First, a few basics about Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who:
- are aged 65 and older
- are younger than 65 who have some disabilities, or
- who have been diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). **
Medicare has two parts:Part A Helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, critical care, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care and some home health care. Those who worked or whose spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes automatically qualify for Part A when they become eligible. There is no premium for Part A. There are out-of-pocket costs for you.
Part B Helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and home health care that is not covered under Part A. You do pay a premium for Part B. There are also out-of-pocket costs for you. You must be enrolled in Part B to be eligible for
Medica Medicare SolutionsSM plans. You can check your red, white and blue Medicare care to see whether you are entitled to Part A and/or Part B.
As a Medicare beneficiary, you can choose from different Medicare options. One is Medica Advantage fee-for-service plan. Another option is a Medicare managed care plan like
Medica Prime SolutionSM. For further information on Medicare, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov.
For addtional information about Medica or its Medicare products, contact the
Center for Healthy AgingSM between 8 a.m.-8p.m. (CST) seven days a week, at 952-992-2345 or 1-800-906-5432. TTY users may call 952-992-3650 or 1-800-234-8819.
** If you have End-Stage Renal Disease(ESRD) and you are in the Original Medicare plan, you may join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, but you usually can't join a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you have had a successful kidney transplant, you may be able to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. If you have questions about eligibility and ESRD please contact Medica at 952-992-2345 or 1-800-906-5432.