Medicare Part B
Medicare is a government-backed healthcare insurance program that allows eligible Americans to receive affordable healthcare coverage. Original Medicare, the standard plan, consists of two main coverage types, Medicare Part A, which covers hospital care, and Medicare Part B, which covers medical costs.
Medicare Part B Eligibility and Costs
If you want to receive Medicare Part B coverage, you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be age 65 or older
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. for five continuous years
If you are under the age of 65, it may still be possible to qualify for Medicare coverage. For individuals below age 65, you must meet any of the following requirements to qualify for Medicare Part B coverage:
- Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Diagnosed with end-stage renal disease
- Current recipient of Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits
What Does Medicare Part B Cover?
Medicare Part B offers beneficiaries coverage for medical services, such as doctor’s office visits and preventive care services. These are some of the services Medicare Part B covers:
- Ambulance services
- Clinical research studies
- Radiation or chemotherapy
- Surgeries
- Diagnostic imaging
- Durable medical equipment
- Mental health services in these settings:
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Partial hospitalization
Medicare Part B Enrollment
The best time to enroll in Medicare Part B is during the Initial Enrollment Period.
Initial Enrollment Periods being 3 months before your 65th birthday and end 3 months after your birth month. The period includes your birth month, leaving a total 7-month period for enrollment.
You can also enroll in Medicare Part B during the General Enrollment Period, which falls between January 1st and March 31st. If you choose to enroll during the General Enrollment Period, your coverage will start on July 1st. If you choose to enroll long after you first become eligible, you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty. Therefore, the experts at Proinsurance Hawaii suggest you enroll as soon as you are eligible during the Initial Enrollment Period.
Medicare Part B Costs
Unlike Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B has no premium-free option. Therefore you will always be required to pay a monthly premium. Services covered under Part B also require you to pay annual deductibles, recurring copayments, and coinsurance.
If you expect to enroll in Medicare Part B soon, you may have questions about the process and the related costs. Proinsurance Hawaii has all of the answers you need to make an informed decision. Reach out to us now to start planning your future with Medicare.
