Medicare Enrollment




$1,000 Rewards are Available for Stopping Medicare Fraud


With the continuing problems for the economy and joblessness there is an increasing presence of insurance fraud and this includes Medicare. Medicare has decided to put their subscribers to the task of defending their honor by offering $1,000 to people who are able to stop this fraud. Speaking to a Medicare representative is one way you can do this, or you could report the Medicare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE. Read more…

Special Enrollment Period Now Available for Medicare


At any time during the year you will be able to switch to a 5-star Medicare Advantage Plan after the new process starts on December 8th, 2011. The title really says it all as there is no mystery behind what makes their 5-star Medicare Advantage Plan. To give overall performance star ratings to plans Medicare uses surveys to measure member satisfaction.

To give you an idea of the service and treatment you can expect you will see a 1-star (poor) or a 5-star (excellent) to measure the service. You may have a hard time finding a 5-star center but the following information should help you in your quest.

• You can go to www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan for the overall plan star ratings.

• Only if it is available in your area can you join a 5-star Medicare Advantage Plan.

• Once a year is the limit to the special enrollment period for changing to a 5-star plan.

• A Medicare Cost Plan cannot be joined during this period.

New Dates for Medicare 2012 Open Enrollment


For the 2012 plan year you will have new enrollment dates to make your Medicare enrollment easier and more possible to do sooner. One reason for the move is to give you more time to get health or prescription drug plans solved for 2012. Three main periods of time are available to you and they will be described in greater detail for your benefit. Read more…

Is a Fecal Occult Blood Test Covered with Medicare?


Many tests exist to detect the onset of various types of cancer and it is important that you stay diligent in your checkups with your doctor to protect yourself.  Cancer is not a disease or condition to be ignored as cures are not known, while treatments may be.  Testing is the best way to help prevent cancer and the tests that exist to do this are plentiful in their scope.

Your doctor may choose many different approaches to diagnosing and treating your potential types of cancer and you would have to consult them to find out what is necessary.  Medicare covers most of these tests, including the fecal occult blood test in the event that it is necessary to detect and fight your cancerous condition.

Medicare covers this lab test once every 12 months for people age 50 or older.  In 2011, YOU pay $0 for this test, but you generally have to pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor’s visit. The Part B deductible doesn’t apply.

Cervical and Vaginal Cancer Screening (Pap Test and Pelvic Exam) with Medicare


It is very important for women of a certain age to be tested on a regular basis for some possible medical conditions or afflictions.  Medicare will cover the cost of many of these procedures for the women that are at risk and this is a good thing for your bank account.  The following information will help you to determine if you qualify for the testing and what is covered. Read more…

Can You Enroll in Medicare Retroactively?


The importance of Medicare cannot be understated for those who absolutely need it as staying healthy is paramount. Enrollment has very specific rules and there are always times where those can be stretched but you don’t want to be the exception to the rule. You can enroll at an earlier date with Medicare in something called “retroactive enrollment” which means that you enroll before you are eligible. Read more…

Is There a Medicare Special Enrollment for the Working Aged?


Medicare has multiple special enrollment times for different people and different situations and you have to be aware when your time has come.  If you or your spouse was working AND had group health coverage through a current employer or union or you are disabled and working, or you have coverage from a family member there are special enrollment rules.  There are a few situations where the special enrollment period applies.

If you are still covered by an employer or union group health plan or through your spouse’s employer you can enroll in the special enrollment period.  Or, if you are in the 8 months following the month when the employer or union group health plan coverage ended or when the employment ends.  This may be confusing, but a Medicare specialist at your state insurance office should be able to provide guidance.

Read more…

Medicare Enrollment: When do I Start Getting Benefits?


Medicare enrollment is a very confusing and intense time for many people because the decision is so important to your well being.  The choices that you make in Medicare enrollment will affect the rest of your life, for the year you are enrolled, because you will have certain benefits available to you or not available to you based on your choices.  So, then when will your Medicare benefits begin in your life? 

