Understanding Medicare
Medicare is the federal government program that provides health care coverage (health insurance) for people who are 65+ or those who are under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for a certain amount of time. The program is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and funded in part by the Social Security and Medicare taxes you pay on your income, through premiums paid by people receiving Medicare, and by the federal budget.
It's important to understand your Medicare coverage options so you can choose a plan that’s right for you. When you’re reviewing Medicare plans, be sure to consider the following:
- Will my prescription drugs be covered?
- What are my pharmacy options? Is mail-order available for my prescriptions?
- Does the plan offer affordable premiums, co-pays and deductibles?
- Do I want extra coverage like vision, dental, and hearing automatically included?
If you’d like help choosing a Medicare plan, you’re also welcome to contact one of these licensed representatives:
Kathleen Sleasman
518-255-7103
Medicare Advantage
As you review your Medicare options, you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare Advantage plans help simplify Medicare and typically offer more cost-effective benefits than Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement plan.
What is a Medicare Advantage plan?
Medicare Advantage is a popular type of Medicare health plan that’s offered by private insurance companies that Medicare approves. In fact, more than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries choose to receive their coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan.
A Medicare Advantage plan (also called Part C) combines Part A, Part B, and often Part D into one plan. It provides value to consumers by offering comprehensive coverage with a reasonable monthly premium and often fixed copays. Additionally, a Medicare Advantage plan often covers services not covered by Original Medicare, such as annual vision, hearing, and dental benefits and fitness memberships.
Why consider a Medicare Advantage plan?
- Medicare Advantage premiums and copays are often less costly than a Medicare Supplement and a standalone Part D drug plan.
- They often include extra coverage like vision, hearing, dental and gym memberships.
- They limit how much you pay out of pocket each year for covered medical services.
- They combine multiple parts of Medicare into one easy plan.
- Premiums are not based on age or health status.
- Medicare Advantage plans have an annually reviewed contract with Medicare.
The MediGold licensed representative will provide information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs, call 1-800-964-4525 (TTY: 711). St Joseph’s Health is a member of Trinity Health. Trinity Health is a proud owner of the MediGold-a Medicare Advantage plan. MediGold is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in MediGold depends on contract renewal. Benefits vary by county. Other providers are available in our network.