What is Medicare?
Medicare is a health insurance program for:
* people age 65 or older,
* people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and
* people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease
(permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).
Medicare has Part A Hospital Insurance
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.
Medicare Part B Medical Insurance
People pay a monthly premium for Part B. 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.The 2010 Part B premium is $96.40/month for most individuals. This usually comes directly out of the monthly Social Security check.
Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage Plans
This is provided by private insurance companies as a replacement of Part A and Part B. People with Medicare Parts A and B can choose to receive all of their health care services through one of these provider organizations instead of through Medicare. Part C plans are available in many but not all areas.
Part D Prescription Drug Coverage
People will pay a monthly premium for this coverage. Starting January 1, 2006, new Medicare prescription drug coverage will be available to everyone with Medicare. 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. If a person decides not to enroll in a drug plan when they are first eligible, they may pay a penalty if they choose to join later.
Most of the information on this page was obtained from government agency websites and publications, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Social Security Administration (SSA). All content is provided for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Although we believe that the source of this information is reliable, we do not warrant or guarantee its accuracy, completeness or timeliness.
Medicare contains information about and access to insurance plans for people who are eligible for Medicare and seniors in general. It is operated by Lunzer & Associates Insurances Services LLC, a licensed health insurance agency. Lunzer & Associates Insurances Services LLC and this website are not associated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) or any other government agency.