Here is the exact definition of when your Medicare enrollment begins if you already receive social security benefits:

“If you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. You will not need to do anything to enroll. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If your 65th birthday is February 20, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be February 1, 2010. (Note: if your birthday is on the 1st day of any month, Medicare Part A and Part B will be effective the 1st day of the prior month. For example, if your 65th birthday is February 1, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be January 1, 2010.)”

There are other extenuating circumstances where your Medicare enrollment may be even earlier, for more just continue reading this website.

Medicare Application for Enrollment: How to Enroll


Your Medicare enrollment is by far the most important time of your health care during your lifespan as an eligible member of Medicare.  With Medicare enrollment you make the choices that will affect your health for the next year or more and you don’t want to make the wrong choices.  Below you will find a couple of important things to remember when it is time for your Medicare enrollment to begin.

  1. Know that the open season for Medicare enrollment is every year between January 1st and March 31st.  During this period you can sign up for Medicare Part B in a variety of ways based on how you qualify for the Medicare coverage in the first place.  Don’t take your Medicare enrollment lightly, it will affect your life.
  2. The cost of Medicare Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t take it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare Part B.  This makes Medicare enrollment even more important, who has 10% to waste every month?
  3. If your spouse is still working you don’t have to do your Medicare enrollment during the open season.  You can do your Medicare enrollment once your spouse quits working as part of the life change provision.

Medicare Part B Enrollment Issues


Those who are looking to enroll in Medicare Part B may be very confused by the fact that there are very specific enrollment dates that must be followed to enroll in the benefits.  If this confusion has caused you to miss the initial time period to enroll in Medicare Part B you don’t need to worry because it is possible to enroll in the coverage.  However, you may be forced to pay a penalty for being late on your enrollment.

The “General Enrollment” period for Medicare Part B is from January 1st to March 31st every year and those who enroll during this time will have to pay a penalty.  Enrolling in Medicare Part B at this time will allow you to start using the benefits of the coverage on July 1st of the same year.

The rules for “Special Enrollment” for Medicare Part B are quite complicated so who better than Medicare to explain it to you directly.

“If you wait to sign up for Part B because you or your spouse is currently working, and you are covered by a group health plan based on that work, or if you are disabled and you or a family member is working, and you are covered by a group health plan based on that work. You can sign up for Part B anytime while you have group health plan coverage based on current employment or during the 8-month period that begins the month after the employment ends, or the group health plan coverage ends, whichever happens first. If you have COBRA coverage, you must enroll during the 8 month period that begins the month after the employment ends. This Special Enrollment Period doesn’t apply to people with End?Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).”

Medicare Enrollment: Enrolling in Original Medicare


Many people are unsure how to go about the Medicare enrollment process due to the fact that there are so many different choices and plans to possibly enroll in.  While there are multiple options available to you during Medicare enrollment it is relatively easy to decipher which is best for you.  However, if you cannot make the decision and don’t choose which way to go during Medicare enrollment your mind will be made up for you.

If you don’t enroll in a plan during Medicare enrollment you will automatically be enrolled in “Original” Medicare.  Here is what you should know about original Medicare:

  1. You have the right to go to any doctor that you so choose if you choose to go with Original Medicare during Medicare enrollment.
  2. If you do not enroll in Medicare Part D during Medicare enrollment you will not have any coverage for prescription drugs.
  3. You do not have to choose a primary care doctor or get a referral to see a specialist if you choose Original Medicare during Medicare enrollment.
  4. If you don’t have another source of insurance to go along with Original Medicare then you may want to sign up for supplement insurance to go along with your insurance during Medicare enrollment.

Medicare Enrollment: Items to Consider


Because of both the confusing nature of Medicare itself and the impact that the right insurance coverage can have on your life Medicare enrollment is a big deal.  Since Medicare enrollment is such a big deal it is worth it to you to study hard to keep from making decisions that will negatively affect you and/or your family. 

Here are a few things to consider when going through Medicare Enrollment:

What You Need Covered: If you are already suffering from some lingering ailments it is worth it to you to make sure that you have the right coverage on your Medicare policy.

Other Coverage: If you intend on supplementing your Medicare policy with other coverage from another insurer then be sure to speak about this with your insurer before going through Medicare enrollment.

