Introduction
When you turn 65, you'll receive a letter from the federal government that outlines the benefits of Medicare. This healthcare plan helps pay for medical and health-related services for people over 65, who have been previously employed or have had paid into Social Security. However, even though most people know about Medicare as it pertains to hospital visits and cares within their home country, there are still many other options when it comes to maximizing this health plan and getting the best out of your coverage.
We've written this blog post with a focus on how you can maximize your current health plan so that it covers all of your needs and requirements for staying healthy!
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is free for most people and covers hospital care. It's your best option if you don't have health insurance, but it also works well as a secondary plan, especially if you're covered by Medicaid or another low-cost health plan at work or through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
If you have paid into Social Security, Medicare Part A is an option for you. But even if you haven't paid into Social Security, it may be worth considering since Medicare has come to cover other services like home health care, skilled nursing facility visits, and hospice care in recent years.
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B is a supplemental insurance plan that helps people pay for the costs of doctor visits, outpatient hospital care, and some medical services.
Your monthly premiums will be based on your income and you may use a Medicare Savings Program, like Extra Help to pay for your premiums. If you have Medicaid or are in the coverage gap under Medicare Part D's Donut Hole than your premiums will also be covered by Medicaid.
When signing up for Medicare Part B, you can sign up at any time during an open enrollment period which begins every October 15th and lasts until December 7th. You can change plans or add additional plans during this period as well if necessary. There is also an Annual Election Period which takes place from January 1st to March 31st each year and provides an opportunity for those who missed their opportunity during the general enrollment period to enroll in a new plan or switch from one plan type to another without penalty when doing so within this time frame (you must submit applications by February 14th).
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a health plan where you can choose to get your Medicare benefits through private insurance companies that offer Medicare plans. If you choose this option, then you can receive all of your care from an approved provider. This means that if you need to go to the hospital or doctor’s office, they will accept your insurance plan and bill it directly for the service provided.
If you sign up for traditional Medicare (Part A & B), then there are some doctors who won’t accept these plans because they aren’t getting paid enough by insurance companies. These doctors often charge more out-of-pocket for their services than those who do accept traditional Medicare coverage.
With a Medicare Advantage plan, there are still copays and deductibles when using an in-network physician but no extra cost if using an out-of-network physician (unless otherwise specified). There is also no upper limit on out-of-pocket expenses with these plans (like there would be with Original Medicare).
Schedule an annual wellness visit.
One of the best things you can do for your health is making an annual wellness visit.
Annual wellness visits help to keep people on top of their health, allowing them to stay healthy and avoid illness. It allows doctors to examine their patients, check medical records and discuss plans for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It also helps in preventing diseases from becoming chronic conditions by getting them treated early on before they become too serious.
Get your flu shots and recommended vaccines.
You can get your flu shots at your doctor’s office. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu shot every year. People with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to serious illness from the flu. If you have one of these conditions and are over 65 years old (65+), speak to your doctor about getting vaccinated against the flu each year.
Flu shots are also recommended for pregnant women because they protect both mothers and infants from getting sick during their first 6 months of life when their immune systems are still developing.
Stay active by walking or riding a bike 3 times a week
When you're going to be walking or biking, it's important to make sure that you have good shoes. The right footwear can help prevent injuries and keep your feet comfortable throughout the day. If you're walking or biking, make sure that your route is safe and that there are few cars on the road as this will allow you to enjoy what nature has to offer without being distracted by traffic.
You can also try taking a class at an exercise center so that someone else is leading the way and keeping track of how many calories you burn during each session. Additionally, if there are any hills nearby where people tend to walk or bike up during their free time, those may be perfect spots for getting some extra exercise!
Eat healthy foods.
Naturally, you should eat healthy foods. This is one of the most important things to do if you want to maximize your health plan. More info on healthy foods can be found on this Harvard website.
To help you out, here's a list of healthy foods to eat:
● Lettuce
● Tomato
● Carrot
You can maximize your health plan by signing up for the correct plans, optimal physical activity, and the correct eating habits
● Sign up for the correct plans.
● Optimal physical activity.
● Correct eating habits.
● Take advantage of wellness visits.
● Get your flu shots and recommended vaccines.
● Stay active by walking or riding a bike three times a week, at least 10 minutes each time if possible! It's also important to stay physically active throughout life, so if you're not already exercising regularly—or if you haven't done so recently—start slowly and build up gradually until you're doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times per week (or 20 minutes three times weekly). If this sounds like too much right now, start by walking at least 15 minutes every day; once it becomes a habit (and it will!), add some strength training exercises or yoga poses for good measure! Remember: You don't have to do everything all at once; just make sure that whatever activities you choose are enjoyable enough so that they won't feel like chores but instead ways of taking care of yourself!
Conclusion
If you are eligible for Medicare, you can maximize your health plan by signing up for the correct plans, optimal physical activity, and the correct eating habits.
About Preferred Senior Benefits in Meridian, Idaho
Medicare is a federal program that provides healthcare coverage to individuals 65 years or older. Original Medicare coverage is broken into two parts—Part A and Part B—and is accepted by nearly every doctor and hospital in the country. Medicare Part A covers inpatient or hospital stays while Part B covers outpatient or medical care. Together, Part A and B cover about 80% of the typical healthcare costs seniors face. This leaves a few significant gaps in coverage. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans are policies designed to help extend coverage, lessen costs, and ultimately give beneficiaries peace of mind. If you or someone you know would like more information about how to enroll in Original Medicare or one of the Medicare Advantage plans, call now to speak with a licensed agent (208) 818-2523. We can’t wait to help you learn about your options.