Empowering Your Golden Years
As you approach retirement or navigate life with a disability, securing quality healthcare becomes even more important. Medicare is a federal health insurance program designed to provide health coverage for people age 65 and older, along with younger individuals with certain disabilities.
What Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare is divided into different parts, each covering specific healthcare services.
- Part A (Hospital Insurance): Covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care (short-term), hospice care, and some home healthcare services.
- Part B (Medical Insurance): Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, some durable medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs), and some home healthcare services.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage): Offered by private insurance companies, these plans combine Part A and Part B coverage, often with additional benefits like vision or dental coverage. (May have monthly premiums and co-pays).
- Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) Offered by private insurance companies, these plans cover prescription medications. (May have monthly premiums and co-pays).
What does Medicaid cover?
Medicaid offers a wide range of healthcare benefits, including:
- Doctor visits and preventive care
- Hospital stays and outpatient care
- Emergency room services
- Prescription drugs
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Long-term care services for elderly and disabled individuals
Understanding Eligibility
Most people become eligible for Medicare at age 65 if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. Younger individuals with certain disabilities may also qualify for Medicare.
Enrolling in Medicare
- Initial Enrollment Period: You can enroll in Medicare during a 7-month window around your 65th birthday.
- Special Enrollment Periods: If you miss the initial enrollment period, there may be special enrollment periods depending on your circumstances.