Recently came across a good news article that outlines policy changes that started last June 2010 in Medicare Supplemental policies. Here we are referring the Medigap plans, which is a plan that covers expenses that seniors can undergo while having Medicare.
The main change that took place is that four standard plans were removes; referring here to plan H, I, J and E. instead of them, there are new two plans: M and N. these two new ask seniors to pay more when they want medical care but offer low premiums. Plan M covers 50% of Medicare’s deductibles while plan N covers 100%. Another change is that people who receive hospice or respite care was added to all Medigap plans.
For people who already have Medigap plan, they can keep their plan as long as they are paying the premiums, but the policies should be renewed by the insurer.
Otherwise, they can shift to the new plans 30 days after their birthday. Once you start looking for a new plan, make sure that the insurance company is reliable. Also keep in mind that you can only go for a plan with the same benefits you had in your old plan
Interesting article that discusses how Medical Supplement insurance plans are similar no matter which insurance company you go for. For example, a plan F with any company is similar in benefits to any other plan F from another firm; the only difference is the prices. The prices of any Medicare Supplement insurance policy ranges from $100 to $1500 to pay each year while receiving the same benefits. If you want to find the least expensive Medicare Supplement plans, you can search in Internet.
There is the website CheapestMedicareSupplement.com that was launched to help you find the cheapest deals in a very easy way. First, you submit your information on the site. Then, you receive a report of the Medicare Supplement Plans available in market. You will find different offers for each zip code. Therefore, you can compare and contrast prices according to the area where you live. This would save you from any visits to insurance agents.
This way, you will save money and time. The website CheapestMedicareSupplement.com is an independent and private insurance brokerage that you can use to compare prices free of cost. The website service is provided by the National Medicare Service Center.
Enrolling in Medicare Part A or B
Medicare has four parts: Part A, called hospital insurance; Part B, medical insurance; Part C, Medicare Advantage managed care plans; and Part D, prescription drug plans. Most people are eligible for any of these Medicare programs at age 65.
Some people may want to sign up for only one part of Medicare or for several. But each part has a different enrollment procedure, and the processes differ depending on whether she's already receiving Social Security or other federal pension benefits or is a member of a managed care plan and wants to continue. When and how to enroll can get confusing, so the procedures and timing for each situation and Medicare program are described below.
Automatic enrollment in Medicare Part A if the person is already receiving Social Security or other federal pension benefits
If the person is approaching age 65 and is already receiving Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or federal civil service pension benefits -- retirement, disability, or dependents' or survivors' benefits -- she doesn't need to do anything to enroll in Medicare Part A. The Social Security Administration will do it for her. About three months before her 65th birthday, she'll receive an initial enrollment period package in the mail. Included will be notification of her enrollment in Medicare Part A. Because she is eligible for Social Security or other federal pension benefits, she's also eligible for free Part A coverage. That means she won't have to pay any monthly premium for Part A. Her coverage will begin on her 65th birthday. If she doesn't receive these documents by two months before she turns 65, she should contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
If she's under age 65 but has been eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits for at least 24 months, she's also eligible for free Medicare Part A and will be automatically enrolled. The Social Security Administration will mail Medicare enrollment documents to her when she reaches her 24th month of collecting disability benefits.
How and when to enroll in Medicare Part A if someone isn't receiving Social Security or other federal pension benefits
If the person isn't collecting Social Security or other federal pension retirement, disability, or dependents' or survivors' benefits, she has to apply for Medicare Part A at a local Social Security office. She should file her application as early as three months before she turns 65, to ensure that the paperwork is completed by her 65th birthday.
If she's eligible for Social Security or other federal pension benefits but hasn't yet started collecting them, she will receive free Part A coverage, with no monthly premium. If she is 65 and a citizen or legal resident but doesn't qualify for Social Security or other federal pension benefits, she can still apply for Medicare Part A. However, she will have to pay a monthly premium for it; the amount is determined by how many Social Security work credits she has accumulated.
If she applies for Medicare Part A within six months after she turns 65, her coverage will date back to her 65th birthday. If she applies more than six months after her birthday, her coverage will date back only to six months before the date she applied.
