Resources Category: Insurance

Do you need a life insurance policy in retirement? One school of thought questions this decision. Perhaps your kids have grown, and the need to help protect the household against the loss of an income-earner has passed. If you are thinking about dropping your coverage for either or both of those reasons, you may want to … Read more

If your red, white, and blue Original Medicare card is lost or stolen, or you can no longer use it because it is too faded or damaged, you can replace it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227). You can also order or print a replacement card by logging into your mymedicare.gov account. If you get Medicare health … Read more

There are a number of ways to fill gaps in your Medicare coverage and/or to get assistance with Medicare costs: Job-based insurance: If you or your spouse is still working, and you have insurance through that job, it may work with Medicare to cover your health care costs. You should find out whether your employer insurance … Read more

Medicare’s prescription drug benefit (Part D) is the part of Medicare that provides outpatient drug coverage. Part D is provided only through private insurance companies that have contracts with the federal government—it is never provided directly by the government (unlike Original Medicare). If you want to get Part D coverage, you have to choose and … Read more

Medicare Part C is not a separate benefit. Part C is the part of Medicare law that allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits. These Medicare private health plans, such as HMOs and PPOs, contract with the federal government and are known as Medicare Advantage Plans. If you want, you can choose to … Read more

Generally, the different parts of Medicare help cover specific services. Most beneficiaries choose to receive their Parts A and B benefits through Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service program offered directly through the federal government. It is sometimes called Traditional Medicare or Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. Under Original Medicare, the government pays directly for the health care … Read more

Medicare and Medicaid are two separate, government-run programs. They are operated and funded by different parts of the government and primarily serve different groups. Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income. Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides … Read more

When you are under 65, you become eligible for Medicare if: You have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks for at least 24 months Or, you have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICARE DUE TO A DISABILITY You may qualify for Medicare due to a disability if you have been … Read more

When you turn 65, you become eligible for Medicare if you: Either receive or qualify for Social Security retirement cash benefits Or, currently reside in the United States and are either:a. A U.S. citizenb. Or, a permanent U.S. resident who has lived in the U.S. continuously for five years prior to applying How you enroll … Read more

If you are new to Medicare, there are several questions you should consider while approaching or within your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) or a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Use this guide to consider your options when preparing to enroll in Medicare or after you have already enrolled. What are the basics? Medicare is a complex program … Read more

Medicare is the federal government program that provides health care coverage (health insurance) if you are 65+, under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a certain amount of time, or under 65 and with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that runs … Read more