Millions of older adults get their health benefits through Medicare services. Most of them would not be able to access quality and timely medical care without this federal program, and they would have difficulty keeping up with the costs of private medical care.
However, one cannot take the existence of Medicare for granted and should always be aware of the scope, benefits, and restrictions of the medical care it provides. This is especially important when you reach retirement, since Medicare is likely to be with you during that period of your life. Therefore, it is good to plan properly to optimize the functionality in the use of Medicare throughout the golden years to come.
Learning to Take Advantage of Medicare
The first course of action is to register on time and correctly in Medicare. As you already know (or maybe you didn’t know, and that’s what you’re here for), Medicare offers a seven-month window that starts three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after. In total, there are seven months, since the birthday month is counted, the three previous and the three subsequent ones.
Signing up at the exact time is indispensable for several reasons. First, because it ensures that you have medical coverage and prevents improvisations in case of hospitalization or unexpected medical expenses. So you can sleep with peace of mind knowing that you have insurance that supports your medical needs.
Second, if you don’t sign up on time, Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient care, could become more expensive over your lifetime. With surcharges of up to 10% on premiums for each 12-month period of eligibility not taken advantage of.
How to Take Advantage of the Medigap Insurance Plans
Medigap, also known as Medicare supplemental insurance, is a private health insurance that helps pay for the out-of-pocket expenses of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Some of the out-of-pocket costs that are generated may include copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Keep in mind that Medigap plans are not affiliated with the federal Medicare program, but are sold by private insurance companies to cover those costs.
Each Medigap plan has its own premiums, benefits, eligibility requirements and limitations. These plans can cover a variety of Medicare expenses, including:
- Copays: These are fixed amounts that you must make for certain services covered by Medicare. These copays come out of your pocket or you can cover them with a Medigap plan.
- Coinsurance: This item is a percentage of the costs of services covered by Medicare that you must pay after Medicare has paid its share. Usually, these costs come out of your pocket directly, but they can be covered with a Medigap plan.
- Deductibles: These are the amount you must pay for a Medicare-covered service before you start paying for the coverage. Find out which Medigap offers good clauses when it comes to covering deductibles.
Additional Services: Some Medigap plans also cover services that Original Medicare does not cover, such as medical care when traveling out of the country or certain dental plans.
Check Your Medicare Coverage During the Open Enrollment Period
It’s critical to review Medicare plan options each year during open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Although this process can take time, switching to a more suitable plan can mean significant savings in premiums and co-payments, especially if health needs have changed. This regular research is key to ensure optimal coverage and avoid unnecessary expenses.
