If You Are Over 65 There Are Health Insurance Options For You

By Ethan Kalvin

If you are over the age of 65, under 65 but have a specific disability or permanent kidney failure and have been a legal us citizen for at least 5 years, then you are eligible for medicare. Medicare has come as a product of a law passed by Congress in 1965. Since it is a federal program you are required to contribute to medicare through your paychecks during your working years, you will also discover that the guidelines for eligible are similar from state to state.

Medicare consists of two parts:

Medicare Part A - If you are a patient in a hospital, nursing home or hospice this is the part that helps cover the cost. It also covers care in your home under certain conditions. Because this was paid through taxes, that you paid while working, many do not need to contribute this part.

Medicare Part B - This helps to pay for doctors services and outpatient care that is medically necessary. It pays for preventative services like the flu shot and for some services to keep illnesses from worsening. In 2008, the standard monthly premium was $96.40.

During the first seven months after your 65th birthday, medicare enrollment is free. Individuals covered by medicare as called beneficiaries and will have help paying for most of their medical needs. Medicare does not cover care given at home, or in a nursing facility, for those with recurring disability or longtime illness.

Medicare does provide Advantage Plans where the plan can be customized to fit medical needs. This is not available in all areas. Some of these plans offer prescription programs and there are some private insurance companies who cover some of these programs. Details of the Advantage Plan depend on the certain program chosen and the eligibility of the patient.

You will receive your Medicare card, in the mail, three months before your birthday. If you are receiving Social Security benefits before you turn 65, you will be enrolled in Part A and Part B automatically the month you turn 65. Signing up for Medicare is simple, as long as you are aware of the different plans and enrollment periods. - 32502

About the Author:

Whether you looking for individual health insurance or medical insurance visit www.gohealthinsurance.com. They have all the information you need to choose an insurance plan that it perfect for you.

Medicare Supplements Made Easy

By Richard Cantu

There is a confusing time that all senior citizens must endure. It is full of unexpected twists, turns, tunnels, and loops all complemented by confusing jargon. What is this maze? It is the task of becoming enrolled in Medicare and choosing a Medicare supplement policy to ensure future well-being.

Not being aware of the basics of finding Medicare supplementary coverage will most likely increase your chances of making a decision which could come back to hit you in the pocket book. It is of utmost importance to take the time to research Medicare, its components, and supplemental coverage. After doing your research, you should make a better decision regarding your healthcare coverage, and you should be able to navigate that Medicare supplement maze in a jiffy.

When you get involved in Medicare supplement research, the most common confusion will be the differentiation between 'plan' and 'part'. As a Medicare patient, Part A and B refer to hospital and doctor or other medical services respectively. Part C is known as the Medicare Advantage plan, and Part D is prescription coverage. These are essentially parts of your medical care that is covered.

Plans refer to the 12 plans that are out there for supplemental insurance. Each plan has different levels of coverage for Part A and B coverage, and offers different deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, and premiums. Speaking of premium, that is the cost that you will pay each month for your supplemental insurance, and it is determined by the insurance company.

Medicare supplement plans are also commonly referred to as Medigap plans, which can confuse some people. The words are interchangeable and both point to the 12 plans that you can get to supplement your existing Medicare coverage.

Co-pays and co-insurance are essentially the same thing, although some policies will define them differently. It's the expense that you'll pay out of pocket for your medical care, and is something that is important to know.

Taking the time to research the technical terms associated with Medicare and the 12 standardized Medicare supplemental plans should enable you to cut through the maze of choosing one with ease. You should allow yourself time to decipher the meaning of these terms then apply those to your decision of a Medigap policy. Find the one that will be the best for you. Rushing through this maze may cause problems in your future. Do your research, prepare, and be informed. Make a decision that will ensure your future health and wealth. - 32502

About the Author:

Learn more about Medigap. Stop by GoMedigap's site where you can find out all about Medicare supplements and what they can do for you.

How To Remedy Being Discharged From A Hospital Prematurely As A Medicare Patient?

By John Harvey

Perhaps you have an individual within your family who has been hospitalized, though they will be discharged rather soon. What does one do in this situation? Maybe you're not sure about assisted living, home health care, or even nursing facilities. Chances are you didn't even know that the person would be released from the hospital in such a short amount of time.

Now you might be panicking, and you might be trying to figure out exactly what it is you should be doing in this situation. Fortunately the hospital will probably give you a list of rehab clinics. Unfortunately they are not going to help you choose a clinic. You might feel like you have no time to render this decision, and you might even feel like you're being rushed. This may push you into making a fast decision, but you really have more time than you think.

Medicare as a government health insurance plan is under pressure from the US Congress to cut expenses and discharging patients too early is one of the most efficient ways to cut cost. In hospitals there is the so called Notice of Non-coverage, which means that the hospital has to let you know 3 days before the patient can be discharged.

