medicare Archives - Senior Care Central

Guest Blog: 5 Reasons It Is Important for Senior Citizens to Have a Medicare Plan

As we age, it becomes increasingly important to have a solid healthcare plan in place. Medicare is one of the most popular healthcare plans available for senior citizens, and there are many reasons why it is important to have coverage through this program. For instance, Medicare can help to cover the costs of hospital stays, doctor visits, and even prescription medications. Another reason Medicare is so important is that it can help fill in the gaps left by other types of insurance coverage. For example, if you have private health insurance, some services may not be covered by your plan. Medicare can help to cover those costs so that you don’t have to worry about them. Here is a look at five reasons senior citizens need a Medicare plan.

1. Cover the Costs of Hospital Stays

Senior citizens are prone to a variety of health issues that can require hospitalization. These issues include strokes and heart attacks, broken bones, and pneumonia. Medicare can help to cover the costs of these hospital stays, which can be very expensive. If you go without coverage, you may have a large hospital bill you will be responsible for paying. In cases where a senior citizen is sent to a nursing home after a hospital stay, Medicare can also help cover the stay’s costs.

2. Cover the Costs of Doctor Visits

As we age, we tend to see the doctor more often. This is due to various health issues that can come up as we get older. For instance, we may need to see the doctor for routine checkups and more serious problems. Medicare can help cover the costs of these doctor visits, saving senior citizens a lot of money. In addition, Medicare can also help to cover the costs of preventive care, such as mammograms and screenings for colon cancer. You don’t want to go without this coverage, as it could cost you a lot of money in the long run.

3. Cover the Costs of Prescription Medications

Another important reason senior citizens need to have a Medicare plan is that it can help cover the costs of prescription medications. As we age, we tend to take more prescription medications than we did when we were younger. This is due to various health issues that can come up as we get older. Medicare can help cover the costs of these medications, saving senior citizens a lot of money. Medicare can also help cover the costs of generic medications, which can be even cheaper than brand-name medications. However, it is important to note that Medicare covers not all drugs. You will need to check with your specific plan to see what is and is not covered.

4. Cover the Costs of Vision and Dental Care

Another important reason senior citizens need to have a Medicare plan is that it can help cover the costs of vision and dental care. Senior citizens need to see the dentist more often than they did younger. This is due to various health issues that can come up as we get older. Additionally, senior citizens often need glasses or contact lenses as they age. Medicare can help cover the costs of these vision and dental care services, saving senior citizens a lot of money.

5. Cover the Costs of Hospice and Home Health Care

Finally, another important reason senior citizens need to have a Medicare plan is that it can help cover the costs of hospice and home health care. Omaha Insurance solutions understand that the end of life can be difficult for individuals and their families and they make it easier to pick a medicare plan that will help with any cost there might be. Insurance companies offer hospice and home healthcare coverage through different medicare plans. Hospice care can help to provide comfort and support for those nearing the end of their life. Home health care can help provide care for those unable to care for themselves. This coverage can be very beneficial for the individual and their family.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why senior citizens need to have a Medicare plan. If you or someone you know is a senior citizen, it is important to ensure that you have a plan. Omaha Insurance can help you to find the right Medicare plan for your needs.

By Jim|2022-10-31T12:52:57-05:00October 31st, 2022|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: How to Help Your Elderly Loved One Find the Best Medicare Plan

The best plan is of significant concern if you want to sign up an older relative for Medicare. Although many different Medicare plan alternatives are available, your ideal plan will depend on your loved one’s financial and medical status.

Fortunately, you can compare the benefits and drawbacks of each Medicare plan to determine which one is best.

Medicare Part A

Part A deals with hospital services, such as hospice care, brief stays in skilled nursing facilities, restricted home healthcare visits, and inpatient hospital treatment.

Medicare Part B

Part B offers general medical care, including illness prevention, detection, and treatment services. Additionally, it covers the costs of emergency hospital visits and medical transportation.

Medicare Part C

Private insurance providers provide Medicare Advantage, commonly referred to as Part C. Prescription medications, Part A and Part B, and extra medical services like dentistry and eye care may also be covered.

Medicare Part D

Prescription medication expenditures are partially covered under Part D. Private insurance services provide these plans as an upgrade to basic Medicare.

Medigap

Medigap, or Medicare supplemental insurance, is a supplement to original Medicare that assists in defraying out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Compare the Alternatives for Medicare

Selecting a plan that satisfies your medical and finances can find the best Medicare plan for you. Consider Medicare with several medicare quotes to provide people and families that are worried about their insurance needs peace of mind.

Original Medicare

Medicare sections A and B make up Original Medicare. This pays for the majority of required medical bills for many Americans. However, prescription medicines, vision, dentistry, and other treatments are not covered under original Medicare.

