learn more about it
Medicare is an insurance program for:
• People age 65 or older
• People under age 65 with certain disabilities
• People of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant).
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), which helps pay for care in a hospital and skilled nursing facility, home health care, and hospice care
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), which helps pay for doctors, outpatient hospital care, and other medical services.
Most people don't have to pay for Medicare Part A. Most people pay for Medicare Part B.
The following is a listing of the Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates that will be in effect in 2011: Medicare Premiums for 2011:
Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse has 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment. The Part A premium is $248.00 per month for people having 30-39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment. The Part A premium is $450.00 per month for people who are not otherwise eligible for premium-free hospital insurance and have less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
Most beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 or $110.50 premium amount in 2011. Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium in 2011. For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $115.40 in 2011, which is a 4.4% increase over the 2010 premium. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2011 due to possible increases in Part B costs. If your income is above $85,000 (single) or $170,000 (married couple), then your Medicare Part B premium may be higher than $115.40 per month.
You will receive Medicare after you receive disability benefits for 24 months. When you become eligible for disability benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare. They start counting the 24 months from the month you were entitled to receive disability, not the month when you received your first check.
More information on Medicare and Medicaid, can be found through www.medicare.gov and www.cms.hhs.gov.
