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Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities. While the program is voluntary, it’s also usually the most affordable way to get health insurance as a senior in the United States. You can get Medicare if you’re a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, who has lived in the United States for at least five years and are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.
There are four parts to Medicare: A, B, C, and D. Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (medical coverage). Part C is Medicare Advantage, a private alternative to Original Medicare that covers the same benefits as Original, plus added benefits that vary by plan. And Part D is a prescription drug benefit that works with Original Medicare. On its own, Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescriptions.
Note: Medicare is different from Medicaid, which is a joint federal-state program for low-income households. But it’s possible to be eligible for both programs.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is the private version of Medicare. It covers everything that Original Medicare does (Parts A and B together), plus additional benefits that vary by plan. Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies. Additional benefits might include prescription drugs, routine dental and vision, hearing aids, telemedicine, post-hospitalization meal delivery, and more. There may not be a plan in your area that has all of these benefits in one plan.
These plans are similar to group health coverage, like the benefits you already get through the Archdiocese of San Antonio. They work in the same way. A health insurance company manages your benefits, and you can choose providers from a network. But unlike with your current coverage, you have more options in the plan and carrier you choose. You may also find benefits that fit your needs better as you enter retirement.
Medigap, or a Medicare supplement plan, is a supplemental policy that you can buy to cover some or nearly all of the out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare. These supplement plans are federally standardized in all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), and there are 10 plan types: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. This means that each plan type will cover the same benefits regardless of the company selling it.
Note: If you’re new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020, you won’t be able to get Medigap Plan C or Plan F.
You might be used to getting prescriptions covered as part of your current benefits. That will change with Medicare because Original Medicare doesn’t cover them. You have two options: enroll in a Part D plan or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescriptions (many do).
Part D plans cover prescriptions at different amounts, so consider all of your prescriptions when choosing a plan. Premiums, deductibles, and copayments vary as well.
Original Medicare covers hospital-related care through Part A and outpatient medical care through Part B. Visit Medicare’s website directly (here) for a full overview.
Generally speaking, Original Medicare covers quite a lot of your health benefits. That includes treatments and services like hospitalization, wellness visits, vaccinations, cancer screenings, outpatient procedures, durable medical equipment, and more.
And Medicare Advantage plans cover at least the same benefits as Original Medicare, plus drug coverage (often) and other additional benefits (usually).
Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything. The list of non-covered benefits isn’t long, but some of these may be important to you, especially as you get older. In general, Original Medicare does not cover:
This list only applies to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, some of these benefits might be covered. Most Advantage plans cover prescription drugs, and many include some coverage for routine dental care, vision exams, and/or hearing aids, along with other benefits. There may not be a plan in your area that has all of these benefits in one plan.
Each portion of Medicare has its own set of costs. Here are the costs of Medicare in 2023:
You have a choice to make once you turn 65: stay with your current plan through the archdiocese or find a plan that may work better for you during retirement. There is a broader array of coverage options for people with Medicare than there is for people with the group health plan offered through the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
You may also save money on out-of-pocket costs with private Medicare coverage, such as Medigap or Medicare Advantage.
In short, reaching the age of retirement gives you more options for your health benefits. Take advantage of this opportunity to assess your healthcare needs and choose a health plan that works for your medical and financial future.
Once you’re eligible for Medicare, you’ll enroll in Parts A and B directly through Social Security. You can do this online, via phone (1-800-772-1213 / TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or in person at your local Social Security office.
After you enroll in Original Medicare, you can add Part D coverage, enroll in Medigap or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. Remember that these plans are all sold by private insurance companies, so choosing one isn’t as straightforward as enrolling in Medicare.
That said, Original Medicare may not offer enough coverage for you. Consider private add-ons or a Medicare Advantage plan for more benefits.
The Archdiocese of San Antonio has partnered with HealthCompare, an Allstate company, to make finding private Medicare plans more convenient for you. Choose the plan with the coverage you need and compare plans side by side online. Or if you need additional assistance, call 1-866-989-0227 (TTY: 711) Mon-Sun 8am-11pm EST, to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can walk you through your options.
Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. This is usually the best time to enroll. You have 7 months to sign up: 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65 and the 3-month period following your birthday month. So if, for example, your birthday is June 22nd, your enrollment period would run from March 1st through September 30th the year you turn 65.
Note: If your birthday falls on the first of the month, then your enrollment period still lasts 7 months but runs as follows: the 4 months before your birthday month until the 2 months after your birthday month. So a June 1st birthday would open an enrollment window from February 1st through August 31st.
You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare, but there could be penalties. Talk to your benefits advisor about options, especially if you haven’t retired yet at age 65.
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial enrollment period, then you have 3 months to make changes to your coverage. You can return to Original Medicare or switch to a different Advantage plan within those first 3 months that you have Parts A and B.
Otherwise, you’ll need to wait to change your coverage. Here’s an overview of the different Medicare enrollment periods:
Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities. While the program is voluntary, it’s also usually the most affordable way to get health insurance as a senior in the United States. You can get Medicare if you’re a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident, who has lived in the United States for at least five years and are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.
