Medicare

What is Medicare?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain people with disabilities under age 65 and people with End-Stage Renal Disease or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The program helps with the cost of health care but does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of long-term care. Medicare has four Parts: Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.

Who is eligible?

In general, individuals who are U.S. citizens, who are 65 years old and who have worked at least 10 years in the USA or individuals deemed disabled for 24 months may be eligible for Original Medicare Part A at no cost and Part B by paying a premium based on income. How do I enroll in Medicare? An individual can enroll in Medicare at a Social Security office, by calling Social Security (800-772-1213) or online at www.Medicare.gov. There are specific timeframes involved when enrolling.

Why is it important to enroll?

There are regulations surrounding enrolling in Medicare that can result in a financial penalty. If you are working, you may or may not need to enroll in Part A and/or Part B. Other regulations involve COBRA, HSA health plans, creditable and noncreditable plans and other types of plans. I can help you understand whether you need to enroll in Medicare. If you are working, we can compare your current plan to Medicare to determine which plan best meets your needs.