How Much Can You Afford: Like any other insurance policy it is very important that you consider how much your premiums and deductibles will be when going through Medicare enrollment to make sure you can afford your coverage.

Are You On Prescription Drugs?  If you need a constant supply of prescription drugs then you need to look into getting the coverage on your Medicare policy when going through Medicare enrollment.

Is Your Doctor Covered?  It is all well and good to have the coverage you think you need, but if you can’t go to the doctor you trust then you failed in your Medicare enrollment.

Medicare Enrollment: Review the Status of Part D


As it is with all insurance plans regardless of who they are offered by, it is important to review every year what has changed with the plan that you are on.  With Medicare enrollment in full swing it is time to review each part of the plan and one that is drawing much attention is Medicare Part D.

For those who don’t know, Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that deals with prescription drugs, offering a chance that otherwise may not be available to help pay for drugs.  In 2009 the plans start at around $31.94 and are attached to a yearly deductible that will be $310 for 2010.

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, the premiums for Medicare Part D will rise about 11% in 2010 which will put them at roughly 50% higher than they were in 2006.  Considering that 2006 was the first year that Medicare Part D was offered the reasons for considering where you stand with your Medicare enrollment becomes abundantly clear. 

The experts say that Medicare enrollment for 2010 will list roughly 1,576 options to those who are eligible.  Region-by-region Medicare enrollment will give between 41 and 55 different options to those who qualify and will be enrolling.  All the more reason to really look into what appeals to you and your situation.

Enrolling in a Medigap Policy: Purchasing Supplemental Insurance


A Medigap Policy is insurance created to supplement your Original Medicare Plan. It helps to cover some limitations of the plan’s coverage.

Policies will, of course, vary by available plans, coverage, and price. Therefore, before enrolling, make sure you spend time researching the plans and providers available to you, and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget. After you’ve selected the plan and company you are going with, it’s time to apply.

To apply, contact the company directly. They are required to provide you with a coherent summary of your policy, so spend some time reading it and ensuring that you understand it. If you don’t, feel free to ask as many questions as you need to ask. Never sign anything without knowing exactly what you are agreeing to. Once you’ve read the summary and are certain you understand it, fill out the application fully. Be as truthful and thorough as possible. If someone else fills your form out for you, go over it and make sure it is completely correct.

After applying, your policy will usually start the first month after you apply. You can request a specific start date if you like as well. If you don’t get your policy within 30 days you should definitely call the insurance company, and if you still haven’t gotten in within 60 days, you should call the State Insurance Department in your area.

When you pay for your Medigap policy, you can use a bank draft, a check, or a money order. Don’t make your payment out to the agent who was helping you with your enrollment. Rather, make it out directly to the company providing you with your coverage.

Enrolling in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan


Many Medicare beneficiaries choose to enroll in Medicare Part D in order to meet medication needs.  Part D is especially important for people who require significant prescription medication.  It can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs and make necessary drugs more accessible and affordable.

If you have the Original Medicare Plan, you may choose to enroll in a prescription drug plan to add coverage.  You can also enroll to add coverage to certain Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans, certain Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans, and certain Medicare Cost Plans.  Another way to gain Prescription drug coverage is to choose a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes this drug coverage.

When you enroll in a drug plan, you will usually pay considerably less for your prescriptions, although you will sometimes be required to cover copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles.  The overall cost of your plan will depend on a number of factors, such as whether or not you are eligible for extra help, if you are willing to forgo brand-name drugs, what type of drugs you require, the quantity of medication you need, what your plan coverage gap is, and, ultimately, what prescription drug plan or provider you choose.

To enroll in a prescription drug plan, you may want to call the plan directly.  That way, you can ask them any pertinent questions you may have about the plan you’ve chosen.  You can also call Medicare for assistance, at 1-800-633-4227. 

Part D Late-Enrollment Penalty


Your Medicare Part D is the component of your plan that will provide you with your prescription drug coverage. It is an essential element of many people’s health care, and if you have medication needs – or think you may in the future – it is strongly advised that you sign up as soon as you become eligible.

If you fail to sign up during your initial enrollment period, and if you don’t have prescription drug coverage for 63 days or more, you will likely be responsible for a permanent late-enrollment penalty when you later join. The late-enrollment penalty changes each year, and will be charged to you for the duration of your drug coverage.

