Medicare

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is a U.S. federal government health insurance program that subsidizes healthcare services. The plan covers people age 65 or older, younger people who meet specific eligibility criteria, and individuals with certain diseases.

Medicare is divided into different plans that cover a variety of healthcare situations — some of which come at a cost to the insured person. While this allows the program to offer consumers more choice in terms of costs and coverage, it also introduces complexity for those seeking to sign up.

How Medicare Works

Medicare is a national healthcare program funded by the U.S. federal government. Congress created the program as part of the Social Security Act in 1965 to give coverage to people age 65 and older who didn't have any health insurance.

The program is now administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and extends coverage to include people with certain disabilities and those who have end-stage renal disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. There are four different parts to Medicare, all of which provide different types of services for the insured:

Medicare Eligibility

Eligibility depends on certain criteria. Anyone who has lived in the United States legally for at least five years and is 65 or older qualifies for Medicare coverage. Enrollment in both Parts A and B is automatic for anyone who receives Social Security benefits. Part D coverage is optional and enrollment must be done by the individual.

People under age 65 may qualify if they receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Those who receive SSDI generally need to wait 24 months after they receive their first check before they become eligible for Medicare although the program waives this requirement for anyone with ALS and or with permanent kidney failure. Enrollment can be done through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website.

Anyone with ALS automatically qualifies for Medicare, regardless of age.

Premiums for Medicare Part A are free if an insured person or their spouse contributed to Medicare for 10 or more years through their payroll taxes. You are responsible for paying premiums for other parts of the Medicare program.

The program is funded through a variety of sources. U.S. taxpayers contribute to the program through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), which goes toward Social Security and Medicare deductions. As of 2021, employees contribute a total of 7.65% of their paychecks to these programs — 6.2% to Social Security and 1.45% to Medicare. Employers also pay the same percentage on behalf of each employee.

Types of Medicare Coverage

As mentioned above, there are four different types of Medicare program available to individuals. Basic Medicare coverage comes predominately via Parts A and B — also called Original Medicare — or through the Medicare Part C plan. Individuals may also opt to enroll in the Medicare Part D plan.

Medicare Part A

Medicare Part A covers costs billed by hospitals or similar inpatient or inpatient-like settings, such as skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and some home-based healthcare. This plan, though, doesn't cover long-term or custodial care. Coverage is automatic for anyone who receives Social Security benefits. For those who don't receive benefits, enrollment can be done through the Social Security website.

Deductibles and coinsurance for Part A for 2021 are as follows:

Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B generally covers costs for outpatient care such as doctor visits. Part B also covers preventive services, ambulance services, certain medical equipment, and mental health coverage. Some prescription drugs also qualify under this plan. The standard monthly premium for this plan for 2021 is $148.50, while the deductible is $203. Premiums are higher for anyone whose annual income is more than $88,000 ($176,000 for married couples).

Medicare Part C

These plans, also known as Medicare Advantage, must offer coverage that is at least equivalent to Original Medicare (Plans A and B). Consumers purchase Medicare Advantage plans through private insurers rather than through the government itself. Many of these plans offer annual limits on out-of-pocket costs. Many also provide benefits that original Medicare patients would otherwise need to purchase via supplemental insurance such as a Medigap plan, and may include copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and even costs related to insurance while traveling outside the United States. Some plans may also include dental, vision, and hearing care.

Medicare Part D

Medicare offers supplemental prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D. Enrollees in Medicare Part A or Part B may enroll in Part D to receive subsidies for prescription drug costs that original Medicare plans do not cover.

The CARES Act of 2020

Medicare vs. Medicaid

Both Medicare and Medicaid are government-sponsored health insurance programs, but there are different eligibility requirements for each one. While Medicare is meant for those 65 and older and younger people with certain health conditions, Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides healthcare coverage to people with low incomes. Recipients are required by their state to have a limited amount of liquid assets.

Anyone with Medicaid coverage is eligible to receive different services such as doctor and nursing services, x-rays, hospitalization, home health care, and lab and x-ray services. Some states may also extend patients' prescription drug coverage, physical therapy, dental services, and medical transportation.