Medicare Resource Center
Medicare, is a government-provided fee-for-service insurance program primarily designed for seniors. The program consists of several distinct parts:
Medicare Part A:
- Coverage: Facility-based care such as hospital visits, emergency room services, hospice care, and skilled nursing facility care.
Medicare Part B:
- Coverage: Traditional outpatient treatments and services, including vaccinations, lab tests, mental health services, outpatient surgeries, durable medical equipment, and most other medical services not performed in a hospital.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage):
- Coverage: Combines elements of Parts A, B, and sometimes D, offering an alternative to Original Medicare through private insurance companies.
Medicare Part D:
- Coverage: Prescription drugs.
Each part of Medicare serves a specific purpose, ensuring comprehensive healthcare coverage.
General Enrollment Periods:
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP):
- When: Begins three months before you turn 65, includes your birth month, and ends three months after you turn 65.
- What: First opportunity to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B.
- General Enrollment Period:
- When: January 1 - March 31 each year.
- What: If you didn't sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B during this time. Coverage starts July 1.
- Annual Election Period (AEP):
- When: October 15 - December 7 each year.
- What: Time to change your Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) coverage. Changes take effect January 1 of the following year.