To figure out roughly how much your penalty will be, take 1% of the “national base beneficiary premium” and multiply it by the number of the full months you didn’t join when you were eligible. The amount will be added to your drug plan monthly premium.

If you didn’t sign up for a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan when you were first eligible and you’d like help figuring out what your late-enrollment penalty will be, there are some sources available to you. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE for help, or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

Joining a Medicare Advantage Plan


If you are considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you need to meet a few specific requirements in order to be eligible to join. You need to have Part A and Part B – Hospital and Medical Insurance.  You also need to live in the plan’s service area.  You usually can’t have End-Stage Renal Disease, and it must be within the plan’s enrolment period.  

In many cases, you will need to pay your Part B premium in addition to your Medicare Advantage Plan premium.  It’s also essential that you follow your plan’s specific rules and are aware of necessary out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles and copayments.  

Sometimes, depending on the plan or company you choose, you might be required to use specific health care providers, belonging to the plan’s network – or be charged a higher fee if you don’t.  If you enroll in an Advantage Plan, you won’t be able to buy a Medigap policy – and you won’t really need one, either.

When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you are, of course, still in the Medicare Program.  Advantage Plans, although run by private insurance plans, still follow Medicare rules, are approved by Medicare, and receive funding from Medicare. They are not even considered supplemental insurance plans – they are a part of Medicare.  Consequently, when enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have Medicare rights and protection, including privacy rights and the right to appeal.  You also will still receive Medicare Parts A and B, and can usually get prescription drug coverage through your Medicare Advantage Plan. It is important to note that you can’t join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan with most Medicare Advantage Plans unless you cancel your Medicare Advantage Plan and sign up instead for Original Medicare. Signing up for a Medicare Advantage Plan also often affords you other optional benefits, such as dental or vision.   

To enrol in a Medicare Advantage Plan, fill out an application, call the plan, or visit them online.  

Missed Your Optimal Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B? When to Sign Up


If you are eligible for automatic enrollment in Medicare Part A, you will start getting it the first day of the month you turn 65, or, if you are disabled and under 65, after you have been receiving disability benefits from Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months. If you are not eligible for automatic enrollment, you should sign up when you’re close to 65.  However, if you miss your initial enrollment period, there are some other times when you may be able to enroll.

Starting January 1st and running until March 31st each year, the General Enrollment Period is the next best thing.  When you sign up during the General Enrollment Period, your coverage will start on July 1st. The drawback for waiting until the General Enrollment Period, of course, is that you may be responsible for paying a late-enrollment penalty.  Unfortunately, you might need to pay the late-enrollment penalty for as long as you have the plan. 

Another time you might be able to enroll is during a Special Enrollment Period.  You may be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if your or your spouse have a group health plan based on your current work.  You can then sign up for Part B at any point during your workplace coverage or in the eight-month period that starts when the employment (or group health plan coverage) ends.  Finally, if you didn’t enroll in Medicare Part B during your initial enrollment period because you were volunteering in a foreign country and already had health insurance for that reason, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period For International Volunteers.  Usually, when you are enrolling during a Special Enrollment Period, you won’t need to worry about a late-enrollment penalty.

While there are, then, ways for you to enroll in Medicare Part B outside of your initial enrollment period, the optimal time is, of course, when you are first eligible.

Retirement Age and Medicare


In the past, Social Security benefits began at 65.  Currently, however, your full retirement age depends on the year you were born.  A question this raises for many of us is – “how will this affect my Medicare coverage?”

The changes to the age of Social Security retirement benefits took place in 2003.  Now, your retirement benefits begin at age 65 only if the date of your birth is 1937 or earlier.  If you were born after 1937, your full retirement age will vary according to the year you were born.  For instance, if you were born between 1938 and 1959, your retirement age (for full benefits) ranges from age 65 and 2 months to age 66 and ten months.  If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age is 67. 

Does this mean, then, that if you were born after 1937, you can’t retire at 65 with benefits?  Of course not!  But if you do retire before your full retirement age (after age 62) and begin to receive your Social Security benefits, your benefits will be reduced.

