Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers hospital and medical coverage for people who are 65 or older, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with end-stage renal disease.
The Medicare program has four parts: A, B, C, and D. The part of Medicare that provides coverage to those with traditional Medicare (Part A and Part B) is referred to as Original Medicare. If you enroll in Original Medicare, you will be covered by all parts of the plan.
Many people choose to enroll in an Advantage Plan as an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare. Plans can vary widely in cost and benefits; it’s important to understand your options before enrolling in a plan.
Some advantages include: not having copays for certain services like visits to the doctor and hospital stays, lower monthly premiums and deductibles, and prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D).
What Are The Benefits Of Medicare?
In addition to providing coverage for medical and hospital care, Medicare advantage plans 2022 offers other benefits like free vision and hearing services. If you have Medicare Part C, you may also be eligible for additional benefits such as ambulance services, home health care, and hospice.
With an Advantage Plan instead of Original Medicare, more than 4 million people each year receive prescription drug coverage under the Medicare Part D program. With a plan like Medicare Advantage or Part D, you could also get supplemental coverage for dental care, physical therapy, or speech therapy.
Who Can Enroll In Medicare?
If you are eligible, you can enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) through the Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration will provide a card that confirms your enrollment.
If you do not want to use Original Medicare, there are a few options for private insurance plans:
-Medicare Advantage Plans
-Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (Part C) Coverage
-Medigap
Many people choose to enroll in a plan as an alternative to Original Medicare because they may have pre-existing conditions that prevent them from qualifying for Original Medicare. These individuals might also be ineligible for certain types of coverage with Original Medicare because of their age or health status.
What Are Medicare Advantage Plans?
Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance plans that cover all the costs of Original Medicare. Depending on the plan, they can offer several benefits, such as prescription drug coverage (Part D), hospital and medical coverage, and lower monthly premiums.
As an alternative to Medicare Part A and B, Advantage Plans are covered by Original Medicare Parts C and D, which means they may come with additional benefits like dental and vision care or hospice care.
Advantage Plans can vary in price depending on the plan you choose. For example, a Standard Advantage Plan with no deductible offers coverage for about $100 per month.
Which Medicare Advantage Plan ShouldYouChoose?
When deciding which Medicare advantage plans 2022 is right for you, consider the cost of the plan and your priorities. Before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan, it’s important to know which type of plan you qualify for.
If you meet the income and asset qualifications for traditional Medicare but not for Advantage Plans, consider purchasing Medicare insurance from an insurance company. Medigap is essentially supplemental coverage that supplements the benefits of Original Medicare. It covers services not covered by Original Medicare such as mental health services and eye care coverage.
