If You Are Over 65 There Are Health Insurance Options For You
If you are over the age of 65, under 65 but have a specific disability or permanent kidney failure and have been a legal us citizen for at least 5 years, then you are eligible for medicare. Medicare has come as a product of a law passed by Congress in 1965. Since it is a federal program you are required to contribute to medicare through your paychecks during your working years, you will also discover that the guidelines for eligible are similar from state to state.
Medicare consists of two parts:
Medicare Part A – This helps to pay for care if you are a patient in a hospital, nursing home or hospice and for care in your home under certain conditions. Many do not pay a month premium for this because it is paid for by taxes that you have paid while working.
Medicare Part B – This helps to pay for doctors services and outpatient care that is medically necessary. It pays for preventative services like the flu shot and for some services to keep illnesses from worsening. In 2008, the standard monthly premium was $96.40.
For the first seven months after your 65th birthday, there is a period where enrolling in Medicare is free. After this enrollment period, it may cost to enroll. Those covered by Medicare are called beneficiaries. Medicare will pay for most of their health care, but not all. That means it will cover most serious medical conditions, those in which the patient will usually recover from. Medicare does not cover the cost of care given to a patient at home, in a nursing facility, for those with recurring disability or longtime illness.
Medicare does provide Advantage Plans where the plan can be customized to fit medical needs. This is not available in all areas. Some of these plans offer prescription programs and there are some private insurance companies who cover some of these programs. Details of the Advantage Plan depend on the certain program chosen and the eligibility of the patient.
If you are receiving Social Security benefits before you turn 65, you will be enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically the month you turn 65. You will receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your birthday. Signing up is simple but you need to be knowledgeable on the different plans and enrollment periods.
Whether you shopping for individual health insurance or medical insurance visit www.gohealthinsurance.com. They have all the information you need to pick an insurance plan that it right for you.
