The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are in charge of managing the federal health insurance program known as Medicare. While there are a few minor variations from state to state, Medicare is largely the same across the country, thus the coverage received by residents of Florida will be quite similar to Medicare coverage across the country.


Medicare Is Open To Two Categories Of People

People 65 and older who are American citizens or have been legal permanent residents of the United States for at least five years.

People under the age of 65 who have specified qualifying medical conditions or disabilities.

Medicare Part A

Part A is also called Medicare hospital insurance, and it usually covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays, hospice care, and certain types of home health care that are eligible. Medically necessary services and equipment (like nursing care, a semi-private room, prescription drugs, etc.) are usually covered as well if they are part of an inpatient treatment plan for a Medicare beneficiary.

Hospice care is also covered if a person is told they have less than six months to live and have been told they have a terminal illness. Services from doctors and nurses, hospice aides, physical and occupational therapy, prescription drugs, and care for caregivers while they take a break are all included.

Part A doesn't pay for long-term care in a nursing home or other facility. Coverage only applies to places where a beneficiary gets help with things other than personal care, like eating and bathing.


Eligibility

Those who paid Medicare taxes while employed for at least ten years are automatically enrolled in free Part A coverage when they turn 65. (40 quarters). You might be eligible for premium-free Part A benefits if your spouse is. If they are, then you might be as well. If you or your spouse are currently receiving or are eligible for Railroad Retirement benefits, you may also be eligible for free benefits. Even if the applicant's spouse passed away or got divorced, this benefit is still available.
Even if you don't have a job, you can still enroll in Part A, but you'll have to pay a monthly premium.

In order to be eligible for Medicare Part A benefits if you are under 65, you must:

Meet the requirements for the Social Security disability program. You may be eligible if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or permanent kidney failure that necessitates ongoing dialysis or a transplant, receive disability benefits due to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease), are the child or widow(er) of a worker who worked in a government job for a sufficient amount of time to have paid Medicare taxes, are 50 years of age or older, After receiving one of these disability benefits for 24 cumulative months, you are automatically enrolled in Parts A and B. These months don't have to be one after the other.


Enrollment

In Florida, if you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you will usually get Part A and Part B coverage on the first day of the month you turn 65. If you are under 65 and disabled, you will automatically get Part A and Part B after getting disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months.

In either case, you'll get a Welcome to Medicare package with your Medicare card and full information about how Medicare works. You can sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period if you don't meet these requirements (IEP). Your IEP is the 7-month period that starts three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after you turn 65.

When your IEP is over, if you qualify, you can sign up for Part A and Part B during a Special Enrollment Period. You can also sign up during the Medicare General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31 every year. However, if you choose this option, you may have to pay more and get coverage later.


Costs

Part A coverage is free if you qualify, with the exception of some deductibles for hospital stays. Provided you are not eligible for free Part A coverage, you can still enroll and pay a premium if you meet the following criteria:

You are 65 or older.
You have or are about to enroll in Medicare Part B coverage.
You meet citizenship and residency requirements.

The cost of your premiums will vary based on how long you have worked and how close you are to reaching the minimum of 40 Social Security credits.

If you enroll in and pay for Medicare Part A, you must also enroll in and pay a separate premium for Medicare Part B in most situations.


Upcoming Article: Understanding Medicare Part B, C, and D.




Now that you are armed with information, contact a local Medicare health insurance broker.  When it comes to selecting the best health care plan for you and your family, the expertise an insurance broker can provide is essential.  A good Medicare insurance broker can assist you with every part of the health insurance plan buying process.  They can review and discuss with you the advantages and disadvantages of plans your are considering.

Speaking with a Medicare health insurance broker is the smart logical step you should make before any health plan purchasing decision.  Best of all, assistance from a Medicare health insurance specialist is normally free.


Choosing a health insurance plan is not something to take "lightly".  Our health plan specialists are happy to help.

We understand how choosing the right plan for the needs of you and your family can be confusing.  Plan benefits, physician networks, deductibles, Rx coverage, price, and more, are all aspects of a health insurance plan that should be well considered.

Our licensed Medicare insurance professionals are happy to help you sort through all of the particulars in order to find a high-quality health insurance plan that fits your needs and budget.  Our services are free.  Call now.    305-927-2720