If they haven't done that, you should insist that they do. And if you are persistent, they will give you that time. Remember you are here for your loved one and want to get the best care possible. You know that you will need the extra time to choose between the different rehab options and you will come to a much more informed conclusion.

It's going to become clear to you soon enough that hospitals try to discharge their Medicare patients as soon as possible. This has become a growing trend over the past forty years. Seniors have had hospital visits that dropped in time from fourteen days to six days. It will keep dropping if nothing is done.

The problem that hospitals have is the fixed fee system from Medicare. This means that a Hospital will be billed the same amount for every patient, no matter what happens to be wrong with them. The longer a patient stays, the more money the hospital will have to pay. If the stay is shorter, the hospital will be making much more money.

Patient care is no issue in the face of money. So when you enter the hospital there will be a paper that you sign. The paper will acknowledge your patient rights, and one such right is the right to not be discharged on a whim. You need to make a copy of the document: "An Important Message From Medicare -- Your Rights While You Are A Medicare Hospital Patient.".

The rights include the Notice of Noncoverage, and having this will stop the hospital from discharging you early. You will have the three days, and they will not be able to charge you. So long as you have not been provided the Notice of Noncoverage, you will be able to stay in the hospital.

In the meantime, you can appeal the decision of the hospital. This can be done by contacting the PRO in charge of filing appeals, but you need to make sure you do it as fast as possible. The claims take some time to process. Knowing your rights and having some nerve will take you a long way. - 32502

About the Author:

Examples of Ohio Health Insurance video clips from TopSeekInc: Ohio Medicare Prescription Plans Part D Medical and Ohio Medicare Supplement Insurance RX

Medicare's Unfunded Liabilities - What Are They?

By John Harvey

If you turn on the news you will see that some people are starting to discuss the tremendous unfunded liabilities of Medicare, that they prove that government programs typically cost much more than expected, and that they should be placed into the hands of private companies.

According to recent statistics, the current form of the Medicare system cannot be sustained and substantial changes must be made to fix this government health insurance program. So just what are these unfunded liabilities, and what impact will they have on you?

The unfunded liability is basically the gap between what Medicare or Social Security takes in through taxes and the amount they are expecting to payout, It's just a projection, not something that is set in stone.

Many European government health insurance programs, such as Germany's, have struggled for many years and can be thought of as being on the brink of bankruptcy. You know who is paying to keep them alive. The taxpayers.

Medicare and Social Security supposedly have sufficient funds to cover their current expenditures, but I would guess that the government is already printing money to pay Medicare's bills because I don't believe that US Treasury Bonds will sell well in the immediate future. Although we hear that the current administration does not anticipate raising taxes on the middle class, it will be the middle class who will see higher taxes in the form of higher prices and other higher fees and charges.

As who will be the lenders for Medicare. I would say primarily China, maybe Germany (which is funny because Germany is supposedly struggling with it's own health care system), but because of the weakness of the Dollar and the rising disenchantment with Americas spending policies it will probably end up on the shoulders of the American tax payer.

Why can't Medicare be sustained? Some people say that Medicare already was bankrupt in'65, the year it was introduced under Lyndon Johnson. Others expect it to collapse within the next ten years.

When the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 was signed into law by George W. Bush, it was in the name of "honoring the commitments of Medicare to all our seniors," but he might not have realized the consequences for a society which has more elderly people than young. He also probably did not expect that the economy would collapse the way that it has over the last six or seven years. - 32502

About the Author:

Two Ohio Health Insurance videos from TopSeekInc: Ohio Medicare Insurance RX and Ohio Medicare Supplement Insurance RX

Mediclear Eftpos Terminals For Health Professionals

By Pete Gasterson

There is some great news on the Medicare front for health professionals and patients alike. Patients no longer need to lodge forms to make a claim. They simply need to do is swipe their Medicare card and their debit card through your Eftpos credit card terminal.

Australians are all aware of Medicare and making your Medicare claim after you visit the doctor. This usually involves going to a health professional, paying the bill and waiting for a cheque in the post. You can also visit a Medicare office to collect your cash refund. When you do this you are probably feeling like it is the last thing you want to do. Going back to bed is usually the priority.Wouldnt it be so much easier if the rebate entered your account the next day simply by having your Medicare card swiped at the practise?

MediClear is a quick and easy way to process Medicare rebates and payments. Using a standard EFTPOS terminal. There are no costs to the practitioner. Apart from the standard merchant costs involved with having an EFTPOS facility, there are no additional costs " either periodic or transactional " for the practitioner to use MediClear.

An EFTPOS Plus Ingenico terminal is required to use MediClear. If you are already a CBA merchant you may need to upgrade your existing terminal, however the Commonwealth Bank is already in the process of providing new terminals free of charge as part of an ongoing initiative.

