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Most people do not realize that Medicare is the National Health Insurance program for Americans 65 years of age and older, as well as those who have been granted a full-time disability by the Social Security Administration. Medicare is not for the Poor or Homeless. Medicaid is health insurance for individuals whose income is below national guidelines, and for those who need extra help. Medicare is the best option for individuals when they reach age 65.

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT vs MEDICARE ADVANTAGE, which option is better? This has been an ongoing battle for decades and will continue for the foreseeable future. It is one of the most common and confusing decisions people face when enrolling in Medicare.

We wrote this to help you better understand Medicare concisely and transparently. Medicare consists of four parts. Medicare Part A,  Part B, Part C, and Part D  MEDICARE PART A - Pays for Inpatient Hospitalization, Hospice, and Skilled Nursing Care. MEDICARE PART B - Pays for outpatient doctor visits, Lab Tests, Screenings, and DME. MEDICARE PART C - Is Medicare Advantage MEDICARE PART D - Covers Prescription Medications.

Once you’re enrolled in Parts A and B, the next step is determining how you want to receive your benefits. You have two primary options: stick with Original Medicare, which allows you to visit any provider and any hospital in the US, or choose Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, which bundles hospital, medical, and often drug coverage into one plan.

MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B to be eligible to enroll in Part D. Medicare drug coverage is only available through private plans. If you have Medicare Part A and/or Part B and you do not have other drug coverage (creditable coverage), you should enroll in a Part D plan.

Getting older can be challenging.  The healthcare options available to you may seem confusing or unnecessary.  Your inexperience in this new chapter, coupled with ongoing health concerns, creates a recipe for disaster.   With age comes wisdom, and knowing how to navigate the system will demonstrate it.  Getting the coverage and protection that you need is much easier than it seems.  Here are three essential parts of enrolling in Medicare that will help guide you through the p

One of the interesting aspects of enrolling in Medicare is the fact that you apply for Medicare benefits through the Social Security Administration.  The SSA processes each Medicare enrollment application because it has access to all of your personal information, and it is more efficient for them to vet each prospective Medicare beneficiary first.  Once your application is approved, you will receive a letter confirming your enrollment and that your Medicare Card will arrive b

When you are new to Medicare and Enrolling in Medicare, your first chance to sign up for Medicare is during your Initial Enrollment Period, which we’ll discuss a bit further in the next section.

The best available rate may depend on factors such as your age, gender, smoking status, marital status, and location. To ensure that you are getting the best available rate, you may want to check with your SHIP. If you purchase a Medigap during your open enrollment period, policies are limited in their ability to exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, meaning conditions you had before you enrolled.

Most Americans do not realize that you apply for your Medicare Card through the Social Security website. Then, once you have received your card, all of your Medicare questions and inquiries will go through the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov or by calling Medicare 24/7 at 1-800-MEDICARE. This is the easiest and best way to apply for Medicare. You can do it online at www.ssa.gov. It is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes to complete.Look for the Blue Tab that say

The Fall Opera Enrollment Period runs from October 15th to December 7th. Here is what you can do during this critical time: If you are a Medicare Advantage Member, you can choose to stay with your current Medicare Advantage Plan, as long as your plan is still available. If that is what you decide to do, then you do not need to do anything else. Your plan will automatically renew on January 1st.