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    Medicare

    Friends at DinnerMedicare 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, which we have outlined below. Understanding Medicare can sometimes be complicated. If you need fair and unbiased help, you can call Minnesota's Senior LinkAge Line® at 1-800-333-2433 . They can help you compare plans so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

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

    Medicare can be complicated. If you need help, call Minnesota’s Senior LinkAge Line
    at 1-800-333-2433, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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