Medicare

Medicare is a Federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older and for people who younger than 65 who have certain disabilities.

People who are younger than age 65 are eligible for Medicare if they have been entitled to Social Security disability benefits for 24 consecutive months; or railroad retirement benefits, based on disability, for 29 consecutive months; or they are insured under Social Security or railroad retirement system and need dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. Spouses or children of insured people may also be eligible if they need maintenance dialysis or a kidney transplant.

There are three parts to the Medicare program: Hospital insurance (Part A) helps pay for inpatient hospital care, some inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, home health care, and hospice care. Medical Insurance (Part B) helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment, and a number of other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A. Part D covers prescription drugs. Coverage is available through private insurance plans. There is assistance for people with limited resources and income to pay for Part D coverage. Call Social Security to find out if you are eligible for this assistance.

NEW MEDICARE CARDS In April 2018, Medicare started mailing new cards to everyone who receives Medicare benefits. New cards will no longer use social security numbers; each card will have a unique Medicare ID. Individuals are not required to do anything and there is no charge for new cards. Coverage and benefits will remain the same. QUALIFIED MEDICARE BENEFICIARY PROGRAM The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (Q.M.B.) Program is a federal program which pays Medicare Part A hospital premiums, co-insurance, and deductibles for income-eligible Medicare recipients. The general eligibility requirements include the following:

Must be eligible for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance)

Monthly income equal to or less than $581 for a person who is unmarried or who he is not living with a spouse, or $786 for a married person living with a spouse

If an SSI/SSP recipient, the monthly grant must be $153 or more

Value of property owned may not exceed $4,000 for a single person or $6,000 for a married person living with his or her spouse (the applicant's home and one car used for transportation are not counted)

MediCal benefits received after age 65 are recoverable by the state after the person's death if the person does not leave a surviving spouse, minor children, or totally disabled child.