Medicare Preview

| Print | E-mail |

Medicare is a health insurance program provided by the Federal government for people 65 years of age or older, certain people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There are two parts: A is hospital insurance, B is medical insurance.

If you are receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, then your Medicare Hospital Benefits start automatically (Medicare Part A). If you are not receiving Social Security, then you should sign up for Medicare close to your 65th birthday, even if you are not retired or planning to retire.

What about “Medigap” insurance? What is it and do you need it? Medicare supplement insurance is also known as “Medigap” insurance because it covers the costs of health care that the “original” Medicare program doesn’t. If you are covered by a health insurance plan (from your workplace or other type of group policy) then you may not need a medigap policy. Medigap insurance only works with the original “fee-for-service” Medicare plan not the Medicare Advantage (formerly Medicare + Choice) plans.

Each person’s situation is different. The following resources should help you make more informed decisions. And most of the resources include phone numbers or other contact information if you need additional help.

Government Resources

Medicare.gov is the official U.S. Government site for people with Medicare. The Frequently Asked Questions section has answers to over 250 questions. Many of the Medicare publications (and the Social Security site) send you to this site for more information.

The following resources are pdf files and need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them. If you don’t have the Reader on your computer you may download it from Adobe.

Medicare and You is the official government handbook published each year. It describes Medicare benefits, changes for the year, medicare plans, medicare prescription drug coverage, and more.

Medicare and Other Health Benefits: Your Guide to Who Pays First provides an explanation of how Medicare pays with other types of insurance.

Your Medicare Benefits provides an explanation of Part A and Part B benefits.

Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare provides information on choosing a Medigap policy to supplement the original Medicare plan.

Other Resources

Medicare Rights Center provides (as the site puts it) “your guide through the Medicare Maze.” Under Dear Marci, you’ll find a Medicare Q & A. There are also sections with Medicare Answers, Medicare Drug coverage, a glossary of Medicare terms and much more. You can also subscribe to free newsletters: Dear Marci which has basic health tips, Medicare coverage advice, health plan reminder, and links to other resources; Medicare Watch has MEdicare Q&As,health care policy news, and changes in Medicare benefits; Asclepios covers Medicare consumer issues.

AARP has sections on Health Insurance and Medicare with articles on Medicare, supplemental plans, managed care, and private insurance.

Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. has detailed information and FAQ articles including one on Medigap.

Prepared for Corning Credit Union by Remar Sutton & Associates, May 2005. Reviewed and updated May 2007. All rights reserved.