Article by Tyler W. West
It is likely that you or someone you know has Medicare. Medicare is an etitlement program, that provides health insurance for U.S. citizens. United States citizens become eligable for Medicare in their birth month the year they turn 65. Persons recieving disability benefits are also eligable for Medicare after a 2 year waiting period. Medicare eligables are entitled to Medicare Part A, and will not incure a premium, while Part B of Medicare is available for a low premium (.40 in 2009). To be entitled to Medicare Part A, a U.S. citizen would have worked (paid taxes) a minimum of 10 years within the U.S. In 2003, congress pased a bill that gives those intitled to Medicare, perscription drug coverage. The U.S. governement offers 3 types of drug plans, while private insurance companies are also allowed to offer these 3 types of plans. The same bill that allowed prescrition drug coverage, also allowed private insurance companies to offer plans that would take the place of Medicare Parts A&B. These plans, called Advantage Plans, take you off origanal Medicare and places you in Medicare Part C. A Medicare eligable can always go back to origanal Medicare if they so choose. Advantage Plans are supposed to offer “as good, or better” coverage than that of origanal Medicare. Those who choose to keep origanal Medicare will find several out of pocket expenses they can incure. These expenses can become quite costly. Many individuals on Medicare choose to participate in a Medicare supplement insurance plan offered by private insurance companies. These plans are standardized from company to company and offer several different plans that very in benefits. The most common plans are Plan C, Plan F, and Plan J. Plans F and J pay for all the gaps in Medicare and have become the two most popular plans available. These “medigap” policies range in premium from company to company. It has been reported that Doctors prefer their clints to have origanal Medicare that is supplemented with a medigap plan. To find more information on Medicare, Medicare supplements/Medigap policies, Medicare Drug plans, and Medicare Advantage Plans, visithttp://gowestins.com/medicare-supplement.html
