Medicare

Flu season is right around the corner! Those with Medicare Part B can receive the flu shot free of charge each year at a doctor’s office or pharmacy. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Medicare Part B will cover certain vaccines, including influenza and pneumococcal. Most other vaccines go through Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) or Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plan) if the plan includes prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Part D, also called Medicare drug coverage or stand-alone Prescription Drug Plans, are an option for beneficiaries to receive drug coverage. Original Medicare does not cover most prescription drugs, but beneficiaries can choose to enroll in a Part D plan that will.

The Health Insurance Marketplace®, also just called the Marketplace, allows people who do not have health insurance to enroll. Although health insurance exchanges have existed for several decades, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted by the Obama Administration in 2010 increased accessibility to exchange coverage.

If you have multiple forms of insurance, it’s important to coordinate your benefits to make sure that claims are paid correctly. You may need to coordinate coverage if you have Medicare and are also enrolled in a union- or employer-sponsored group health plan, Medicare supplemental insurance, or Medicaid. 

Does Medicare cover dental, vision, and hearing services? The simple answer is no. Although some procedures that are considered medical are covered by Medicare Part B, most dental, eye, and hearing exams, as well as comprehensive dental and hearing aids, are not covered by Original Medicare.

No need to fret! You still may be able to get this coverage through a private insurer.

When you become eligible for Medicare, you have several decisions to make, including whether you should enroll right when eligible or delay enrollment. In certain cases, you may be able to enroll without a future penalty.

It’s difficult to keep track of what each part of Medicare covers. Here’s an overview of what is covered by Medicare:

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, nursing home care (except custodial or long-term care), hospice care, and home health care.

Do you need assistance paying for your prescription costs? Extra Help, also called the low-income subsidy (LIS), is a Social Security program that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and resources pay for their Part D premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.

1. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.
2. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Medicare Advantage Plans are another way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage while a Medigap policy supplements your Original Medicare benefits.
3. You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium for your Medigap policy. You pay this monthly premium in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.

When you become eligible for Medicare, you have several decisions to make, including whether you should enroll right when eligible or delay enrollment. In certain cases, you may be able to delay enrollment without a future penalty.