More people are opting out of the traditional choice of medicare part A and B coverage. For a variety of reasons, they choose to go with a less restricted, medicare advantage plan. Medicare coverage is something we’re all entitled to once we reach a certain age. For most people, coverage through medicare starts at age 65. Picking out the right policy can be confusing without the guidance of an insurance agent. Fortunately, understanding your medicare coverage options isn’t impossible without help. That is, if you’re willing to do a little research.
For those of us who worked as adults, and paid medicare taxes while doing so, the coverage is completely free. While Medicare part A is particularly useful for covering any office visits, lab tests and emergency surgeries we might need, it may not be possible for our regular, private physicians to provide us with services under the plan. However, it’s possible the doc you’re used to seeing accepts medicare part C.
Medicare Part A, B And C Have Similarities
Medicare Part C isn’t something insurance customers opt for instead of part A and B. It’s not an additional plan to consider that may help with Co-pays and other fees. Rather, it’s a second option for those considering a medicare health insurance plan.
Since medicare Part C is privatized, like all the other medicare plans available, it is impossible to get a quote without using a medicare advantage plan company. As mentioned above, it may be free, or mostly subsidized, if you paid into the medicare tax when you were working.
There are a few things that seem to be consistent with most medicare part C plans. As an example, all of them provide most of the benefits that medicare part B and A does. All of the policies also provide additional coverage. However, some of the differences between medicare part C and other plans might be considered less favorable to some patients. Medicare part C is more restricted when it comes to the amount of hospitals and physicians that can accept it than some of the other plans available.
What Medicare Part C Doesn’t Cover
Patients may not be entitled to coverage for their hospice care. This does not mean they cannot sign up for an additional part of medicare to have coverage for the service. It’s possible to receive hospice care while getting coverage for other medical expenses from a medicare part C policy. It’s important to consider that this particular plan won’t cover any medical expense related to the hospice care you may receive. Even if it indirectly related.
There are also restrictions that vary between plan to plan when it comes to prescription drug coverage. Most generic and common medications are available at cheap or no co-pays. Since there aren’t a lot of restrictions when it comes to medicare part C, some policies do not provide prescription drug coverage at all. That’s what separates the plan from medicare part B.
With any medicare insurance plan, most of the coverage only includes regional office visits, surgeries and hospital stays. With some policies making an exception for emergencies. In most situations, you must be okay with choosing local doctors in your state to be covered by medicare part C.
What Medicare Part C Does Cover
A lot of what’s covered by medicare part A and B is taken care of by the medicare part C plan as well. For instance, a hospital stay will be partly covered by any part C policy. Patients are also entitled to skill nursing and outpatient care after being discharged from the hospital.
Medicare part C policies will cover any screenings you may need. The policies also provide financial assistance for immunizations and other shots. This may be useful around flu season. Viruses become dangerous, and potentially deadly, as we age.
Part C medicare policies also provide hearing care. This is particularly useful to applicants who have started to lose their hearing due to aging. If you were consistently exposed to loud noises when you were younger, this policy will cover any expenses you may need to keep your hearing intact, or improve it.
Eye care and wellness visits are also covered. This can include simple visits to the optometrist. All the way up to cataract surgery. If you wore glasses at any point in your lifetime, it’s likely you’ll need them in your old age. For someone with aging eyes, it’s important to make sure any care they may need to improve the situation is covered by their insurance policy.
A lot of patients have health care questions that don’t require immediate attention or treatment from a physician. For those everyday problems, policy holders are offered a nurse helpline to address any medical questions or concerns. When a situation is potentially life-threatening, it’s best to call 911 instead.
Speak With An Insurance Agent To Learn About Medicare Part C Coverage
Most insurance agents provide customers with an unbiased opinion about the benefits and disadvantages of each medicare option. A medicare representative would be more than happy to share their expertise on the subject with anyone considering a quote. Remember, if you do not qualify for free medicare because you never paid into the program, you can choose to pay for a policy.
