Getting Assistance Article
MEDICARE IS HERE TO STAY
MEDICARE IS HERE TO STAY
By Sandra Perez
Social Security Assistant District Manager, Phoenix Downtown
Medicare went into effect 48 years ago on July 1, 1966. Earlier that same year, Medicare workers went door to door trying to get seniors to sign up. Medicare was not the cornerstone then that it is today and people did not know whether it was going to work for the long haul.
Now, nearly half a century later, Medicare remains one of the most popular government programs in the nation.
We can’t see the future, but one thing’s for sure: Medicare is here to stay. Medicare provides health insurance to more than 50 million Americans. Forty-two million are people age 65 and older and the other 8 million are younger and have disabilities.
Most people first become eligible for Medicare at age 65.
The four parts of Medicare are parts A, B, C, and D.
- Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care, and home health care. Most people get Medicare Part A premium-free since it is earned by working and paying Social Security taxes.
- Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover services from doctors and other outpatient health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B. In 2014, the premium for most people is $104.90, the same as it was in 2013. Some high-income individuals pay more than the standard premium. Your Medicare Part B premium also can be higher if you do not enroll when you are first eligible, also known as your initial enrollment period. There also is a Medicare Part B deductible of $147 in 2014.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage) allows you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organization. This plan includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B, usually includes Medicare prescription drug coverage, and may include extra benefits and services at an extra cost. You must have Part A and Part B to enroll in Part C. Monthly premiums vary depending on your state, private insurer, and whether you select a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization.
- Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. Many people pay a premium for Part D. However, people with low income and resources may qualify for extra help from Social Security to pay the premium and deductible. To see if you qualify for extra help visit www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.
Will you be age 65 soon? Even if you decide not to retire, you should consider applying for Medicare. You can apply in less than 10 minutes using our online Medicare application. Do it today at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.
To learn more about applying for Medicare when you plan to delay retirement, read our publication Applying For Medicare Only—Before You Decide, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.
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QUESTIONS
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I was arrested by a sheriff that left all personal property at the scene, can Isue the sheriff's office
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what if medical problems prohibit the individual from signing a Poa.
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i heard a few years back there was help in fixing your home. is there still a program for seniors that would help?
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What are the duties of a personal representative in probate?
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If someone has been claiming on tax forms another person who is cohabitating with them, who is responsible and for what?
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My daughter Kristen was my Payee when I lived in Atlanta but now I live in Phoenix with my other daughter. I think Kristen is trying to steal my properties I saved to sell for my retirement and I don't know what to do to get them back. She won't answer calls or letters and I think her husband is paying the realestate taxes so that he can own my properties eventually. I am about to lose everything I ever worked and saved for. Can you help me?
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I'm writing this for my brother-in-law. His son has power of attorney and he cannot get a copy. How can he get a copy and isn't the power of attorney written for a specific time frame and specific event?
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Just received a bill from a hospital for services rendered in 2011. I never received a bill from them and assumed that everything had been taken care of by my health insurance. How can they send me a bill more than two years later?
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What can I do about my social security card and Id being stolen out of my vehicle
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My next door neighbor has a 4 yr. old autistic grandson who keeps throwing toys and small objects over the block wall into my back yard. He has also thrown a rock and smashed his mother's car windshield. You'd think they'd keep these projectiles out of his reach or supervise him better! I have small dogs who have already chewed plastic toys into sharp pieces, and I worry about them choking or getting hit in the head. What are my rights, and what can I do?
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