Medicare
covers certain medical services and items in
hospitals and other settings. Some are covered
under Medicare Part A, and some
are covered under Medicare Part B.
As long as you have both Part A and Part B,
these services and items are covered whether you
have the Original Medicare Plan, or you belong
to a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or
PPO).
Medicare.gov
is the official U.S. site for people with
Medicare.
Medicare Part A
helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals.
This includes critical access hospitals and
skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or
long-term care).
It also helps cover hospice
care and home health care. You must meet certain
conditions to get these benefits. If you aren't
sure if you have Part A, look on your red,
white, and blue Medicare card (see sample card
below). If you have Part A, "HOSPITAL (PART A)"
is printed on your card
Medicare Part B
-----------------------
Medicare Part B
helps cover medical services like doctors'
services, outpatient care, and other medical
services that Part A doesn't cover.
Medicare Part B
is optional. Part B helps pay for covered
medical services and items when they are
medically necessary. Part B also covers some
preventive services. Cost: You pay the Part B
premium each month ($88.50 in 2006). In some
cases, this amount may be higher if you didn't
sign up for Part B when you first became
eligible. You also pay a Part B deductible each
year before Medicare starts to pay its share.
Medicare Part B Deductable for 2008 is $135.00
Medicare Advantage Plans
-------------------------------------------
Medicare Advantage Plans are health
plan options that are part of the Medicare
program. If you join one of these plans, you
generally get all your Medicare-covered
health care through that plan. This coverage
can include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage Plans include:
- Medicare Health
Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
- Preferred
Provider Organizations (PPOs)
- Private
Fee-For-Service Plans
- Medicare Special
Needs Plans
When you join a
Medicare Advantage Plan, you use the health
insurance card that you get from the plan
for your health care. In most of these
plans, generally there are extra benefits
and lower copayments than in the Original
Medicare Plan. However, you may have to see
doctors that belong to the plan or go to
certain hospitals to get services.
To join a Medicare
Advantage Plan, you must have Medicare Part
A and Part B. You will have to pay your
monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare.
In addition, you might have to pay a monthly
premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for
the extra benefits that they offer.
If you join a Medicare
Advantage Plan, your Medigap policy won't
work. This means it won't pay any
deductibles, copayments, or other
cost-sharing under your Medicare Health
Plan. Therefore, you may want to drop your
Medigap policy if you join a Medicare
Advantage Plan. However, you have a legal
right to keep the Medigap policy.
To compare Medicare
Advantage Plans, go to the
Medicare
Options Compare.
