Getting to Know Pennsylvania Medicare
Finding out What Medicare Covers
Pennsylvania Medicare is a health insurance policy designed for people that are at least sixty five years old and/or for people that have certain disabilities that prevent them from working. You must meet the Medicare eligibility requirements in order to obtain Medicare. This government sponsored health insurance plan is divided into different categories or parts, based on the various service types. Knowing what each policy option has to offer will ensure that you get the health care coverage that you need.
Medicare Part A is the most common plan option. Through meeting the Medicare eligibility requirements, you are automatically enrolled in Part A. This portion of Medicare provides members with coverage for any inpatient hospital care they receive. To obtain more health coverage you may also choose to enroll in Medicare Part B. This portion of Medicare requires that you to meet a yearly deductible. Part B supplies members with benefits that cover physician services and other professional services. Additionally, some members choose to purchase a Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage Plan. This plan consists of Part A, Part B and a few other specified health benefits. Purchasing this plan will assist you in minimizing some of the out of pocket expenses that you may incur.
Quite often people that are interested in Medicare also opt to purchase the Part D plan. Part D is a prescription drug plan aimed at minimizing expenses related to prescription purchases. With this option, there is a monthly premium the member is required to pay before they can take advantage of their benefits. There are several local insurance companies in Pennsylvania that offer Medicare supplementary policies. Supplementary policies help people that need health care coverage that is more extensive than what is covered in the basic Medicare Plan.
You may be able to get extra help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for getting extra help, call: * 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week; * The Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY/TDD users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or Your State Medicaid Office