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage is insurance. Private companies provide the coverage. Beneficiaries choose the drug plan and pay a monthly premium. Part D enrollment is a voluntary program.  However, like other insurance, if a beneficiary decides not to enroll in a drug plan when they are first eligible, they may pay a penalty if they choose to join later.  There is help paying Part D costs for people with lower incomes and resources. 
Fact Sheet: Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage (PDF)
 

You can get Medicare health care coverage in different ways:

• Original Medicare (A and B) and a Part D plan-offers health care, medical, and drug coverage
• Original Medicare, a Part D plan, and a Medigap -hospital, medical, drug coverage, and supplemental insurance that fills in the extra out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare (Parts A&B.)  
  Fact Sheet: Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage (PDF)
• Medicare Advantage Plan-HMOs, PPOs, PFFS, or Special Needs Plans that may additional coverage other than what Original Medicare covers which may or may not include prescription drug coverage
  Fact Sheet: Medicare Advantage Plans (PDF)
  Medicare Advantage Plans:  What You Need to Know (PDF)
  Get Information!  Ask the Agents These Questions Before You Sign (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Medicare Preventive Services (PDF)

For more information, visit www.medicare.gov

To securely access your Medicare information online visit http://my.medicare.gov/