5 Tips Every Senior Should Know About Medicare

Updated on September 12, 2022
Kelsey Reedy

By Kelsey Reedy

Health insurance is one of those things that we all need to plan for. We have different stages in life where our medical needs change. When we begin to enter our golden years, one of the major changes is that we become eligible for Medicare. You have to enroll and sign up in order to receive full Medicare benefits, such as the benefits from Mutual of Omaha Medicare supplement plans.

Here are 5 tips that will help you learn more about the Medicare program and your Medicare options.

1. When to Enroll: There are three enrollment periods during which you can sign up for Medicare.

  • Initial Enrollment The first time you can sign up for Medicare is called the Initial Enrollment Period. This is a 7-month window that begins 3 months before your 65th birthday and ends 3 months after your birthday. If you sign up during the Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up for a plan without answering any medical questions.
  • General Enrollment Period If you don’t sign up before you turn age 65 there is General Enrollment Period in which you can sign up between January 1–March 31 each year.
  • Special Enrollment Period Is only available to individuals that meet certain requirements. 

2. Basic Medicare explained– Part A and Part B

  • Medicare Part A helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals. Think of it as hospital insurance.  Medicare Part A will help cover your medical costs when you are already sick. This also includes coverage in critical access hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and home health care. It does not cover long-term care.
  • Medicare Part B covers preventative care and is medical insurance. Think of Part B as in the word Before. Medicare part B covers the costs before you become sick or injured. Routine check-ups with your doctor are the types of expenses covered by Part B.

3. Supplemental Medicare Insurance – Do I need it?

Sometimes there is confusion as to what Medicare will and will not cover. Medicare only covers 80% of the cost for Medicare-covered services. For example, if you are hospitalized and leave with a bill of $10,000 Medicare will only cover 80%, leaving you with a $2,000 bill. You will have to pay that bill out of pocket. In addition, basic Medicare does not include drug coverage. You would have to cover your medication costs out of pocket if you do not have a prescription drug plan.

Types of Medicare Supplemental Plans:

  • Medicare Advantage or Part C: Medicare Advantage plans combine your Part A and Part B coverage and act as your primary insurance. Private insurance companies provide the Medicare Part C coverage. They typically include prescription drug coverage.
  • Medicare Supplement or Medigap: These plans are also known as Medigap Plans because they cover the 20% of costs that Medicare does not cover. There are different plans that provide different levels of coverage.
  • Medicare Prescription Drug or Part D plans help offset the costs associated with your medications. There are different plans with varying costs and coverage. Speak with a Medicare specialist in order to help you find the right plan.

4. Make sure your doctor accepts Medicare. When you enroll in Medicare or any Medicare program, you should ensure that your doctor accepts Medicare insurance and payments.

5. Review your plan annually. The Annual Enrollment Period each year runs from October 15 – December 7.

Insurance plans can change yearly so you cannot just “set it and forget it”. The Annual Enrollment Period is your chance to review your plan and make changes. An annual review of your health insurance can help you understand your current coverage decide better options suited for your needs. You will want to look for a health insurance company that specializes in senior health insurance

Medicare Insurance can be confusing and overwhelming. It is a very important decision for the future of your health and wellbeing. For this reason, it is a good idea to learn much as you can about Medicare to help you make an informed decision about your health care needs. 

Kelsey is the Director of Marketing for My Senior Health Plan in San Diego. My Senior Health Plan is company whose primary focus is providing seniors with health insurance plans and insurance counseling. Their specialty is Medicare plans. Learn more about senior health insurance at My Senior Health Plan.

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2 thoughts on “5 Tips Every Senior Should Know About Medicare”

  1. I think it’s pretty fair that Medicare covers 80% of a medical bill. That way they aren’t always paying for the full amount, and it still leaves us with a bit of responsibility. I’m hoping that my husband and I can get into Medicare when we’re older, I think that it’d help us out a lot. Plus, it’s always good to have insurance, in case of any emergencies.

  2. Thank you for explaining medicare insurance online for all your readers who want to learn about protecting their seniors. I have a father who needs to switch insurance companies, so I think getting medicare might be the best option. I didn’t know that there are different types of medicare options. I think I’ll get my father some Medicare Part A insurance since he’s in the hospital a lot.

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