Medicare
If you are eligible for a federal government health insurance plan, then you are most likely already a Medicare member. Medicare is a national heath insurance scheme for a specific group of people: those under the age of 65 with some disabilities, those people 65 and over, and those people with end-stage renal disease (age irrelevant). Medicare offers health insurance to individuals that fit the above criteria as they are unlikely to qualify for private health plans or group insurance plans through employers.
Medicare insures individuals for prescription drugs, hospital stays and for general medical insurance, i.e, visiting a physician. To be eligible for Medicare, an individual must be eligible to receive social security payments. If aged over 65, an individual must have been employed for at least ten years where social security was deducted from their income. Individuals claiming access to Medicare through end-stage renal disease or serious disability must meet the government's definition of these terms.
Medicare provides only partial coverage medical services. Medicare Part A is usually offered for free to those people aged 65 and over. It is otherwise known as Hospital Insurance and covers all facets of hospitalization including meals. It also covers rehabilitation services and part-time home help, along with medical equipment such as wheelchairs. In addition, Medicare Part A covers hospice care for the terminally ill.
The second part of Medicare insurance is referred to as Part B and demands that a monthly premium of $78.20 be paid along with an annual deductible. This insurance covers doctors appointments, diagnostic tests and some medical equipment. It does not cover routine check-ups.
Some of the health services that Medicare does not cover include cosmetic surgery, dental work, vision care and medical services obtained from outside the United States. It also limits the type of health services patients can access and charges deductibles and co-payments for accessing services defined in Part B. For this reason, many people receiving health insurance through Medicare require a top up insurance, often referred to as Medicare Supplement Insurance, which they must purchase through a private insurance company.
For more infomation on health insurance choose from the list below. |
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