For many people in the United States, Medicare coverage is essential for providing adequate health care. If you are in fact eligible for medicare, then know that you are in good hands with Laurel Insurance Partners. Our medicare services and medicare supplemental insurance in North Carolina, including a number of medicare supplement plans, will help ensure that you get the proper health care coverage that you need.
While no one plans to get sick or go the hospital, sometimes these things happen, and it’s best to be prepared for them. That’s why in today’s post, Laurel Insurance Partners is going to take a quick look at the parts of medicare coverage to give you a better idea of what is and is not covered.
Part A
Part A of Medicare refers to hospital insurance or hospital coverage. Medicare Part A will cover the cost if you are admitted to a hospital, a skilled nursing facility or hospice, and will also cover the cost of select home health services. When people reach the age of 65 or older, they are generally automatically enrolled in Part A coverage.
With Part A of Medicare, you’ll pay a deductible each year, which is how much you have to spend before Medicare starts to pay its own part. Additionally, you’ll pay coinsurance, which is the part of the costs for any hospital care that you may be required to pay after you’ve met your deductible. If you or your spouse receives Social Security benefits, however, you don’t have to pay a monthly fee to have Part A and you’ll automatically be enrolled.
Part B
Part B, also known as medical insurance, will cover outpatient care. Part B would pay for a visit to the doctor’s office, tests, and preventive health care like cancer screenings and various vaccines. Additionally, Part B also covers certain medical supplies like blood sugar test strips, therapeutic shoes, and more. Like Part A, many people are also automatically enrolled in Part B, and together, Part A and Part B are called original Medicare or traditional Medicare.
For Medicare Part B, you’ll pay a monthly fee, a deductible (a set amount that you pay each year before Part B starts paying for any of your care), and 20 percent of certain Medicare-approved services after your deductible is met. Please keep in mind that if you see a doctor who has not agreed to accept Medicare-approved amounts, then you will have to potentially pay up to the full cost for a doctor’s visit and care services.
Part C
This part of Medicare is also known as Medicare Advantage. This is a Medicare health plan that you can get from a private insurance company which will give you all the benefits that you get with traditional Medicare, and possibly more. Certain Medicare Advantage plans will get you coverage for dental, hearing, vision, and wellness programs. Before you get started with a Medicare Advantage plan, just be sure to follow all of the plan’s rules and only visit doctors in the plan’s network.
Part D
This is a private health plan that pays for prescription drugs, known as the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Each insurance company that offers a Part D plan will decide which drugs it will cover and what they will cost. Therefore, you should look carefully at the details of each plan before you make your selection.
Our Part A and Part B benefits at Laurel Insurance Partners will give you the best Medicare coverage that we can possibly offer. Our years of industry experience and friendly service will ensure that you’re getting the exact medicare planning and medicare enrollment that you’re looking for. Please, contact us today to sign up for medicare or determine your medicare eligibility.