How and when to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B if someone wants to continue in a managed care plan
The person may be one of the many people under age 65 enrolled in a managed care health plan. The company that runs that plan may also have a Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage managed care plan that she could switch to when she turns 65. That would let her continue with all the same doctors and other providers from whom she receives care now. If she's happy with her managed care plan, and the same company offers a Part C Medicare Advantage version, she can simply notify the plan of her intention to switch to this Medicare Part C version. If she does so and isn't already receiving Social Security or other federal pension benefits, the managed care plan will help her enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B.
Automatic enrollment in Medicare Part B if someone is already receiving Social Security or other federal pension benefits
If the person is already receiving Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or federal civil service pension benefits -- retirement, disability, or dependents' or survivors' -- when she turns 65, Social Security will automatically enroll her in Medicare Part B. About three months before she turns 65, Social Security will mail her an initial enrollment period package, including notification of her enrollment in Medicare Part B. If she doesn't want to enroll in Medicare Part B, there's a place on the form where she can decline Part B coverage.
Her Part B coverage will begin on her 65th birthday. If she doesn't receive the documents by two months before she turns 65, she should contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
Everyone who enrolls in Medicare Part B must pay a monthly premium for Part B coverage. In 2008, the basic monthly premium most people pay is $96.40. However, if she has over $82,000 in income (over $164,000 for a married couple), the amount is higher. Part B premiums are automatically deducted from her monthly Social Security check. If she isn't receiving Social Security benefits, Medicare will send her a bill every three months.
How and when to enroll in Medicare Part B if someone isn't yet receiving Social Security or other federal pension benefits
If she's turning 65 but isn't yet collecting any Social Security or other federal pension benefit, she needs to sign up for Medicare Part B at a local Social Security office. (She can do it at the same time she files for Social Security benefits at age 65, if she's doing that, too.) In the months immediately before and after her 65th birthday, she has what's called an initial enrollment period. This allows her to sign up for Medicare Part B as early as three months before the month she turns 65, and anytime within three months after the end of the month she turns 65. If she doesn't sign up for Part B by the end of this initial enrollment period, she has to wait until the general enrollment period of January 1 through March 31 each year.
The timing of her enrollment in Part B determines when her coverage begins and can affect how much it costs:
If she signs up for Medicare Part B within the three months before the month in which she turns 65, her coverage will begin on her 65th birthday.
If she signs up within three months after the month she turns 65, her coverage will be delayed one to three months; there's no retroactive Part B coverage back to her 65th birthday.
If she signs up for Part B in the general enrollment period January through March, after her initial enrollment period is over, her coverage won't begin until July 1 of that year. Also, her monthly premiums for Part B coverage will be higher -- 10 percent higher for each year she delayed enrolling.
How and when to enroll in Medicare Part C or Part D
Part C Medicare Advantage
Part C Medicare Advantage managed care plans combine Medicare Part A and Part B coverage within a managed care framework. Medicare doesn't control the amount a plan charges for this coverage, but it does regulate who may enroll in such a plan and when.
Within six months of enrolling in Medicare Part A and B. Once your friend or relative enrolls in Medicare Part A and B, she has a six-month period in which she may join any Medicare Advantage managed care plan that is operating in the county where she lives. In this period, a plan must accept her enrollment without any medical screening and on the same terms as for anyone else of her age, regardless of her medical history.
During the plan's open enrollment period. Every Medicare Advantage managed care plan designates at least one month a year for open enrollment, if it's accepting any new enrollees at all. Some plans have open enrollment for more than one month. During the open enrollment period, she can join the plan regardless of her medical history. Most plans pick November for open enrollment, with coverage beginning the following January 1.
If dropped by another managed care plan. Unfortunately, Medicare Advantage managed care plans regularly drop out of geographic areas that they don't feel are profitable enough for them. If her plan is dropping out of the area where she lives, it will notify her by October 1, effective the following January 1. She then has two options. She can rejoin traditional Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B; if she does, she is also guaranteed the right to buy a medigap supplemental insurance policy to fill gaps in Medicare coverage. Or she can enroll in any other Plan C Medicare Advantage managed care plan that's operating in the county where she lives and that isn't closed to all further enrollment. She can join one of these plans from October 1 through December 31. If moving out of the plan's service area. Managed care plans operate within geographic areas. They aren't required to continue covering someone enrolled in the plan who moves out of the area it serves. If she's in this situation, she's guaranteed the right to join any Medicare Advantage managed care plan operating in the new area where she lives, during that plan's yearly open enrollment period. If there's a gap between when she moves and the open enrollment period for the new plan she'd like to join, she'll have to use traditional Medicare Part A and Part B in the meantime.
Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
Anyone eligible for Medicare is guaranteed the right to enroll in any Medicare Plan D prescription drug plan sold in the state where she lives during an initial enrollment period. This period begins three months before the month she turns 65, and continues until three months after the month she turns 65. If she doesn't sign up for a Part D plan by the end of this period, she has to wait until the Plan D yearly general enrollment period of November 15 through December 31.
There's a financial penalty if she doesn't enroll in a plan during her initial enrollment period but later decides to join a plan. For each month she delays enrolling after the close of her initial enrollment period, she must pay a 1 percent penalty on the premium price of any plan she eventually joins.
Medicare enrollment application
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A summary of seniors medicare benefits for 2010:
Considering the fact that most seniors live on a very tight budget, what medicare will and will not pay for medical cost is a major concern for most seniors. Unfortunately, the government is on a yearly basis increasing the medicare premiums and reducing the benefits medicare will pay. This brief article will outline in general the present state of medicare and what medicare will and will not pay in 2010. The article will also discuss briefly the various alternatives available to seniors to fill in the gaps on what medicare does not pay and expects the senior to pay out of pocket.
Medicare Abc's: 2010
Medicare has four areas of coverage: ABCD
Medicare Part A: Hospital Expenses.. If a senior is in the hospital for 24 hours medicare will pay for all hospital cost for the first 60 days after a $1100 deductible. ( note, this deductible is reinstated every 60 days for subsequent admissions or possibly six times a year).
61-90 days- The senior has to pay $275 per day 91-150 days- The senior pays $550 per day After 150 days- The senior pays 100%
Medicare Part B: Doctor's cost( visits-surgery), including lab test, x-rays,etc.
If already enrolled in Part B, the monthly cost for Part B is $96.40, usually deducted from your social security check. If a new enrolee in 2010 the cost is $110 per month..And increases if your income exceeds $82,000
Under part B medicare will pay only 80% of the cost and the senior pays the additional 20%.
Part C: Under Part C the senior can enroll with one of many carriers that will help fill in the gaps where medicare does not pay. It is called Medicare C Advantage Plan. The premiums are relatively low or nothing. However, under a Med C you can expect deductibles, co-pays, waiting periods,etc. Also Med C plans are run like group health plans where the carrier dictates the doctors, the place, the time etc of your medical care much like PPO's and HMO'S.
Part D: Prescription coverage. Briefly, the premium for Part D coverage is relatively inexpensive. However, unless you are taking some very expensive drugs, many national drugs stores offer very inexpensive drug programs to seniors.
Supplemental Coverage: A number of private carriers offer Medicare supplemental coverage. Supplemental meaning coverage that fills in the gaps that Medicare does not pay under Part A and Part B above. In others words, supplemental payments for the co-pays and deductibles previously discussed regarding Part A and Part B that the senior has to pay out of pocket.
Supplemental Coverage VS Part C coverage. As previously stated, Part C coverage by a private carrier is administered much like group health with co-pays,deductibles and a selection of their doctors. Supplemental plans vary in coverage and the yearly supplement premium is based on the degree of coverage.There are supplemental plans that pay all of the cost medicare does not pay under Part A and B to plans that may have a $2000 yearly deductible. The advantage of the supplemental plans is that you have control over which doctors you go to,anytime and anywhere. Of course the less you have to pay for coverage of the un-paid medicare cost the more your supplemental premiums will cost. Keep in mind that regardless of the cost for supplemental coverage, the premiums are far less than traditional non-medicare major medical coverage, and with better benefits.
Also, regardless of your pre-existing medical conditions most people have the opportunity to qualify for medicare supplements, so if you are turning 65 be sure to discuss the various supplemental medicare plans available and enroll when the pre-existing conditions are not a factor.
