What You Need to Know About Medicare in 2019
April 2, 2019 | Debby Jesser
Choices for Medicare Plans
Original Medicare
Original Medicare is coverage that is managed by the federal government. Original Medicare provides Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).
Medicare Advantage Plan
A Medicare Advantage Plan provides coverage through a private company instead of through government-provided Medicare. With a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still apply for a Medicare Part A or Part B, but you elect for a private insurance company to provide services. Many Medicare Advantage Plans offer extra coverage, like vision, dental, hearing, and/or health wellness programs.
What Does Part A and Part B Cover?
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance that covers hospice, surgery, home health care, inpatient hospital care and more. Medicare Part B covers ambulance services, limited outpatient prescription drugs, durable medical equipment (DME) and more.
What is Not Covered by Part A or Part B?
Some of the services that Part A and Part B Medicare doesn’t cover include: most dental care, dentures, hearing aids and exams for fitting them, eye exams for prescribing glasses, routine foot care and more. However, if you have a Medicare health plan (for instance, a Medicare Advantage Plan), this plan may cover the costs previously mentioned.
What Factors is Medicare Coverage Based On?
Medicare Coverage is based on three factors: federal and state laws, local coverage decisions made by companies in each state that process claims for Medicare and National coverage decisions made by Medicare. If you are in need of certain supplies or services, contact your doctor or Health Care Provider to ask them if Medicare will cover these supplies.
Do you have additional questions concerning Medicare Plan options? Come check out one of our Free Medicare workshops where your Medicare questions will be answered!
References:
https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/what-part-a-covers
https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/what-part-b-covers
https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers