How to Apply for Medicare in Johnson County, Kansas

In the United States approximately 10,000 people turn 65 every day. Almost every single one of them struggles to understand Medicare eligibility and Medicare enrollment. It can be a challenge for every single person as they arrive at the Medicare age of 65. To help you navigate and understand all the options you have, Adams Insurance Services is here to help with the basics on Medicare enrollment for Johnson County Kansas residents.

When you reach the age of 65 you will be eligible for Medicare, as long as you have also been a U.S. citizen for at least five consecutive years. Meeting these eligibility requirements qualifies you for both Medicare Parts A and B, which are automatically available and managed by the federal government. There are occasionally special circumstances, like disabilities and health issues, which can make you eligible for Medicare earlier than 65. However, for most people, the three months before, the month of, and the three months after your 65^th birthday is the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) for Medicare.

What Does Medicare Cover

Original Medicare includes both Medicare Parts A and B. It is offered as a federal health insurance and you are automatically enrolled in both Parts A and B. A very important thing to note is that Medicare Parts A and B is not all-inclusive coverage and they do not cover all healthcare costs. You have the option to purchase Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Advantage which can be purchased through a private company. This additional coverage can help cover additional healthcare costs in Johnson County Kansas.

What is Medicare Part A

The federal government offers Medicare Part A, which is provided to pay for:

• Inpatient hospital stays
• Skilled nursing services
• Hospice care
• Certain blood transfusions
• Impatient mental health

There are no premiums for Part A, if you have paid into Social Security for at least 10 years. However, if you have not contributed enough to Social Security or if you enrolled in Medicare Part A late, monthly premiums will be high. The other costs that come with Part A include:

• You pay a deductible before Part A starts paying costs for each hospital stay.
• If you stay in a hospital for longer than 60 days, you will pay a daily copay (instead of what?). The copay rises after 90 days in a hospital.
• If you stay in a skilled nursing facility for longer than 20 days, you pay a copay.
• There is a copay for outpatient prescription drugs received in hospice care.
• You pay coinsurance for inpatient respite care for hospice patients.

Multiple hospital stays under Part A coverage could create multiple deductibles. Other coverage limits for Medicare Part A include:

• Hospital care outside of the U.S. (usually)
• Doctor services in the hospital
• Personal in-hospital costs (ie: custodial care)
• Prescription drug costs
• Additional Medicare benefits, such as hearing, dental, and vision

Medicare enrollment in Part A is not dependent on your medical history or affected by pre-existing conditions. To sign up for Medicare Part A, enrollment is automatic with your Social Security payments. If you have not paid into Social Security enough to qualify you, you can sign up at your local Social Security office.

What is Medicare Part B

At the time of Medicare eligibility, you receive Medicare Part B automatically with the Social Security payments caveat. Medicare Part B covers:

• Necessary doctor visits and services
• Outpatient hospital visits, mental health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy
• Ambulance
• Laboratory services
• Durable medical equipment including wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, etc.
• Some preventive care, diagnostic screenings, and skilled nursing
• Dental, vision, and hearing only in certain limited situations

Unlike Part A, in Part B does require you pay monthly premiums, which are based on yearly income. If you wait to join Medicare Part B after your personal Initial Enrollment Period, your monthly premium will be higher. Your monthly premiums are deducted automatically from your Social Security benefits, if you receive Social Security. Some additional costs associated with Medicare Part B include:

• A deductible paid for the year before Medicare Part B starts paying a share of your costs.
• A copay for outpatient hospital visits.
• Coinsurance after a deductible is paid. Part B covers 80% of the Medicare-approved coinsurance and you pay 20%, generally speaking.

There are coverage limits that are entirely dependent on the situation. An example is care outside the U.S. is usually not covered. Another example is how much you could pay out-of-pocket for occupational therapy could change or not be covered depending on when you get a screening. The charges associated with things outside the coverage of Part B will vary, but occur often. There is no maximum out-of-pocket for Medicare Part B.

When you sign up for Medicare Part B, be sure to enroll is as soon as you eligible during your Initial Enrollment Period. You can also sign up during the Open Enrollment Period, which spans October to December every year, but there could be a penalty if you do not enroll at the time of Medicare eligibility. Like Part A, coverage for Part B cannot be denied because of medical history or pre-existing conditions.

Other Medicare Coverage Options from Private Companies

Deductibles, coinsurance, premiums, prescription drug coverage, vision, hearing, dental, are a few examples of things often not covered by Medicare Parts A and B. You can purchase a Medicare coverage plan offered by private Johnson County Kansas Medicare providers, which are available to help cover the costs anything not covered. There are two main additional Medicare plans:

• Option 1: Medicare Supplemental Insurance which covers some or all of the costs that are not covered by Parts A& B and/or Medicare Part D which covers prescription drug costs.
• Option 2: Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, which combines Parts A & B to provide additional benefits. Most Part C plans cover prescription drug costs.

Adams Insurance Services, LLC provides these Medicare plans through the many Medicare providers we work with. Our personalized service and face-to-face consultations ensure we will find the perfect plan that meets your needs.

Our Johnson County, Kansas Medicare Insurance Providers

Here are the many Medicare providers in Wichita we work with to provide Medicare Part D plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Supplemental plans.