Obviously, this has been a very general overview of Medicare 2010, but hopefully outlines the medicare coverage and supplemental coverages available. And keep in mind that medical coverage is so critical to any senior that it is imperative to consult with an insurance professional in your state to know what alternatives are best for you.
If you have any questions about this issue please contact me at my website and i will direct you to an insurance professional in your area. Hopefully this brief summary has been helpful and beneficial .David Burlison,JD and licensed insurance producer in the state of Tennessee.Free consultation at: dburlison1@comcast.net .................................
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Author: David Burlison
About the AuthorAttorney 25 years...Tennessee Insurance agent..Former resident of US Virgin Islands.
Many people use discount vitamins and dietary supplements, but few give them much thought. Nutritional supplements are available at many retail locations as well as online. Without much thought or preplanning, any person can get the vitamins and supplement products they desire. Discount vitamins and supplements are affordable, accessible, and available for everyone - for now. The Senate has already passed bill S.3546 and the House of Representatives has their own version HR.6168 on the docket. If Congress passes the Adverse Event Reporting bill as it pertains to vitamins, supplements, and over the counter medications, all that affordability, accessibility, and availability could become a thing of the past.
If passed, the Adverse Reporting Bill would require a reporting system in which any adverse side effects or health conditions attributed to dietary supplements would be recorded. Unfavorable reactions including but not limited to death caused by an overdose, any form of hospitalization, incapacitation, or effects caused by the drug not performing as expected will have 15 days to be passed along to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. It is very likely that many of the adverse reactions would be falsely attributed to discount vitamin or nutritional supplements, even if the reactions occurred completely independent of the supplements. Take, for instance, heart attack patients. It has been reported that 60% of heart attack sufferers take some type of dietary supplement. While it would be easy to conclude that the dietary supplements are causing the heart attacks, the fact of the matter is that individuals with heart problems are avid users of nutritional supplements as an effort to improve their health and live a healthier lifestyle.
The passing of the Adverse Reporting Bill would actually put nutritional supplements, discount vitamins, and over-the-counter medications under closer scrutiny than their prescription counterparts, despite the fact that many prescription medicines are known to have potentially severe side effects. One of the requirements of the Adverse Event Reporting legislation would be for all supplement manufacturers to have a toll-free number listed in each and every label for consumers to call to report adverse reactions, something not currently required by prescription drug manufacturers.
This bill will have serious financial effects on the entire vitamin and supplement industry. Because the Adverse Reporting Bill would open the entire industry up to lawsuits, the insurance companies will waste no time in jacking up premiums or dropping coverage altogether for the vitamin and supplement manufacturers. It could very well let the financial liability rest on the shoulders of the manufacturers, raising their overhead or driving them out of business altogether. Establishing the toll-free reporting hotline and staffing it will be another expense. And the operators on this hotline will not just be fielding calls from legitimate individuals calling in to report an adverse reaction, but will most likely have more calls coming in for reasons completely irrelevant to the situation. Manufacturers will also have the arduous task of keeping labels updated and complete on the possible side-effects of or allergens contained in each supplement. Such legislation could also lead to expensive recalls of products.
The Adverse Reporting Bill affects not only the manufacturers, but also the retailers and the consumers. Obviously, the additional cost to manufacture the supplements is going to be passed down to the retailers and the consumers. Many smaller mom-and-pop shops operate on minimal profit margins. Increasing their expenses is a near certain death sentence to their businesses. They simply will no longer be able to compete with the larger retailers. Not only that but the discount vitamins that consumers currently find so affordable, available and accessible may not be so easy to come by. Again, the manufacturers' increased operating costs are going to be passed on to the consumer.
Supplement shoppers are going to see the cost of their favorite products skyrocket and what was once an affordable measure in maintaining a healthy lifestyle will become more of a luxury. It will also effect where consumers are able to purchase their vitamin and nutritional supplements. Currently discount vitamins can be purchased online; at the local pharmacy, grocery store, or discount merchant (such as Target or Wal-Mart); at the mall; a local health food store; or the little vitamin shops on the corner. As costs go up and profit margins decrease, many of these retailers will stop carrying supplemental products as it will no longer be a profitable product line. Shoppers will no longer have easy access to the supplements they want and will have to look harder and longer to find what they need. Many products may get pulled from the shelves altogether - not because they actually pose a health risk, but because the data may be skewed or misread. (Recall the previous example of 60% of heart attack sufferers being on some kind of dietary supplement.) It is very possible that many of the supplements that thousands of people use every day without problems could be recalled and production stopped altogether - forever.
