Part A: Hospital Insurance

• Cost: Most people do not pay a premium; however, you are responsible for deductibles and co-insurance.
• Covers: In-patient hospital care, post hospital skilled nursing facility care and home health care. Part A also covers hospice care.
• Recommendation: Enroll 3 months before date of eligibility.

 Part B: Doctor/Medical Insurance

• Cost: Monthly premium, annual deductible and, for most services, 20 percent coinsurance.
• Covers: Medically necessary physician’s services, outpatient hospital care and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventative services.
• You pay the premium out of your Social Security check.
• If you do not enroll when first eligible, you may have to pay a penalty. Medicare enrolls you in Part B automatically unless you actively decline this coverage. You may delay enrollment if you or your spouse is employed and have group health coverage.

 Medigap/Medicare Supplement

• Requires enrollment in both A and B.
• Sold by private companies.
• Costs vary by plan.
• Up to 12 standardized plans to choose from (designated by letters A-L).
• Covers gaps in Original Medicare only, such as deductibles, co-insurance and co-pays. Does not work with MA or other Medicare health plans.
• Everyone can join within 6 months of initial eligibility. After that, companies decide whether to accept you.

 Part D: Prescription Drugs

• Sold by private companies.
• Premiums, deductibles and copays vary.
• Drugs covered and coverage span varies.
• You choose policy that best suites your individual needs.
• If you don’t enroll at first opportunity, and you don’t have VA or creditable coverage, a penatly of 1 percent per month accrues.
• All D policies have catastrophic coverage, minimum of 2 drug options, an appeals process and a coverage gap on name-brand drugs.

Important Note:

• You only need a Medigap policy with Original Medicare coverage.

Medicare Documents
Make Medicare Work For You. (SHIINE Brochure)
Medicare and You 2009. Online Edition.
www.medicare.gov
Helpful Phone Numbers