Fortunately, even with the changes to full retirement age and Social Security, the Medicare eligibility age has not changed.  If you have paid into Medicare for the required amount of time (ten years or more), you are eligible for Medicare benefits when you turn 65.  To enroll, the ideal time to contact Social Security is three months before your birthday month to three months after. The earlier you sign up, the sooner your Medicare Coverage can begin. 

To enroll in Medicare or to find out your full retirement age, contact Social Security at 1-800- 772-1213

How to Enroll in Medicare Part A


Medicare Part A is the component of a Medicare Plan that deals with your Hospital Insurance.  It helps to cover your inpatient care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care.  Most people enrolled in Medicare Part A don’t pay premiums for this insurance.

Depending on what circumstances surround your enrollment, how you sign up for Medicare Part A will vary.  For the majority of people, enrollment is automatic. 

One of the most common situations in which automatic enrollment takes place is if you are currently receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.  In such cases, enrollment will begin at the start of your 65th birthday month.  Your Medicare card will be mailed out approximately three months before, and will indicate the coverage start date.

Another situation in which you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A is if you are under 65 and disabled, and are receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, and have been for 24 months.  Approximately three months before your 25th month of disability benefits, you will be mailed your Medicare card.  In the case of ALS, the process is much faster; you will receive Medicare Part A the first month of your disability benefits.

There are situations, of course, in which enrollment in Medicare Part A is not automatic, like if you haven’t yet filed for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits and are nearing 65.  You will also need to apply if you have ESRD, and may apply upon diagnosis.  To enroll, call Social Security Administration at 1-800-325-0778.

Look at your personal situation and decide whether or not you qualify for automatic enrollment, or if you will need to take steps to sign up.  Be proactive.  After all, your health matters!

Medicare Part B: How to Enroll


Medicare Part B is an important component in your health care coverage.  It is your Medical Insurance, and helps to cover things like doctor’s services, outpatient services and supplies, some physical or occupational therapy, some home health care, diagnostic tests, durable medical equipment, and various other medically necessary services and supplies.

Depending on what the circumstances surrounding your enrollment are, how you enroll in Medicare Part B will vary.  For example, if you are already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B the first day of your 65th birthday month.  Approximately three months before you turn 65, your Medicare card should come in the mail.  If you don’t want Medicare Part B, you can, at this time, choose not to accept coverage.  There will be instructions on your Medicare Card, detailing how to opt out.

Another situation in which you can be enrolled in Medicare Part B is if you are under 65 and disabled. In most cases, you will be automatically enrolled after 24 months of receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.  You should get your Medicare card around three months prior to your 25th month of disability benefits.  However, if you have ALS, you will be enrolled in Medicare Part B the first month of your disability benefits.

A third situation in which you can enroll in Medicare Part B is if you have End-Stage Renal Disease.  In this case, you can apply at the same time as you apply for Medicare Part A.  Your Part B coverage will begin, in most cases, the fourth month of dialysis treatment or the first month of a kidney transplant.

Finally, if you’re nearing 65 and you don’t get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits yet, you can enroll in Medicare Part B when you sign up for Medicare Part A or when you apply for retirement benefits.  If you don’t want Medicare Part A and if you’re not eligible to receive it without paying a premium, it is also possible to enroll in only Medicare Part B.

If your situation doesn’t allow you to receive automatic enrollment in Medicare Part B and you want to sign up, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.

When You Need Medicare Before Social Security


If you are receiving Social Security benefits, a Medicare enrollment package will be mailed to you three months before you turn 65.  In addition, Social Security will automatically enroll you in Medicare Part A (which is premium free), and Part B. If you choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B, you will need to opt out. 

However, not everybody is eligible for Social Security benefits at 65.  In fact, some people will not be eligible until they are 67.  For these people, enrollment in Medicare is not automatic.

If you will not be receiving Social Security retirement benefits when you are 65 years old, you will need to contact Social Security to sign up for Medicare.  It’s important to do this as soon as possible, so you don’t miss your initial enrollment period.

The earliest you can sign up for Part A is three months before you turn 65.  For up to six months after, coverage can retroactively begin at age 65.  

