Senior Citizen Health Insurance
Who is eligible for health insurance for seniors?
65-year-old persons who have worked in the USA for 10 years and have collected 40 credits;
People with disabilities*
People with a permanent kidney failure *
People having Lou Gehrig's disease *
*A waiting period may apply
Is your 65th birthday coming up? Maybe you know such a person?
Celebrating your birthday is important, but it's even more important to get health insurance to cover medical expenses.
What is important to know?
The earlier you start, the smoother and faster the process will be. Three months before your 65th birthday, you must contact the Social Security Administration and fill out a form to apply for a Senior Citizen insurance. You also have 3 months after the month of your birthday for a total of 7 months to complete the process.
IMPORTANT!
Senior Citizen Health Insurance has several parts
Part A
Part A covers hospital expenses.
Free for those whose income does not exceed the limit set by the IRS and who have collected 40 work credits by working 10 years in the US.
Persons with high income or who have not collected 40 work credits and have not worked in the US for 10 years must pay the the premium.
Has a deductible.
Part B
Part B covers visits to doctors, specialists, and tests.
This part has a premium. The price is fixed each year unless you had a high income.
Part B is recommended to be purchased as soon as you turn 65. If you later decide that you need this part, for example, after reaching the age of 67, a penalty will be applied. The amount of the fine is 10% of the insurance price for each missed year. That means if you sign up for Part B at age 67, you'll pay about 20% more. This penalty is non-avoidable* (unless you qualify for Medicaid) and applies for life.
Has a deductible.
Has co-insurance. This is the 20% you have to pay for medical expenses, after you pay the deductible.
If you have a low income, Medicaid may pay for Part B.
Part C
Private insurance that combines Part A and Part B and usually provides drug coverage. These plans typically have no monthly premium.
Eliminates the Part A deductible, the amount you have to pay yourself before insurance begins to cover medical expenses.
Some plans reimburse part of the cost of Part B.
It has an out-of-pocket limit. This is an amount that you pay over the year and after you reach it, insurance covers all medical expenses 100%.
Some plans include vision and dental coverage.
Provides free sports club membership.
Provides free transportation services if you are unable to go to the doctor. Limits apply.
There are more various benefits for these plans.
Part D
Private insurance that reimburses the cost of drugs. This part is mandatory if you have only A or both A and B.
Failure to purchase Part D on time incurs penalties of 1% of each month without Part D, based on the average cost of Part D across all plans. This penalty only applies if you later decide to purchase the part.
Not free. The cost depends on the plan and may vary from year to year.
Most plans divide drugs into several categories. Some drugs, depending on the category, can be reimbursed one hundred percent.
Has a deductible, the amount you have to pay yourself for insurance to start covering medical expenses.
There is co-pay and co-insurance, the part you have to pay for the drugs after you pay the deductible.
Supplemental/ Medigap
This coverage compensates for Part A's deductible and Part B's 20% co-insurance, which you would have to pay yourself if you chose only Parts A and B.
Similar to PPO plans (wide network, large supply of specialists, no referrals, etc.)
Insurance is always paid, and its price may increase twice a year.
If you choose this part, you will no longer be able to choose Part C.
It is recommended that you purchase Part D with this plan because Supplemental does not cover drug costs.
The plans are divided by letters that have nothing to do with the insurance parts. Coverage depends on the plan you choose.
Want to learn more about Senior Citizen Health Insurance?
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