Overview of 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).
(Health & Human Services, 2005)
Medicare has:
Part A Hospital Insurance - Most
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.
Part B Medical Insurance - Most
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.
Prescription Drug Coverage - Most
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. Like other insurance, if a beneficiary
decides not to enroll in a drug plan when they are first
eligible, they may pay a penalty if they choose to join later.
For more information click on the link cms.hhs.gov/MedicareGenInfo/