Frequently Asked Questions

Medicare is a federal program that offers health insurance to American citizens 65 and older, as well as other eligible individuals under 65 with a qualifying condition.   The program is often called Original Medicare and has two parts:  Part A & Part B

You must be 65 or older, younger then 65 with a qualifying disability or any age with a diagnosis of end-stage renal disease or ALS.  Legal residents must live and work in the U.S. for 10 years before applying for Medicare.   

No.  Original Medicare is Parts A & B.   Part A is the Hospital Coverage, you are entitled to Part A if you have lived and worked in the US for 10 years or more.   It costs you nothing but the deductible ($1600.00) if you use it.  Part B is your outpatient and Doctors office visits and is based on your income, it starts at $174.70 with a deductible of $226.00.   If you are on Medicaid or qualify for "extra help" you can have your part B paid through your states Medicaid Program.

Your initial Enrollment Period (IEP) a 7 month long time period; 3 months before your birth month, you birthday month and 3 months after.    If you are already drawing your Social Security when you turn 65,  you will get your Medicare number and card assigned to you automatically.   If not, you will need to sign up with the Social Security Office in your state or town.

If you are still working and have health coverage, then you won't need to do anything until you retire and stop working.   If you are working, but do not have health coverage, you will need to sign up for Parts A & B.  If you do not sign up for part B when you turn 65, you may have to pay a penalty when you do sign up and become eligible.  This goes for spouses as well, if you have health insurance through your husband's workplace, you do not need to sign up until you stop receiving those benefits.

Please call me right away,  812-797-1226 or message me on this website.  There are private insurance companies through the Advantage Plans (Part C) that will cover part of your part B premium for you (even if you don't qualify for Medicaid).   How do you know if you can receive extra help?  Call me or message me and I can go over your options with  you.  

Medicare Supplement Insurance is sometimes called "Medigap" because it fills in the gaps and pays for things that Medicare doesn't pay for, like your deductibles, your doctors office visits, etc.   These are known as Supplement Insurance Plans,  Advantage Plans & part D coverage for prescription drugs.  They are private insurance companies that are governed by the CMS (our government program ensures these plans give equal to or better coverage then Original Medicare).

Yes, there is a 10% penalty on Part B & D if you do not sign up when first elegable, please call me. 

Please message me here (the bubble to the right) or call me, 812-797-1226