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Friday, July 10, 2009

Medicare Health Insurance Programs For Seniors

By Anthony Simpson

The original Medicare benefit program, passed in 1965, was comprised of two parts. Part A contained the hospital part of the Medicare insurance coverage. Part B, specified the medical part of the Medicare insurance coverage. Parts C and D were later added to address additional health concerns.

Medicare insurance Part A is insurance covering hospital stays at least 72 hours long, depending on time of admission and release. Furthermore, it pays for nursing home stays on the condition that the stay is related to a covered hospital stay, and that both the nursing supervision and nursing both require skilled personnel. Medicare insurance Part A part is paid for by the beneficiary's (and their employer's) periodic payroll tax deductions during his or her working career.

Part B is an optional benefit of Medicare. Pat B includes many medical services and medical providers not covered by Part A. This means that lab tests, visits to the doctor, particular outpatient procedures, flu vaccinations and more are covered by Part B of Medicare insurance.

Part A is completely free, however, Part B requires a monthly premium. When you are notified that you can have Medicare insurance just before you turn 65, you must choose whether or not you would like Part B coverage. You must pay $88.50 for Part B premiums as of 2006.

Part C Medicare insurance gave Medicare members the option to receive medical care through private insurance plans in beginning in 1997. The private plans replaced Part A/B Medicare insurance coverage. In 2003, the private plan changed and they were called Medicare Advantage (MA) Medicare insurance plans.

On January 1, 2006, Part D Medicare insurance was activated. Those already eligible for Parts A and B were therefore already eligible to participate in the new Part D prescription drug plan. The Medicare insurance benefit of Part D allowed members to subscribe to one of many private insurance prescription drug plans.

Part D Medicare insurance allowed members to pay less for their prescriptions. Like Part B, Part D Medicare insurance required the member to pay a monthly premium. Unfortunately, each of the private insurance prescription drug plans had varying restrictions and caused a great deal of confusion among those trying to choose a plan.

Sadly, some agencies in the government predict Medicare will be bankrupt by 2018. It is apparent that retiring workers are using insurance quicker than current workers are able to pay in.

In 2005, the Medicare insurance program provided coverage to an estimated 42.5 million persons. The "Baby Boom" generation, once fully retired and enrolled in Medicare insurance, is expected to swell the ranks of the Medicare insurance members to approximately 77 million persons around the year 2031.

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