Millions of people use discount vitamins and nutritional supplements every day as a more natural approach to maintaining good health and in a more holistic approach to treatment of certain ailments. Glucosamine is used to maintain healthy joints and/or treat stiff joints. Millions of women rely on calcium supplements for the prevention of osteoporosis. Multi-vitamin supplements help ensure balanced nutrition and to fill in the gaps that poor dietary habits can create. Protein supplements are vital to those who have chosen a vegetarian or vegan way of life. Adverse Effect Reporting will strip millions of the opportunity to take control of their own health and to avoid prescription medications.
This bill is a lucrative opportunity for the large pharmaceutical companies to drive out the smaller manufacturers and increase their monopoly over the health care industry. Many of these pharmaceutical companies have already entered the supplement industry and by getting rid of the competition, they can force consumers to buy their products at a largely inflated price, increasing their market share and their profits.
There is something that the citizens of the United States can do to prevent this bill from being passed by Congress. It's time to let the representatives of the people know exactly how the people feel. The following Senators are proponents of the Adverse Event Reporting Bill. Opponents of the bill can write to the Senators - and write often - to let them know that the people are outraged at their efforts to take away discount vitamins and supplements!
Dick Durbin Fax: (202) 228-0400
Tom Harkin Fax: (202) 224-9369
Orrin Hatch Fax: (202) 224-6331
Michael Enzi Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Fax: (202) 228-0359
And it never hurts to contact the local representatives either.
Important information about the Bill and its various forms is available
at http://www.NHA2006.com.
Concerned citizens can join the Nutritional Health Alliance for
information on current activities and reports about relevant
congressional bills.
By a freelance writer for http://vitanetonline.com/ who sells quality vitamins and herbs with a wide selection of Discount Vitamins that are in stock and ready to ship. Please link to this site when using article.
Discount prescription drug plans are a new wave for consumers to save on their medications. We can all agree that prescription drugs are expensive enough as it is. Our family budget is already stretched to the limit. There is no reason we should be paying more than what we have to for our drug prescriptions. There are discount prescription drug plans out there that are bulked together and you can purchase supplemental discount plans and receive discounts on dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic. With these plans you can see how the savings multiply.
Major retail chain pharmacies are participating in these discount medication plans. The list includes: Walmart, Kmart, Target, Ekert and Walgreens. Make sure you double check that these stores are working with these discount benefits plans. Any individual with limited coverage or without any prescription drug coverage can benefit from a discount prescription benefit plan. Instead of paying full price for prescription drugs, members can save when they purchase their prescriptions.
People, who have insurance coverage, may still find these discount plans very useful as it can discount their prescription drugs not covered by their health plan. Members just show their card at a participating pharmacy and receive substantial discounts on their prescription drugs. Usually twenty-five percent on most brand names and up to fifty percent on most generics, it is that easy.
Drug costs are continuing to rise and are one of the fastest growing health care expenditures. It is growing at nearly three times the rate of other health care costs. One of the ways to lower your prescriptions cost is with a discount prescription drug plan. So whether you are on a fixed income or just need to cut your health care cost, you can save your family money and also receive the best value for your dollar.
Prescription Drug Discount Program
One such plan is the Ameriplan prescription discount program, managed by Medco Health Solutions. The retail pharmacy program will save you money on most prescription drugs at tens of thousands of retail pharmacies nation wide. The prescription home delivery service program will save you money on maintenance type medication that treats chronic health conditions. This program provides you with cost savings and up to date prescription drug monitoring for your protection. Discounts offered through the use of the Ameriplan pharmacy discount card are not insurance and are not intended as a substitute for insurance. You may also participate in and use the mail order service managed by Medco Health Solutions if you take maintenance medications. A maintenance medication is taken regularly to treat acute or chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, ulcers, or diabetes.
