What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people age 65 or older, or under age 65 with certain disabilities.  Medicare covers many of your health care needs.  Medicare works with approved private companies that provide different ways to get your health care and prescription drug coverage in the Medicare Program.

Michigan Medicare Plan Choices

The Original Medicare Plan – This is a fee-for-service plan that covers many health care services and certain drugs. You can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. When you get your health care, you use your red, white, and blue Medicare card.

The Original Medicare Plan pays for many health care services and supplies, but it does not pay all of your health care costs. There are costs that you must pay, like coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles. These costs are called “gaps” in Medicare coverage. You might want to consider buying a Medigap policy to cover these gaps in Medicare coverage. You can also add prescription drug coverage by joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

Medicare Part A – Is offered by the federal government and covers inpatient hospital care, including skilled nursing facilities, home health care and hospice.

Medicare Part B - Is also offered by the federal government to help cover doctor service costs and outpatient care. Some preventative services are also covered to help maintain your health and to keep some illnesses from getting worse.

Medicare Part A & Part B are parts of Original Medicare.

Medicare Part C - Also known as Medicare Advantage, are plans offered by private insurance companies. Theses plans replace your Part A and Part B coverages, plus they offer additional benefits that the Original Medicare Plan does not cover. Some companies include Medicare Part D in their Medicare Advantage Plans as well as, dental, vision, hearing, and health and wellness programs.

Medicare Part D - Is the prescription drug coverage offered by the private insurance companies to help lower your prescription drug costs.

Michigan Medicare Advantage Plans– Available in many areas. If you have one of these plans, you don’t need a Medigap policy.

The Michigan Medicare Plan that you choose affects many things like cost, benefits, doctor choice, convenience, and quality.

To compare your Michigan Medicare Health Plan choices, or Michigan Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, talk to Bob Golm. Please go to our contact us page for information on how to reach Golm Insurance Agency.