● Original Medicare Benefits

Cost-effective. The Medicare Part A monthly payment is free for the majority of Americans, and in 2022, the Medicare Part B monthly cost will start at just $148.50. Your monthly Medicare expenses may be removed from your Social Security benefits automatically.

National coverage. In the United States, Original Medicare is known everywhere. Those that travel regularly may find this to be extremely useful.

● The Shortcomings of Original Medicare

Absence of further protection. Original Medicare covers only hospital and health services. Coverage gaps for treatments like vision, dentistry, and other types of care may result from this.

Medicare Advantage

About trustworthy Sources, 31% of persons with Medicare coverage have a Medicare Advantage plan. While most Advantage plans might cost more initially, they can also result in long-term cost savings.

● Medicare Advantage’s Benefits

Cost-effective. Medicare Advantage may enable you to save money. According to ResearchTrusted Source, Advantage plan members can save more money on specific medical treatments. Additionally, there is an out-of-pocket cap for all Part C plans.

Plan diversity. Advantage plan structures come in five varieties: HMO, PPO, PFFS, SNP, and MSA.

● The Shortcomings of Medicare Advantage

Additional front-end fees. Unlike original Medicare, an Advantage plan has a deductible, co-payments, and coinsurance for prescription drugs, in-network services, out-of-network services, and other services.

Medicare Part D

Part D provides supplementary coverage for prescription drugs not covered by basic Medicare. You can replace part D with a Medicare Advantage plan. Part D is a fantastic substitute for Medicare Advantage if you don’t want it.

● Medicare Part D’s Benefits

Consistent coverage. Each Part D plan you participate in must provide the minimum coverage mandated by Medicare.

● The Shortcomings of Medicare Part D

Varied formulas: Medicare Part D’s prescription medications differ by plan. It would be best if you thus located a plan that expressly covers your prescription drugs. You might need to make concessions in some circumstances.

Medigap

A private supplementary insurance option called Medigap can assist in covering Medicare expenses, including deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance.

● Medigap’s Benefits

Financial support. Anyone who needs more insurance to pay medical costs should consider Medigap. After Medicare has paid its portion, Medigap takes over to cover any remaining expenses.

International coverage. You get coverage for international medical services if you supplement your Medicare plan with a Medigap policy. For someone who enjoys visiting other countries, this is advantageous.

● The Shortcomings of Medigap

Solitary coverage. Your spouse won’t be covered because Medigap is a single-user policy. You must sign up for different Medigap policies if you and your spouse need additional insurance.

Bottom Line

The most excellent Medicare plan addresses your essential financial and medical requirements. Each Medicare plan choice has benefits and drawbacks, ranging from cost effectiveness to provider restrictions.

The best Medicare plan for you will depend on whether you select Medicare Advantage or original Medicare with add-ons.

By Jim|2022-08-04T09:15:14-05:00August 4th, 2022|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off

Guest Blog: What Colorado Residents Need to Know About Medicare in Their State

Despite impacting millions of people across the country, not many Americans are familiar with how the Medicare system functions.

Medicare even varies within each of the fifty states, making it more difficult to completely understand. In order to ensure that each citizen is getting their maximum benefits from this program, it is important that people become educated on the topic.
The more that people know about Medicare, the more they benefit. Here are some things that residents need to know about Medicare in Colorado.

Colorado Medicare Options

Medicare benefits are divided into different categories in Colorado. Residents can apply for Part A, B, D and supplement plans.
Medicare Part A covers care taking place in a hospital, and Part B focuses primarily on physician care. Colorado even has some Advantage Plans that are offered by private insurance companies.

Part D provides prescription medicine coverage for those already enrolled in Parts A and B. Part D is provided through some private insurance companies previously approved by Medicare.

Applying for Medicare

The process of applying for Medicare is the same in Colorado as all other states. To be eligible, an individual must be either a citizen of the United States or have held permanent residency for at least five years.

All individuals over the age of 65 are allowed to apply for Medicare coverage. Medicare in Colorado also covers those with disabilities who are under age 65.

Medicare Deductibles

Each Medicare Plan does have deductible costs to consider. Plan A has a deductible of $1,340 for each of the benefit periods. Medicare Plan B has a lower deductible of $183.

After paying the deductible, Plan B recipients are responsible for covering 20% of any amount approved by Medicare. Colorado charges a $405 yearly deductible for the Plan D Prescription Plan.

Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)

The Original Medicare plan still leaves a lot to be covered by an individual. Deductibles can quickly add up even with all the benefits provided by Medicare. This is why Colorado offers some Medicare Supplement Plans like Medigap.

Medigap works similar to Medicare, but it works to cover all of the costs that Medicare doesn’t. Out of pocket expenses such as coinsurance, copayments and deductibles are all covered by a Medigap plan.

These plans are offered through private insurance companies, similar to some Medicare Supplement Plans.

By Jim|2018-09-13T14:32:39-05:00September 13th, 2018|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off