Your initial Part B enrollment period extends from three months before to three months after your 65th birthday. It’s definitely a good idea to enroll in Part B as soon as possible, to avoid delayed coverage.  If you don’t enroll until you turn 65, your coverage will begin the next month.  If you enroll the month after your birthday, your coverage will begin two months later.  If you enroll in the last two months of your initial enrollment period, your coverage will begin three months after.  If you don’t sign up for Part B during your initial enrollment period (unless you or your spouse are still working), your coverage will be further delayed, and you likely will need to pay a penalty for your Part B premium. 

Signing up for Part D, Prescription Drug Coverage, works much the same way.  Your initial enrollment period is three months before until three months after you turn 65, and late enrollment often results in a premium penalty. 

If you don’t expect to receive Social Security benefits by age 65, contact Social Security to apply for Medicare, at 1-800-772-1213

Eligibility and Enrollment in Medicare for End-Stage Renal Disease


Most people know that Medicare is health insurance designed for people 65 and over, or under 65 with certain disabilities.  What a number of people don’t realize is that Medicare also covers individuals at any age who have End-Stage Renal disease, or ESRD (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).

In order to receive Medicare coverage for ESRD, if you need regular dialysis or have had a kidney transplant, you must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.  To be eligible to receive Medicare Part A, you or your spouse (or your parent, if you are a dependent child) need to have worked the required time under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or as a government employee, or you need to be getting or eligible for Social Security, Office of Personnel Management, or Railroad Retirement benefits. You are eligible for Part B if you get Part A.    

To enroll in Medicare due to ESRD, visit your local Social Security office or call them at 1-800-772-1213.  Remember, you must sign up for Medicare Parts A and B in order to receive ESRD coverage.  It’s a good idea to apply for Part B at the same time as Part A to avoid any late penalties. 

Low-Income Subsidy Designed to Help Qualifying Seniors Pay for Prescription Drugs


If you qualify for Medicare and have limited resources, you may also qualify for the low-income subsidy available to people who need extra help. This subsidy is intended to help individuals pay for their Medicare drug plan’s monthly premium, yearly deductible, and coinsurance/copayments.  It can also limit any coverage gaps.

 To qualify for extra help, you need to have limited income and limited resources available to you.   This year, you might qualify if you alone make below $15,315 and have resources under $11,710.  If you are married and living with your spouse (with no other dependents), you must make below $20,353 per year and have resources under $23,410. 

A number of people automatically qualify for this extra help. For instance, if you have full Medicaid benefits, are receiving help from your State Medicaid program, or are receiving SSI without Medicaid, you will most likely automatically qualify for the low-income subsidy.  If you do, you will receive a letter from Medicare to inform you of your status.  After qualifying, you need to choose a Medicare drug plan in order to reap the benefits of your extra help. Research your available plans and select one that covers the medication you require.  If you don’t select a plan, Medicare will select one for you.

Even if you don’t automatically qualify for extra help, you may be able qualify by applying.  To apply, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit them online at www.socialsecurity.gov

Costs Involved in Medicare Part B


Depending on the plan you choose and the type of care you require, the costs involved in your Medicare Part B coverage can vary significantly. However, there are a few general cost categories to consider when planning for your expenses.

One of the first things to keep in mind are the premiums you will be required to pay.  While Part A in the Original Medicare doesn’t typically require a montly premium, Part B does.  This year, the standard premium is $96.40, although it may be higher if you make more than $82,000 per year individually or $164,000 together with your spouse. Your premium may also be 10% higher if you did not enroll in Part B when you were first eligible.  In order to collect Part B benefits, you will usually also need to pay a yearly deductible before receiving any coverage.  This year, the deductible is $135.

The care you require will also have an effect on your costs.  Some services are denoted as “no cost” services; these are free for you.  For many other services, you need to pay a coinsurance.  Usually, this coinsurance is 20% of the approved Medicare amount.  Sometimes, you may be required to pay a copayment, which is a set fee for a service, such as a doctor’s visit.

If you qualify for extra help, your costs may be much lower. Research your options carefully, and don’t hesitate to ask your State Health Insurance Assistance Program for help.