What Is Medicare?
A federal health insurance program for:
People 65 years of age or older
People under age 65 with certain disabilities
Who Is Eligible for Medicare?
You are eligible if:
You are 65 years old or you are under age 65 with certain disabilities
You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
You or your spouse have paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years
Part A + Part B = Original Medicare
What Is It?
A fee-for-service plan managed by the Federal Government.
How Does It Work?
You pay a deductible before Medicare pays its part. You then pay your share (coinsurance or copayment), approximately 20%, for covered services.
See any doctor or supplier that accepts Medicare.
May use with Medigap or other coverage like Medicare Part D to help pay costs not covered under Original Medicare.
Use your red, white and blue Medicare card when you get services.
Your Medicare Card
Part A: Hospital Insurance
What It Covers
Many services related to inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare and hospice.
What You Pay (hospital stay deductibles for 2009
$1,068 per benefit period (days 1-60)
$267 per day (days 61-90)
$534 per day (days 91-150)
All costs for each day beyond 150 days (Lifetime reserve days are 60 extra days of coverage you can use in your lifetime. In 2008, you pay $534 per day during these 60 days of coverage.)
Part B: Medical Insurance
What It Covers:
Some of the expenses related to doctor services, lab work and other outpatient services.
What You Pay:
Part B premium of $96.40 monthly (based on your income; it might be higher if you didn’t sign up for Part B when you first became eligible)
$135 annual deductible for 2009
20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services after the $135 deductible has been met.
If a doctor or supplier chooses not to accept assignment, their costs are often higher, which means you would pay more.
Part C: Medicare Advantage
All of your Original Medicare Part A and B benefits, plus additional benefits. Some plans also provide Part D Prescription Drug coverage.
What You Pay
Monthly plan premiums
Copayments or coinsurance for services
Drug costs in coverage gap (although some plans offer coverage through this gap)
Part D: Prescription Drug Insurance
Many outpatient prescription drugs
Monthly Premium on stand alone only!
Deductibles, copayments and coinsurance according to the plan’s benefits
For more information or an appointment please call 916-961-2845 / 916-436-6234
or eMail christinashachar@gmail.com Lic.# 0753854