Covered Drugs
This program includes most legend drugs which by federal law require a physician's prescription.
Drug Exclusions
Over the counter drugs and non prescription drugs are not included in the program.
Generic Drug Savings
A generic drug is the chemical copy of a brand name prescription drug. On average, generic drugs cost about fifty percent less than brand name drugs and like their brand name counterparts they are: - Dispensed in the same dosage. - Taken in the same way. - Packaged in the same unit strength.
Prescription Monitoring
Occasionally a prescription drug may cause a problem. The problem may
be predictable, perhaps avoidable, if your physician and pharmacist are
aware of your medical history, current medications and the many
different combinations that cause harmful drug reactions.
Jim Martinez is a National Sales Director for Ameriplan USA, offering discount dental, prescription, health, vision and chiropractic plans. For information on Ameriplan discount prescription drug benefits plans and more health related articles, visit http://www.familydentalhealthplans.com.
By the time seniors are considered "seniors," they usually have a nice little retirement nest as well as health and life insurance policies to fall back on. Maybe they are widows or widowers who have pension plans from their deceased spouses. Of course, this is the idea situation for the senior.
Many seniors in American do not have enough health care insurance to adequately cover their medical needs and prescription drug medications. This is where health care supplemental health care insurance for seniors comes into play, and aside from Medicaid and Medicare, there are ways to get affordable health care supplemental insurance for seniors.
Consider these four tips when looking into affordable health care supplemental insurance for seniors:
Those who join at an early age get the best rates. However, that doesn't mean seniors aren't eligible. Actually, seniors are probably the most common health care supplemental insurance policyholders.
Don't lie about your current health condition. Stretching the truth may seem like a way to get more affordable rates for your health care supplemental insurance, and yes, it's true that premiums are usually based on past and current health conditions, but lying will always catch up with you in the end, especially if there comes a time when you need that supplemental insurance and the insurance company refuses to pay because you gave false information when applying.
Think of any groups or associations to which you belong. These organizations may be able to help you obtain affordable health care supplemental insurance for seniors.
Once you have a plan, stick to it. You may end up purchasing a health
care supplemental insurance plan for seniors that doesn't quite fit
your needs or your budget. That doesn't change the fact that you need
supplemental insurance, though. Stick to it until you've found a
better, more affordable health care supplemental insurance for seniors.
In other words, never cancel until you have a back-up plan.
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Medicare benefits are, inevitably, something we must all become familiar with as we get closer to retirement age. However, what exactly is medicare? When did it begin? And what is its purpose? Here is a brief outline of the federal government's medicare program, including its history and the rationale for its existence.
Medicare came into existence in 1965. It was created as one of the component parts of then-President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" initiative. The principal purpose of medicare was to provide a system of healthcare for elderly U.S. citizens, i.e. individuals who were sixty-five years of age or older. However, medicare benefits are not simply for the elderly. Medicare is also availabe to individuals who are younger than sixty-five and who are disabled.
Qualifying for medicaid benefits on the basis of disability status, of course, requires that a person file an application, or initial claim, for title II benefits with the social security administration. Title II benefits are mandated under title 2 of the social security act and title II benefits are commonly referred to as social security disability benefits, or SSD.
Individuals who are approved for social security disability benefits are eligible to receive medicare benefits two years after their date of entitlement has been established and, no doubt, this provides for a healthcare safety net for disabled citizens who must subsist on a relatively small monthly disability benefit.
Who is eligible for medicare? Fortunately, unlike supplemental security income and medicaid benefits, medicare is not considered a needs-based program. In other words, younger individuals who are disabled and individuals who are of retirement-age may be eligible without regard to their income.
Until recently, medicare benefit coverage was thought of primarily in terms of hospital insurance and medical insurance. Medicare part A covers hospital visits and nursing home stays, while medicare part B pays for outpatient care and services, including doctor's visits, xrays, and lab reports. However, the medicare program was recently restructured to include a prescription drug benefit. This is known as medicare part D.
Medicare part D went into effect on January 1st, 2006, as part of the Medicare, Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act. Medicare Part D is available to any individual who is eligible to receive medicare part A and medicare part B benefits. The intent of medicare part D is to guarantee prescription drug coverage for medicare beneficiaries.
