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Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers millions of older adults and people with disabilities. Medicare has four parts – Parts A, B, C and D. If you need fair and unbiased help, call Minnesota's Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433. We can help you compare plans so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

 

Health Care Choices

The 2024 edition was the final version of Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare produced. But you can still visit the Plan Finder on Medicare.gov to compare Medicare plans for health and drug coverage based on your needs. You can enter details like your medications and favorite pharmacy to see a side-by-side comparison of each plan’s costs, coverage, and out-of-pocket expenses. if you have further questions, you can call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433.


 

The parts of Medicare

Friends at Dinner

Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers costs such as in-patient stays, skilled nursing facility care, home health care and hospice care. Part A has deductibles and coinsurance, but most people don’t have to pay premiums for Part A, based on having worked at least 10 years in the US or being married to someone who has.

Medicare Part B covers almost all necessary outpatient medical services, including doctors’ visits, lab work and x-rays, durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, hospital beds, etc.), ambulance services, outpatient hospital care, etc. Part B has premiums, deductibles and coinsurance that you have to pay yourself or through other insurance coverage.

Together Medicare Part A and Part B are also known as Original Medicare. Under Original Medicare, you can use any health care provider who accepts Medicare. There are no networks and you pay the same amount for covered services from any Medicare provider. There is no prescription drug coverage under Original Medicare, but you can enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.

Medicare Part C is more commonly known as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare plans offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to cover Medicare Parts A, B and sometimes Part D (prescription drug) benefits. Medicare Advantage plans are private health plans that usually require their members to go to providers from their network.

Medicare Part D is the optional prescription drug coverage offered by private insurance companies and available to all people with Medicare. There are many Part D plans to choose from and all have monthly premiums. Each year, those with Part D plans can change plans from October 15 to December 7 for the coming calendar year. Plans can change premium amounts or the drugs they cover, so it’s important to compare plans each year.

More Medicare options

Medigap policies (Medicare Supplements) are private insurance policies that some people choose to buy to cover some costs not covered by Original Medicare. These are typically out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles, copays, coinsurance and possibly health care costs not covered by Original Medicare while traveling outside the U.S.

Medicare Cost Plans are another type of Medicare health plan that used to be a very popular option in Minnesota. But currently, Cost Plans are only offered in 21 of Minnesota's 87 counties. Like Medicare Advantage plans, Cost Plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. They include Medicare Parts A and B, but allow more flexibility to see out-of-network providers. Sometimes Cost Plans also include optional Part D prescription drug coverage.

Aitkin Lake Rice
Carlton Le Sueur Rock
Cook McLeod Sibley
Goodhue Meeker St. Louis
Itasca Mille Lacs Stevens
Kanabec Pine Traverse
Koochiching Pipestone Yellow Medicine


Do you have questions about Medicare?

If you have questions about Medicare, start by visiting Medicare.gov. The website has easy-to-understand information about Medicare plans, what’s covered, and how to sign up. You can also call Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227), or TTY users can dial 877-486-2048.

If you want more help or need answers about Minnesota options, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433. We’re available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Senior LinkAge Line is Minnesota’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and offers free, one-on-one help with your Medicare choices.

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