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Medicare
The Help You Need for The Health You Deserve
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. It is composed of many different parts. Original Medicare refers to Medicare Parts A and B. There is also Medicare Part D which is your prescription drug coverage.
Original Medicare pays for much, but not all, of the cost of covered health care services and supplies. It is important to know what’s covered and how you can help to mitigate the expenses that you are responsible for.
At Catherine Burns Insurance, we offer Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D plans, all of which can help fill in those gaps. We will guide you in making the right choice that not only fits your budget but fits your lifestyle!
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Medicare Supplement
Medicare Supplement plans, sometimes referred to as Medigap plans, are extra insurance that can be purchased through a private health insurance company. These plans are designed to help cover your share of out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These plans work in conjunction with Original Medicare Parts A and B.s.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage Plans are another option to Original Medicare. If you have Original Medicare then the government is responsible for paying for your Medicare benefits when you receive them. A Medicare Advantage plan, often referred to at “Part C” are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. Medicare pays these companies to cover your Medicare benefits. A Medicare Advantage Plan will provide all your Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B coverage and sometimes offer additional benefits such as...
There are many different types of Medicare Advantage plans so it’s even more important that you understand all your options when considering enrolling into this type of coverage.
Medicare Part D
Medicare Part D is your prescription drug benefit. This benefit can be purchased as a standalone benefit to complement Original Medicare, or is sometimes combined with a Medicare Advantage plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Medicare?
Medicare is health insurance for people administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Who is eligible for Medicare?
You become eligible for Medicare at age 65. Early enrollment into Medicare happens for those that have been on Social Security Disability for 24 months, or with certain disabilities with no waiting period.
Is Medicare enrollment automatic?
Although eligibility for Medicare, for most people, begins at age 65, enrollment into the Medicare program is only automatic if you are enrolled and receiving Social Security Retirement benefits or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. If so, you will automatically be enrolled into Medicare and receive your Medicare Card approximately 3 months prior to your effective date (1st of the month you turn 65 or one month prior if your birthday is the 1st of the month.)
What if I’m not automatically enrolled in Medicare?
When enrollment into Medicare isn’t automatic, you need to enroll through the Social Security Administration or, if retired from the Railroad, the Railroad Retirement Board. The Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) last 7 months, which begins three months prior to the month you turn 65 and ends three months after the month you turn 65.
Do you need to sign up for Medicare?
Not always. If you are actively employed and covered by a group health plan (or spouse’s) with twenty or more employees, you may be able to delay enrollment into Medicare and not pay any penalties.
What are the four parts of Medicare?
• Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care.
• Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover medically necessary services like doctor visits and outpatient care.
• Part C (Medicare Advantage [MA]) is another way to get your Medicare benefits. It combines Part A and Part B, and sometimes Part D (prescription drug coverage).
• Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage) helps pay for outpatient prescription drugs. Part D may help lower your prescription drug costs and protect you against higher costs in the future.
Still have questions?
A knowledgeable insurance agent can help you decide if you need to enroll into Medicare, weigh the options of staying on an employer plan vs enrolling into Medicare, and help you choose the most appropriate Medicare Insurance Plan/Plans for your needs.
Contact us to talk with one of our experts!
(570) 327-1598