We believe that by incorporating MediClear within your terminal you will improve your businesses cash flow. Benefit payments for bulk bill claims are usually paid into your bank account by Medicare the next working day

There is no need to collect the patients bank account details. All information required to facilitate the payment of the Medicare rebate into your patients bank account is contained in their EFTPOS card and that information is provided by swiping the card through the EFTPOS terminal.

In most cases rebates are normally paid into your account the next business day with instant confirmation. Mediclear provides instant verification and confirmation of a claimants concessional entitlements. Any valid cards are reported in real-time so you are advised of the issue on the spot.

Maybe you are a patient and are reading this? It would be a great idea to inform your Doctor. They are often extremely busy and may not have had the chance to look into this system. The other great news is that group pricing deals are available for many medical professional groups. The rates and offers are always highly competitive and comes with a terminal that will accept the Medicare card. - 32502

About the Author:

Do you want to make life easier for your patients? Offering Medicare rebates through Mediclear Eftpos offers a convenient way for patients to receive their rebates. Use the same terminal to accept credit card and debit card payments. To find out more about these Eftpos Terminals for health professionals please contact us at EZEPOS.

Medicare Supplement Insurance- Finding Providers

By Richard Cantu, GoMedigap

Medigap insurance is a common topic of conversation between those individuals who are in need of it. If those individuals are not properly informed on the different plans, options of coverage, and minutia of Medicare supplement insurance, they can become highly confused.

Take the time to first educate yourself about Medicare supplement insurance and then you can have a better chance at finding the best coverage every single time. The good news for anyone seeking this type of insurance is that there are only 12 plans to choose from, no matter what your needs are. The government standardized the Medicare process so that each private insurance company will only sell the same 12 plans to avoid confusion.

Medicare supplement plans are named simply after the first 12 letters of the alphabet. Each offers its own level and type of coverage to include the following: Part B deductibles, Part B (doctor) expenses, Part A deductibles, Part A (hospital) expenses, Part B extra charges, blood work, recovery at home, preventative treatments, foreign travel emergencies, prescriptions, and costs associated with skilled nursing facilities.

Make sure that you consider the coverage that you already have or what you think you will need, because this will play a huge role in the choices that you make.

If you are relatively healthy, your coverage will likely be less than that of someone who has pre-existing illnesses or chronic health problems. Therefore, it is essential that you consider your health and family history when choosing the right plan.

If you will need mostly preventative care, focus on a plan that has more coverage for that and less expenses that you don't need. However, if you spend a lot of time hospitalized or have needs for recurring tests and lab work, you'll want to choose a plan that has coverage for those things.

Medicare supplement insurance isn't something that should confuse you or make you feel overwhelmed. Just take the time to learn about each of the 12 plans available, and choose the one that works best for you. Then, you can visit or contact private insurance companies to see which companies have the best rates on the coverage that you want or need.

Choosing a private company is going to be completely subjective. That means that you'll need to shop around and compare the rates that you can get, as well as the service that each company offers, to choose the best one for yourself. - 32502

About the Author:

Looking to find the best deal on Medigap plans, then visit www.gomedigap.com to find the best advice on Medicare supplements for you.

Locating a Medigap Provider

By Richard Cantu, GoMedigap

Medicare supplement insurance is often a huge topic of discussion among those who need it. All of the different plans, coverage options, and details can get very complicated if you aren't properly informed and prepared for your insurance search.

First, you must learn about Medicare supplemental insurance to have a better chance at choosing the best coverage option every time. Luckily, there are merely 12 plans from which to choose, no matter what type of coverage you need. The Medicare process has been standardized by the government which means that each private insurance company must adhere to those same 12 standard plans to avoid confusion.

Medicare supplement plans are named simply after the first 12 letters of the alphabet. Each offers its own level and type of coverage to include the following: Part B deductibles, Part B (doctor) expenses, Part A deductibles, Part A (hospital) expenses, Part B extra charges, blood work, recovery at home, preventative treatments, foreign travel emergencies, prescriptions, and costs associated with skilled nursing facilities.

Please take the time to consider your current insurance and what you think that you will need so that you can make the best decision.

If you are relatively healthy, your coverage will likely be less than that of someone who has pre-existing illnesses or chronic health problems. Therefore, it is essential that you consider your health and family history when choosing the right plan.

If preventative care is your main need, choose a plan that provides a high amount of preventative coverage and does not provide the types of coverage that you do not need. However, if you are commonly in the hospital or in need of lab work, choose a plan that can cover those needs.

Medigap should not be confusing. Simply take the time to educate yourself on the 12 standardized plans, and choose the one that is the best fit for you. Afterwards, visit or contact private insurers to see which have the best rates on the coverage you desire.

Choose a private insurance company by which one provides the service and rate you desire. - 32502

About the Author:

Learn more about Medigap plans. Stop by GoMedigap's site where you can find out all about different Medigap plans and what they can do for you.

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