Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan

Medicare Part D

This video was created in 2011. Dollar amounts cited have changed for 2012. Changes are:
Initial coverage stage increased to $2930
Coverage Gap increased to $4700
Maximum deductible increased to $320

First Medicare Beneficiary

On Facebook, Medicare Answers From Connie asked:  Who was the first Medicare beneficiary?

Tony Pallcaorolla - 0 people picked this one
Former President Harry Truman - 1 person picked this one
Ida May Fuller - 2 people picked this one

Former President Harry Truman was officially the first Medicare beneficiary. President Lyndon Johnson enrolled President Truman and presented him with the first Medicare card. Truman's wife Bess was the second person to enroll. Thank you for participating!

When did Medicare Start?

On Facebook, Medicare Answers From Connie asked:  When did Medicare Start?

July 1, 1966 - 7 people chose this one
April 30, 1942 - 2 people chose this one
In 1814, AFTER we took a little trip with Col. Jackson down the mighty Mississip - 0 people chose this one

July 1, 1966 is the correct answer! President Lyndon Johnson signed the Medicare Program in to law on July 30, 1965 and beneficiaries began receiving benefits the next year. Thank you for participating!

Medicare Eligibility While Employed

Medicare Benefits While Employed

Question: At what age can you sign up for Medicare without retiring?

Answer: You become eligible for Medicare at age 65 (unless you were eligible earlier due to a disability). Your employment status at age 65 and older has no effect on your eligibility for Medicare. Most people receive Medicare Part A automatically and premium free, so long as they or a spouse have worked and accumulated minimum credits. Enrollment in Medicare Part B is not automatic unless you are already receiving Social Security benefits. You also must pay a premium for Medicare Part B. If you continue to work past age 65, which many people are doing now, you may have some additional options for health insurance with your employer. These options can effect whether or not you enroll in Medicare Part B at age 65.

2012 UPDATE:  Enrollment in Medicare Part A is no longer automatic unless you are receiving or have signed up to begin receiving Social Security Benefits. Medicare Part A IS premium free as long as you or a spouse have earned minimum work credits (40). You will need to enroll in BOTH Medicare Part A and B at age 65 unless you qualify for an exception.

For answers to your Medicare Questions or to request quotes on a Medicare Supplement or Part D Drug plan visit www.MedicareAnswersfromConnie.com.

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Medicare Part B and Mammograms

Medicare Part B and Mammograms

Question: How does Medicare pay on a mammogram?

Answer: Mammograms are covered under Medicare Part B. Medicare will cover one screening mammogram every 12 months for women 40 and older. If your doctor accepts Medicare assignment, you pay nothing for this service. If you have a situation where your doctor is ordering a more frequent mammogram, that coverage is determined on a case by case basis, based on your condition diagnosis. More frequent mammograms may be subject to the Medicare Part B deductible and coinsurance. This coverage is enhanced in 2011 as of the healthcare reform bill being enacted.

Medicare Part B and Surgical Benefits

Medicare Part B and Surgical Benefits

Question: I have a growth on the left side of my face that is beginning to itch. This growth has been there for some time and also interferes with the comfort of my glasses arm that fits over my ear. This growth has been removed at different stages, but keeps coming back and is quite large and uncomfortable now. What part of Medicare will pay for removal of this?

Answer: Medicare Part B covers surgical procedures. There is a Medicare Part B deductible of $162 for the calendar year, and then you pay 20% of the Medicare allowable charge.

Generally, a procedure considered purely "cosmetic" is not covered. I doubt that a condition causing abnormal growth on your skin is purely cosmetic. However, it is important to ask your doctor if the condition causing the growth and the surgical removal of the growth is covered by Medicare. It is always a good idea to have your doctor confirm if a prescribed treatment is covered by your insurance. There is nothing wrong with asking them that question. Your doctor's office can call Medicare with a diagnosis code and confirm coverage.

Medicare Part B Enrollment

Medicare Part B Enrollment

Question: I took the early Social Security option and receive a monthly stipend. I've been told, somewhere, that because I am already on SS payments, I need to do nothing to be signed on for Medicare. I turn 65 on 8/10/11.

Answer:  Generally, if you are receiving Social Security Benefits, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B when you turn 65. I have had clients who had a glitch somewhere in the process so I always advise people to check with Social Security to make sure you are enrolled. You should receive a letter in the mail a couple months (sometime in May/ June for you) before your birth month letting you know you are enrolled in Medicare Part B with instructions about what to do if you wish to postpone enrollment. You get Medicare Part A, in most cases, without a premium so it begins automatically. If you don't receive your letter by mid-June, give Social Security a call (1-800-772-1213) to make sure you are set.