CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwired – Oct 10, 2013) – According to AARP, some 8,000 Americans turn 65 every day and become eligible for health benefits through the Medicare program. GoHealthInsurance.com, the leading online health insurance shopping exchange, is arming consumers with information about Medicare in time for Medicare’s open enrollment period which starts Tuesday, October 15 and is open until Saturday, December 7.
During Medicare open enrollment period, current Medicare beneficiaries can change or upgrade their plans and newly eligible Americans can enroll in Medicare coverage for the first time. GoHealth offers an overview of the different parts of the Medicare program: Part A, Part B, Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Supplement.
What does Medicare Part A cover?
Medicare Part A provides coverage for in-patient hospital care, skilled nursing care, home health services and hospice. Patients will be eligible for full coverage if they stay in a health care facility for at least three days. In addition, Medicare Part A covers care for a health condition up to 100 days.
What doesn’t Medicare Part A cover? Long-term care or unskilled custodial care is not covered under Part A.
What does Medicare Part B cover?
Part B provides coverage for most outpatient medical care, including physician services, lab and diagnostic tests and X-rays. Medicare Part B also covers the cost of medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, prosthetics, and in-home oxygen.
What about prescription drugs?
Medication and prescription drugs are covered with a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, sometimes informally known as Medicare Part D. These Prescription Drug plans are administered by private health insurance companies and are optional for Medicare beneficiaries who need additional coverage for medications. All Prescription Drug Plans must meet certain requirements from the federal government.
What is Medicare Supplement?
For Medicare beneficiaries looking to get more coverage than Medicare Part A and Part B offer, they can purchase a Medicare Supplement plan. These plans, sometimes called “Medigap” are sold through private insurance companies and cover certain out-of-pocket costs, which can include deductibles and copayments with Medicare Part A and Part B plans.
To learn more about the process of finding Medicare coverage, consumers can view this GoHealth Medicare infographic. GoHealth also conducted a Medicare survey which looks at the attitudes of consumers toward Medicare and how health care reform might affect them.
For additional information, please visit www.gohealthinsurance.com or www.gohealth.com.
