You’ve probably heard mention of Medicare on television, in a newspaper, or even in your doctor’s office. It’s the federal health insurance program for people in the United States over the age of 65. The program is also accessible to certain younger people with disabilities and patients with end-stage renal disease.
Medicare does provide an all-important safety net for patients, but it’s important to understand exactly just what this insurance policy covers.
Basic Medicare Coverage
Medicare Part A covers basic hospitalization in the event of a medical emergency. This part of Medicare coverage covers inpatient hospital care, as well as skilled nursing facility care and hospice care. Basic Medicare coverage is based on a few factors, including federal and state laws, so there can be differences in the policy you have in Vermont as opposed to New York.
It’s important to consult your health care provider about certain services and supplies you may need as a Medicare patient. This will help you find out if Medicare covers your item, or if you will have to submit a claim for coverage. Depending on your income, you may have to pay a premium for Part A coverage. According to Medicare, in addition to a $1,484 deductible, your costs can include coinsurance for extended hospitalization beyond 60 days. Medicare can also cover medical interventions like blood transfusions and some home healthcare services.
Additional Plans
Medicare expands into other options: Plan B, C, and D. These additional options can vary in cost. Plan B usually comes at a set premium of $148.50. It could vary depending on income. Medicare Part B covers your doctor’s services and preventive healthcare, including annual physicals and tests. This can also include screening for cancer, emergency room services, and now receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Medicare Plan C, also known as Medicare Advantage, includes the same coverage as A & B with added benefits for vision, dental, and hearing. The cost of this additional health insurance varies on the access you are seeking. Lastly, Medicare Plan D covers prescription drugs. This includes anti-seizure medication for various types of seizures, from an unknown onset to petit mal seizures. While such seizures can be linked to a longstanding neurological disorder like epilepsy, some seizure types can be the result of low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, or tumors, requiring further medical intervention by physicians other than neurologists.
Secondary Health Insurance
Besides Medicare Advantage, some patients opt to have a secondary insurance provider to cover any additional costs that may not be covered by Medicare, like hearing aids and cosmetic surgeries. This is important information to obtain, even if you only need additional health insurance coverage for a brief period of time. MVP Healthcare is among those secondary insurers that write major medical health plans for individuals, as well as group plans for employee benefits. MVP offers several Medicare Advantage plans regardless of risk factor 65 years of age or older.
MVP Health Care is among a multitude of health insurance companies that provide PPO and HMO plans with little to no additional cost to cover things like dental and hearing benefits that will not be handled with just basic Medicare Plan A coverage. PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, covers care for health care providers in your specific network. HMO, or Health Maintenance Organization, is a more restricted network of providers at a fixed annual fee for services.
Taking the time to look into specific areas of your health insurance coverage will let you know whether you want to expand that safety net to protect you and your loved ones in the event of any medical emergency.
