medicare part A Archives

What are the 4 Types of Medicare – Medicare Coverage

What are 4 types of Medicare? This is a question you may come across when you have to decide what you want covered. In actual sense, they are not types but rather parts of Medicare. Each of them covers a specific area but they are somehow tied to the original Medicare.

What are the 4 Types of Medicare

Health insurance is necessary because it helps relieve the stress when unexpected medical costs occur. When you find yourself in the dark about the Medicare types, this post has the help you need. It will detail the various parts of Medicare and what is covered in each. It will also explore the Original Medicare and tell you when you need it.

Parts of Medicare

Medicare is subdivided into 4 parts as follows;

Part A: It is dedicated to cover inpatient costs or what is called hospital expenses in some quarters. You sign up for Part A when you enroll for Medicare.
Part B: In general, Part B covers medically necessary services, as well as preventive services.
What are the 4 Types of Medicare
Part C: This is an option you can add to Parts A and B to enjoy your Medicare benefits and have additional coverage..
Part D: is for prescription drugs, not Part F which is a separate plan to cover cost sharing with patients.

As you can see, each part/type of Medicare covers a specific area in the health circles. Generally, Part A and B are the most popular types partly because they offer a comprehensive cover for both inpatient and outpatient services. Again, it is because both can be accessed collectively through the original Medicare. Another thing that makes the original Medicare quite popular is the fact that it is under the custodian of the federal government. With it, you can walk into any hospital in the country, receive treatment, and the federal government pays for that service directly.

The Components of the Original Medicare

You can quality for Medicare Part A and B once you are 65, and reach other requirements. In some quarters, original Medicare is referred to as the fee-for-service Medicare. Actually, this is the actual description of how it works. Here are some of the features of the original Medicare as drafted in the act;

You do not require permission or authorization beforehand to go to hospital or see a doctor. You can see a doctor any time and any day without any problem at all and have your expenses covered by Medicare.
You will be paying premiums for part B each month. Some cases also have to pay premiums for Part A. Confirm if you fall into that category before you run into any inconvenience.
For each service you get, you are typically supposed to pay a copay for it.
Hospitals and doctors have a capping to how much they should charge you.

With original Medicare, as you may have already noticed, you are not getting any cover for prescription drugs. You will have to get a separate cover for such from your pocket. Just you know; there are several government-initiated programs that can help you cut down the costs of prescription drugs.

Bottom Line

You should now know the answer to what are the 4 types of Medicare? With this, you can make a decision on what suits your needs. Typically, part A and B come as a package in the traditional Medicare. However, you should make private arrangements for prescribed drugs.

How do I Sign Up for Medicare Part A

This post discusses how to sign up for health insurance with Medicare Part A and how you become eligible. We’ll cover how you qualify for automatic enrollment, as well as the need to enroll manually.

How to Enroll in Medicare

You can enroll in Medicare part A in the following ways:

In person at your local Social Security office.

By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 .

In-person at your local Social Security office.

If you worked at a railroad, you can enroll in Medicare by contacting the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) and speak to an RRB representative.

When to Enroll in Medicare

There are several situations where Medicare enrollment may occur automatically:

If you are receiving retirement benefits.

If you’re already collecting Social Security or RRB retirement benefits when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance).

If you live in D.C. or outside the 50 United states such as in Puerto Rico, you’ll automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A. However, you’ll have to manually enroll for Medicare part B.

If you’re receiving disability benefits.

If you’re under the age of 65 and receiving certain disability benefits from the RRB or Social Security, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, after 24 months of disability benefits. The exception to this rule is if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). If you have ESRD and you need regular kidney dialysis or had a kidney transplant, you can apply for Medicare. If you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS), you’ll automatically be enrolled in Medicare in the same month that you start receiving disability benefits.

Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP)

Most people are enrolled in Medicare Part A automatically. However, there are a few instances when you may be required to manually enroll in Medicare Part A during the IEP, which is seven months (starting three months before you turn 65 and ending three months after your 65th birthday).

Some situations where you would be required to enroll for Medicare during your initial enrollment include:

Medicare general enrollment period.

If you don’t qualify for retirement benefits.

If you aren’t receiving retirement benefits.

Medicare special enrollment period.

Bottom Line

Medicare can be quite beneficial. The tips mentioned should help you answer the question: How do I sign up for Medicare Part A. It’s always to your benefit, however, to enroll as soon as you’re eligible, even if you still have Medical cover through a group health plan. Moreover, Medicare can impose hefty fines for late applications, so make sure you enroll during the enrollment window.