medicare

  Who is eligible for Medicare? Medicare is available to United States citizens and legal residents who have lived in the United States for at least 5 years in a row .  Medicare is individual insurance . It doesn't cover spouses or dependents. You may become eligible to receive Medicare benefits based on any one of the following:   You are age 65 or older. You are younger than 65 with a qualifying disability . Medicare eligibility begins after 24 months of receiving Social Security disability benefits . Any age with a diagnosis of End-Stage Renal Disease ( ESRD ) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ( ALS , also called Lou Gehrig's Disease) To qualify as a legal resident, you must have lived in the United States for at least 5 years in a row before applying for Medicare. What if I work past age 65? You still have a Medicare enrollment decision to make. If you plan to keep working or you have employer health coverage through a spouse, you have some options to con...

  Assistance with Meeting the Costs of Medicare Premiums and Deductibles The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary program (SLMB), and Qualified Individual program (QI), help Medicare beneficiaries of modest means pay all or some of Medicare’s cost-sharing amounts (ie. premiums , deductibles, and copayments). To qualify an individual must be eligible for Medicare and must meet certain income guidelines which change annually. The income guidelines, which are based on the Federal Poverty Level, change April 1 each year and can be found  here . Please note that the eligibility criteria listed below are federal standards; states may have more, but not less, generous standards (for example Connecticut currently has no asset limit for QI). QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program) The QMB Program Provides: Payment of Medicare Part A monthly premiums (when applicable). Payment of Medicare Part B monthly premiums and annual d...

  Most Americans understand that when they turn 65, Medicare will become their main health insurance plan. However, many Americans are less familiar with another health care program, Medicaid , and what it means if they are eligible for both M edicare and Medicaid . If you are dual eligible, Medicaid may pay for your Medicare out-of-pocket costs and certain medical services that aren’t covered by Medicare. What is Medicaid? Like Medicare , Medicaid is a health care coverage program funded by the federal government. It was established to help low-income individuals access health care coverage. Unlike Medicare, however, Medicaid is partially funded by state governments. This means that states have the flexibility to design their Medicaid programs to best meet the needs of their residents, as long as the program meets the minimum federal guidelines. As a result, Medicaid eligibility, services, and cost-sharing (the amount you pay alongside your insurance) policies will vary state...