Category: Medicare

McBride Benefit Solutions aims for seniors in Florence, AL, to savor and enhance their Medicare coverage, hence maintaining their health as they age. This blog explains what Medicare parts do and the role of supplemental insurance.

Free Coverage Covers Hospital Stays

Upon reaching 65 years of age, the U.S. government provides you with free Medicare coverage, known as Part A. It requires signing up, but after that, it covers your hospital stays, hospice care, and skilled nursing facilities. In some cases, it extends to home health care as well.

Covering Day-to-Day Medical Care

Preventative care aids Alabamans in staying out of the hospital. However, you must choose and finance the Part B coverage that compensates for annual doctor visits, wellness programs, etc. When registering for Medicare, you decide if you wish to add this coverage—you cannot insert it at a later date.

Prescription Drug Coverage

Contrary to expectations, this coverage isn’t called Part C but rather Part D. It focuses on making medication more affordable. Similar to Part B, you need to select to add Part D when you register for Medicare—inclusion at a later date isn’t permitted.

Other Supplemental Coverage

As situations evolve, consider a supplemental insurance plan if you didn’t have the means to shoulder the high premiums for government coverage of Parts B and D when you registered for Medicare. Medicare recipients have the option to purchase private insurance. Let McBride Benefit Solutions help you discover an affordable alternative to Parts B and D, enabling you to relish high-quality medical care in Florence, AL, as you advance in years.

Did you know you could qualify for Medicare before you reach the age of 65? Various factors come into play when qualifying for government insurance coverage. If you become disabled and unable to work at a younger age, you could start getting Medicare benefits. Our insurance professionals at McBride Benefit Solutions, serving Florence, AL, could help you analyze your options when shopping for a Medicare plan.

You Must Have a Qualifying Disability

It’s not enough to have a basic injury to qualify for Medicare.  If you become disabled, your condition must inhibit you from working again or performing everyday functions.  Some common examples of serious disabilities that could qualify for early Medicare coverage are Parkinson’s Disease, Heart Disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Lupus Disease.  If you become diagnosed with an illness that is expected to last at least a year at a young age, you may qualify for Medicare coverage.

You Must Already be Receiving Social Security Disability Benefits

When you become diagnosed with a disability, before you start getting Medicare benefits, you’ll likely start receiving a monthly benefit that replaces lost wages from not working regularly called Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI).  You must be getting SSDI benefits for 24 months before you can start getting Medicare.  You’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B and start receiving insurance.  However, if you’ve been diagnosed with ALS or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), you will start receiving Medicare soon after you get SSDI.

Enroll in a Local Program to Help You Understand your Options

If you’ve been struggling to understand Medicare and its benefits, there’s a local program in Alabama that can help you in that area.  The Alabama State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is composed of volunteers and counselors who are here for you to help you understand your Medicare options.  They also could help you in figuring out if you qualify for early coverage.

Contact Us for More Medicare Information

While the SHIP program is great in assisting you to better understand the Medicare program, our insurance professionals could take it one step further in helping you decide on a plan.  When you’re ready to take that step, contact our Florence, AL office at McBride Benefit Solutions today.     

Medicare has continued to be a primary form of insurance coverage for senior citizens all over the country. While Medicare is a helpful form of insurance coverage, you could quickly find that there are a lot of options to consider when you are building a policy. There are various factors that you should think about when you are looking for a new Medicare insurance plan.  

Coverage Options

When you are looking for a new Medicare insurance plan, one important factor to think about is your coverage options. While most people will get Medicare Part A, you should also think about getting Parts B, C, and D, each of which offers different forms of coverage. The need to obtain this coverage will vary based on your situation and risk factors and if you need regular medication.

Provider Networks

You may also consider getting a Medicare Advantage Plan. One of these plans can be more cost-effective and offer more coverage. However, there are often networks and rules that need to be abided by to receive full coverage when you need it. If you are considering this type of coverage, you should evaluate the network to ensure your physician is covered or that other providers have a good reputation and availability to take you on as a patient.  

Looking for Insurance in Florence, AL?

Medicare continues to be a great form of insurance for people throughout the Florence, AL area. When you are enrolling for coverage, you could be surprised by the number of options and choices to make. If you are looking for coverage in this region, you should call our team with McBride Benefit Solutions. With McBride Benefit Solutions, we take pride in helping people assess their various Medicare options and build an ideal plan that would meet their needs.