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NC Medicare

NC Medicare is health insurance for individuals that are age 65 or older, are under age 65 but have certain disabilties that qualifies them for Medicare, or folks any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).  There are 4 main parts to Medicare which will be briefly summarized below.  Please watch this video for a great presentations on the basics of Medicare:

Now let's briefly look at each part:

Part A

This is also know as Hospital Insurance and helps cover inpatient care in hospitals.  Also helps cover skilled nursing facility, hospice, and home health care.  This coverage is free for those people (or their spouses) that have at least 40 quarters of paying into Medicare through their employer. With this coverage only you are exposed to a lot of out of pocket expenses.  For complete details on this coverage please visit our page on NC Medicare Part A.

 

Part B

This is referred to as Medical Insurance and helps cover the doctor's bills and other health care provider's services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and home health care.  In addition some preventive services are also covered. This coverage you pay monthly, usually through your social security check, and for most people new to Medicare will cost $121.80 per month for 2016.  It is not required that you purchase Part B coverage but is strongly recommended...in fact if you are planning on purchasing a NC Medicare Supplement or a NC Medicare Advantage Plan to supplement your coverage you must purchase Part B.  To learn more about this coverage and all that it intails please visit our page on NC Medicare Part B.

 

Part C

This is also referred to as Medicare Advantage (MA).  This is health insurance offered through private health insurance companies that are contracted by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to administer your Part A and Part B coverage.  Many of these plans cover Medicare prescription drugs (Part D).  For many that have been on group health insurance plans in the past this coverage will feel similar in that you have copays, deductibles and coinsurance with the plan.  Some of these plans cost as little a $0/month and depends largely on the benefits and network.  For more detailed information please visit our page dedicated to Medicare Advantage Plans in NC.

 

Part D

This is Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and is also administered by private health insurance companies.  Depending on the carrier you will typically have copays for certain drugs up to a certain amount, then you will go in the "donut hole" which you will be responsible for up to a certain amount before the benefits kick in again. For more detailed information please visit our page dedicated to Medicare Part D North Carolina.

 

That sum's up the four basic parts of NC Medicare. Throughout the website you will learn more detailed information on each component and the supplements available to you to keep you from losing your life savings during your glory years of retirement.