About Medicare
Q. What is Medicare?
A. Medicare is the national health insurance program for people age 65 or older, some people under age 65 with disabilities, and for people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency which administers the Medicare program.
Q. What is the difference between Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B?
A. Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, some home health care and supplies. You are automatically eligible for Medicare Part A when you turn 65 if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were employed.
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is optional coverage for which you pay a monthly premium. It helps pay for doctor's services, outpatient care, and other medical services not covered by Medicare Part A. It also helps pay for durable medical equipment and medical supplies, including diabetes testing, ostomy and respiratory supplies and vacuum devices for impotence treatment.
Q. What is Medicare Part C?
A. Medicare Part C is also referred to as Medicare Advantage Plans. The types of Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs) Plans, Medicare Preferred Provider Organization (PPOs) Plans, Medicare Special Needs Plans and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans. These plans are available in many areas and often give you more choices, and sometimes, extra benefits, than Medicare Parts A and B. Everyone who has Medicare Parts A and B is eligible, except those who have End-Stage Renal Disease (certain exceptions may apply).
Q. What is Medicare Part D?
A. Medicare Part D was created as a result of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The new benefit means that as of January 2006, Medicare will pay for outpatient prescription drugs through private plans. The enrollment period began on 11/15/05.
Q. What is Medicare supplement insurance?
A. Medicare supplement insurance is also known as a Medigap policy. It is sold by private insurance companies to fill "gaps" in the Original Medicare Plan (Medicare Parts A and B) coverage. There are 11 different Medicare supplement plans. Two popular plans are Plan F and Plan G.