Medicare is a Federal health insurance program available to Americans who are age 65 and older. Also, anyone who is disabled or has end-stage renal disease or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Billions of dollars are spent covering the medical costs of millions of individuals through Medicare’s four-part system. The official Social Security website is ssa.gov, which is the easiest and quickest way to enroll in Medicare. Part A and Part B are also known as Original Medicare and Part C and Part D offer additional healthcare plans at cost. If you are considering signing up with Medicare, keep reading to learn more about the four parts.
Part A, also called Hospital Insurance, covers your hospital stays and any special nursing services you receive while there. End-of-life, or hospice, services are also included. For most people, there is no premium, but costs often include deductibles and copayments. Part A coverage is automatic when you apply for retirement or disabilities benefits with the Social Security Administration.
Part B is also known as Medical Insurance. This Part covers doctor office visits and same-day outpatient services such as in-office procedures or prescription drug administration. There is a monthly premium based on income, as well as a yearly deductible and coinsurance costs once the deductible is met. When you become eligible for Medicare, enrollment in Part B is not automatic, as it is for Part A. This means that you must sign-up when you first become eligible, or you could pay a penalty.
Part C, also known as “Medicare Advantage Plans”, combines both Medicare Part A and B for all-in-one comprehensive coverage, making it convenient for you. Typically, most Medicare Advantage Plans include Part D Prescription Drug coverage, too. With Medicare Advantage Plans, your costs are lower when you visit doctors and hospitals in the network. Some Medicare Advantage Plans may allow you to see doctors and hospitals outside the network, for a higher cost. Most Medicare Advantage Plans also include additional coverage, such as: dental, vision, hearing, Over-the-Counter benefits and more. For instance, Florida Blue Health Insurance plans cover some procedures and medications not covered by Original Medicare Part A or Part B.
A basic understanding of the four parts is the first step toward Medicare coverage. Each part can be a maze of information that can be difficult to sort out. Once you are enrolled, your Medicare Agents here at Sunsure can do all the research necessary to prepare personalized options for you. We consider information such as your budget, prescription medications and preferred providers. We then advocate for you, finding the best selection of plans from which you can select. We will work with you to ensure you have a clear understanding of what you are paying for and what you are getting. Then you can confidently decide which plans are best for you and let your Medicare Agent at Sunsure get you enrolled. Moreover, Sunsure will be there for you whenever you have questions or need assistance.
Let Sunsure help with all your Medicare needs!