Medicare is a government health insurance program run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It is the largest health insurance service provider in the United States, providing coverage for more than 45 million Americans with around 84 percent of that being senior citizens and the rest being younger people with certain types of disabilities. To be eligible for this service, you must first be a United States citizen and meet certain requirements. These requirements are:
- Aged 65 years or older.
- Aged below 65 years but have certain disabilities.
- Have End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a kidney transplant).
Medicare consists of four different programs, or parts. Each of these parts cover various health care services.
Medicare Part A is also known as the Hospital Insurance Program. It helps to cover inpatient care in hospitals, inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care services and some home health care services. This plan is free for anyone who has been employed in a Medicare-covered job for ten years or more. When hospitalized, you need to pay a deductible and your coverage is limited to 90 days in the hospital per illness. After that length of time, Part A will pay for a one time 60-day hospital stay.
If you or your spouse are unemployed or did not pay enough Medicare payroll taxes, you may not be eligible for the premium-free Part A but you can still look into Medicare advantage plans. However, by paying a monthly premium, you can purchase Part A.
Medicare Part B, also known as the Medical Insurance Program, helps to pay for medical services and supplies. These include doctors’ services, outpatient care, physical or occupational therapies and additional home health care services. Most people pay a standard monthly premium for Part B which can be deducted from their monthly social security check.