However, the federal government does not actually provide this coverage. Prescription drug coverage under medicare part D is provided by independent drug plans that are actually operated by private health insurers, though, legally, such plans are regulated by the federal government, i.e. the medicare program.
Are medicare benefits free? No, medicare part B requires the payment of a monthly premium which, for 2006, was $88.50. However, for those individuals who might have difficulty paying this premium, an assistance program is available to qualified individuals to pay part B premiums. This program is known as MQB, or medicaid for qualified (medicare) beneficiaries. Like other types of medicaid, this particular medicaid program is needs-based and serves no other purpose than to pay a medicare recipient's monthly medicare insurance premium.
The Medicare program may well be the most transformational program to arise as a result of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiative, and its effect, in many ways, may be as profound as the creation of the social security program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Recent estimates hold that medicare accounts for more than a tenth of all federal spending and approximately one-third of healthcare spending.
The author of this article is Tim Moore, who, in addition to being a former food stamp caseworker, medicaid caseworker and AFDC caseworker, is a former disability claims examiner. He publishes a blog on the disability process which is titled the Social Security Disability and SSI blog
Are you familiar with supplemental health care insurance? Many people are not; these days, most people sign up with their employer-sponsored health care insurance plans, or purchase individual health care insurance plans if their employers do not provide health benefits. While these methods work for many individuals, seniors should consider purchasing affordable supplemental health care insurance.
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about supplemental health care insurance for seniors.
What is supplemental health care insurance?
Simply put, supplemental health care insurance kicks in and pays for what your regular health insurance policy does not.
Why should seniors consider purchasing supplemental health care insurance?
Seniors don't always have the steady income that younger individuals have. If a senior's regular health insurance plan doesn't cover a significant portion of health care services, it may be difficult for the senior to pay for the gap between what is covered and what is not. Some seniors have a nest egg set aside to handle situations such as these; some even have separate insurance policies they can fall back on, such as life insurance policies. However, not all seniors have the extra money set aside to cover the gap in health care insurance; an affordable, supplemental health care insurance would work for them.
What does supplemental health care insurance provide?
The kind of coverage available with an insurance plan always depends on the insurance company from which you purchase the plan. Many supplemental health care insurance plans offer cash benefits and compensation for lost income. Some supplemental health care insurance plans even cover pre-existing conditions; pre-existing conditions are prevalent among seniors.
Do I need supplemental health care insurance if I already have Medicare?
Yes, having an affordable supplemental health care insurance plan is
especially wise for seniors with Medicare, as Medicare doesn't often
cover long-term health care, care provided at home or in a nursing
home, or the costs of prescription medication.
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Many people feel that if they have adequate health insurance, they should not have to worry about additional coverage for their medicines and remedies, and in a perfect world, they would not have to worry about their medicines and remedies; however, this is not a perfect world, and sometimes even an adequate health insurance policy is not enough for some people to cover the costs of medicines and remedies, or does not cover enough of the medicines and remedies for the cost to be affordable for the health insurance policyholder.
This is where prescription drug expense insurance policies can come in handy. Prescription drug expense insurance policies are actually supplemental insurance policies; they are not connected in any way to your current health insurance policy. A prescription drug expense insurance policy can pick up the cost where your health insurance policy stops paying; this is helpful if your health insurance policy seems to stop paying before it should.
For example, if you are prescribed certain medicines and remedies, your health insurance plan will most likely pay for a certain percentage of the medicines and remedies. You may even only have to pay a co-pay. Yet, if you have a prescription drug expense insurance policy, you can also be covered for that co-pay, or any other expense that your regular health insurance policy does not cover. Still, with a prescription drug expense insurance policy, it should be noted that you may still be required to pay a nominal co-pay.
Prescription drug expense insurance policies are obviously not for
everyone. Some people may be offered enough prescription coverage for
their medicines and remedies through their regular health insurance
policies that they do not feel they need the additional coverage that a
prescription drug expense insurance policy would offer them. However,
if you are interested in additional coverage for your medicines and
remedies, a prescription drug expense insurance policy may be worth
consideration.
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