Turning 65 And Navigating The Alphabet Soup Of Medicare Coverage

We’ve all heard that adage, “Age is just a number.” However, the age of 65 is a milestone to celebrate! You can finally retire and you’re eligible to collect social security and benefits, such as Medicare coverage.

But what is Medicare?

Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for individuals 65 and older. Once you turn 65, you can enroll in the program, which helps with the cost of healthcare. Original Medicare consists of Part A hospital insurance and Part B Medicare insurance.

• Part A helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or limited time at a skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay). Part A also pays for some home health care and hospice care.

• Part B helps pay for doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and select preventive services. Individuals aged 65 or older are eligible for premium-free medical hospital insurance (Part A) if they or their spouse have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can also enroll in Medicare medical insurance (Part B) with a monthly premium attached.

Aside from “Original Medicare,” other parts of Medicare are available through private insurance companies that follow the rules set by Medicare.

• Supplemental (Medigap)

• Medicare Advantage Plan (previously known as Part C)

• Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)

As with most things in life, including insurance, many choices are available that have varying options. It can be overwhelming to make sense of it all and scary to make a decision that affects the future of your well-being as health care costs increase and your income decreases. Charles Leach works with individuals embarking on the journey of senior coverage, and our Medicare Specialist Lisa Mansell is a valuable resource that our clients rely upon and trust. Lisa has extensive knowledge and expertise in Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part C, secondary insurance markets, and the entire range of federally approved “Medigap” plans.

Another important consideration…we don’t charge to help you find the right Medicare plan. Our payment comes from the provider so it’s completely FREE to our customers. For a free Medicare evaluation call Lisa at 814-275-3224 or click below to email her.