There are four parts to Medicare: A, B, C, and D. Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (medical coverage). Part C is Medicare Advantage, a private alternative to Original Medicare that covers the same benefits as Original, plus added benefits that vary by plan. And Part D is a prescription drug benefit that works with Original Medicare. On its own, Original Medicare doesn’t cover prescriptions.
Note: Medicare is different from Medicaid, which is a joint federal-state program for low-income households. But it’s possible to be eligible for both programs.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is the private version of Medicare. It covers everything that Original Medicare does (Parts A and B together), plus additional benefits that vary by plan. Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies. Additional benefits might include prescription drugs, routine dental and vision, hearing aids, telemedicine, post-hospitalization meal delivery, and more. There may not be a plan in your area that has all of these benefits in one plan.
These plans are similar to group health coverage, like the benefits you already get through the Archdiocese of San Antonio. They work in the same way. A health insurance company manages your benefits, and you can choose providers from a network. But unlike with your current coverage, you have more options in the plan and carrier you choose. You may also find benefits that fit your needs better as you enter retirement.
Medigap, or a Medicare supplement plan, is a supplemental policy that you can buy to cover some or nearly all of the out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare. These supplement plans are federally standardized in all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), and there are 10 plan types: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. This means that each plan type will cover the same benefits regardless of the company selling it.
Note: If you’re new to Medicare as of January 1, 2020, you won’t be able to get Medigap Plan C or Plan F.
And Medicare Advantage plans cover at least the same benefits as Original Medicare, plus drug coverage (often) and other additional benefits (usually).
Part D plans cover prescriptions at different amounts, so consider all of your prescriptions when choosing a plan. Premiums, deductibles, and copayments vary as well.
Original Medicare covers hospital-related care through Part A and outpatient medical care through Part B. Visit Medicare’s website directly (here) for a full overview.
Generally speaking, Original Medicare covers quite a lot of your health benefits. That includes treatments and services like hospitalization, wellness visits, vaccinations, cancer screenings, outpatient procedures, durable medical equipment, and more.
And Medicare Advantage plans cover at least the same benefits as Original Medicare, plus drug coverage (often) and other additional benefits (usually).
Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything. The list of non-covered benefits isn’t long, but some of these may be important to you, especially as you get older. In general, Original Medicare does not cover:
This list only applies to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, some of these benefits might be covered. Most Advantage plans cover prescription drugs, and many include some coverage for routine dental care, vision exams, and/or hearing aids, along with other benefits. There may not be a plan in your area that has all of these benefits in one plan.
Each portion of Medicare has its own set of costs. Here are the costs of Medicare in 2023:
You have a choice to make once you turn 65: stay with your current plan through the archdiocese or find a plan that may work better for you during retirement. There is a broader array of coverage options for people with Medicare than there is for people with the group health plan offered through the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
You may also save money on out-of-pocket costs with private Medicare coverage, such as Medigap or Medicare Advantage.
In short, reaching the age of retirement gives you more options for your health benefits. Take advantage of this opportunity to assess your healthcare needs and choose a health plan that works for your medical and financial future.
Once you’re eligible for Medicare, you’ll enroll in Parts A and B directly through Social Security. You can do this online, via phone (1-800-772-1213 / TTY: 1-800-325-0778) or in person at your local Social Security office.
After you enroll in Original Medicare, you can add Part D coverage, enroll in Medigap or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. Remember that these plans are all sold by private insurance companies, so choosing one isn’t as straightforward as enrolling in Medicare.
That said, Original Medicare may not offer enough coverage for you. Consider private add-ons or a Medicare Advantage plan for more benefits.
The Archdiocese of San Antonio has partnered with HealthCompare, an Allstate company, to make finding private Medicare plans more convenient for you. Choose the plan with the coverage you need and compare plans side by side online. Or if you need additional assistance, call 1-866-989-0227 (TTY: 711) Mon-Sun 8am-11pm EST, to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can walk you through your options.
Most people become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. This is usually the best time to enroll. You have 7 months to sign up: 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65 and the 3-month period following your birthday month. So if, for example, your birthday is June 22nd, your enrollment period would run from March 1st through September 30th the year you turn 65.
Note: If your birthday falls on the first of the month, then your enrollment period still lasts 7 months but runs as follows: the 4 months before your birthday month until the 2 months after your birthday month. So a June 1st birthday would open an enrollment window from February 1st through August 31st.
You may be able to delay signing up for Medicare, but there could be penalties. Talk to your benefits advisor about options, especially if you haven’t retired yet at age 65.
If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial enrollment period, then you have 3 months to make changes to your coverage. You can return to Original Medicare or switch to a different Advantage plan within those first 3 months that you have Parts A and B.
Otherwise, you’ll need to wait to change your coverage. Here’s an overview of the different Medicare enrollment periods:
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Scott and White Health Plan now part of Baylor Scott & White Health, Simply, UnitedHealthcare®, Wellcare, WellPoint
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