Welcome To
Crandall Medicare Insurance
Ashford Insurance
Medicare Insurance Made Easy
What is Crandall Medicare?
Are You Eligible for Medicare?
You are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment, and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
If you are not 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:
- You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
- You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them.
- You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:
- You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement
- Board disability benefit for 24 months. You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.
While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.
Understanding Medicare and its Various Parts
Health-care costs have been a growing issue in the United States for years. Many people might worry that they can’t afford all their medical bills or insurance. This could leave some people with tough decisions about their health and finances.
The Medicare program was developed by the government to protect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Over time, Medicare has provided more Americans with access to the quality and affordable health care they need. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary or helping someone who is, you may want to read this article to get an understanding of the Medicare program and the parts of Medicare. Understanding the basics of Medicare may be useful when you’re deciding on Medicare coverage to fit your individual needs.
What is Medicare, and who can get it?
Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older and younger people receiving Social Security disability benefits. The program helps with the cost of health care, but it doesn’t cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.
When you first enroll in Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose how you get your Medicare coverage. There are 2 main ways to get Medicare:
Original Medicare
Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). If you want drug coverage, you can join a separate Part D plan. To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your deductible and 20% coinsurance), you can also shop for and buy supplemental coverage. Examples include coverage from a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy, or from a former employer or union.
Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C)
Medicare Advantage is an “all-in-one” alternative to Original Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually, Part D. Part C plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare. They also may offer extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like vision, hearing, dental, and more.
If you can’t afford to pay your Medicare premiums and other medical costs, you may be able to get help from your state. States offer programs for people eligible for or entitled to Medicare who have a low income. Some programs may pay for Medicare premiums, and some pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. To qualify, you must have limited income and resources.
Medicare Part D
The Medicare Part D program provides prescription drug coverage. You can sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to work alongside your Original Medicare coverage, or you can get all your Medicare coverage through a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan.
If you enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan), make sure you choose a plan that covers your medications. Every Medicare Prescription Drug Plan has a formulary that lists the drugs it covers, and many plans make their formularies available online. A plan’s formulary may change at any time. You will receive notice from your plan when necessary.
Most beneficiaries must pay a premium for Medicare Part D, along with other costs such as copayments and coinsurance; these costs vary among plans. Although this insurance is optional, if you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible for Medicare, you could face a late enrollment penalty if you decide you want this coverage later.
Making an informed decision
If you’re new to Medicare, you may want to determine which type of Medicare insurance plan will fit your healthcare and financial needs. If you’re still employed or have coverage such as veteran’s benefits, check with your plan administrator to see how this insurance works with Medicare. It’s also important to decide if you need prescription drug coverage. Once your Medicare benefits kick in, don’t forget to schedule your complimentary “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam with a doctor, and be sure to ask about any preventive services he or she might recommend.
As you can see, there are various Medicare insurance options available. To get help finding a plan or comparing plans in your area, you can feel free to contact one of Ashford Insurance’s licensed insurance agents at the phone number shown below.