I Already Have Medicare

What You Need to Know

Medicare isn’t part of the Health Insurance Marketplace, so if you have Medicare coverage now you don’t need to do anything. If you have Medicare, you’re considered covered.

The Marketplace won’t affect your Medicare choices or benefits. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO), you won’t have to make any changes.

IMPORTANT: The Marketplace doesn’t offer Medicare supplement (Medigap) insurance or Part D drug plans.

If You Have Only Medicare Part B

If you have Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), you’re considered covered under the health care law and don’t need a Marketplace plan. But having only Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) doesn’t meet this requirement.

If you have only Medicare Part B, you aren’t considered to have minimum essential coverage. This means you may have to pay the fee that people who don’t have coverage may have to pay.

Steps You Will Take to Get Started

Here is an overview of the steps you will take to get the ball rolling:

Medicare benefits have expanded under the health care law – things like free preventive benefits, cancer screenings, and an annual wellness visit.

You can also save money if you’re in the prescription drug “donut hole” with discounts on brand-name prescription drugs.

Original Medicare

When anyone says Original Medicare they are talking about Medicare without supplements, as issued from the government. Original Medicare has two parts. Part A and Part B.

Medicare Part A covers hospital, hospice, and skills nursing facility coverage. Whenever you are admitted to a facility, Medicare Part A is covering your stay.

Medicare Part B covers your outpatient care like doctor visits, outpatient labs and tests. Part B also covers durable medical equipment like walkers, knee and neck braces, and wheelchairs.

Original Medicare is often referred to as an 80/20 plan, meaning that in your usual outpatient visits you can expect to pay for 20% of your costs. Also, there is a major deductible for hospital stays. If you need a blood transfusion Medicare will not pay for the first three pints. Also Original Medicare does not cover prescription drugs. There is no cap on how much you can spend on copays, deductibles, and extra charges. For that reason people look for ways to protect themselves from spending more than necessary on their health care.

Most people opt for either a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement Plan

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans, often referred to as Part C, are structured like HMO or PPO plans but with all the protections of Medicare in place. Medicare Advantage plans, unlike Original Medicare cap the maximum amount of money you are liable to pay in high usage years. In a year when you get $100,000,000 dollars of coverage your maximum out of pocket cost could be as low as $3,400.

Medicare Advantage plans offer the benefits and coverage of Medicare Parts A and B as well as prescription drug coverage. Think of Part C as a combo plan. They combine the benefits of Part A and Part B often adding extra benefits that Original Medicare does not offer such as:

  • Dental Coverage
  • Vision Transportation
  • Hearing Aid Coverage
  • Chiropractic Care
  • Acupuncture
  • Free Gym Memberships
  • Free Over the Counter Medicines, Supplements and Sundries

Medicare Supplement Plans

Medicare Supplement Plans, often referred to as Medigap Plans cover all or part of the 20% that Medicare does not cover. You will see Medicare Supplement / Medigap Plans with names like Plan F, Plan G, or Plan N. Whenever you see the word ‘Plan’ ahead of letter you can be sure it is referring to a Medicare Supplement. When you hear the word ‘Part’ ahead of a letter of the alphabet we are referring to Original Medicare, like Part A and Part B.

Prescription Drug Plans

Prescription Drug Plans, referred to as Part D, cover your prescription drugs. Medicare has not covered prescription drugs since 2006 so every Medicare beneficiary must either join a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescriptions or purchase a standalone prescription drug plan.

Call  (858) 213-3598 today for a FREE quote comparison!

 

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