How Can I Apply for Medicare?

Besides finding a good gym and exercising regularly, Medicare is a lifesaver for many Americans, because it provides health care to qualifying citizens who would otherwise go uncovered. As a form of federal social insurance, there are certain requirements that one must meet in order to qualify for Medicare coverage. Fortunately, these requirements are easy to understand, which makes the process of applying for Medicare coverage into a fairly straightforward one.

Medicare coverage falls into two distinct parts, with Part A dealing with hospital insurance and Part B accounting for medical insurance. Medicare Part A will cover your inpatient care costs, plus 100 days of any additional care that you might need at a nursing facility. Additionally, Medicare Part A will cover portions of your hospice facility costs and even some at-home health care costs. Medicare Part B will pay for your in-office visits with doctors and family specialists, as well as any outpatient or physical therapy care that you might need.

People Who Qualify for Medicare

The primary groups of people that Medicare has been designed for are Americans over the age of 65 years old. If you've reached the age of 65 and you or your spouse have worked for at least 10 years with a company that offers Medicare coverage, your application process should be easy. Part A is generally available at no cost to anyone who qualifies for Medicare. If you are also receiving Social Security payments, you can have Medicare Part B deducted from those checks.

Certain people under the age of 65 can also qualify for Medicare coverage. If you are terminally disabled or suffer from a kidney disease, you too can apply for Medicare coverage. Most of the same rules will apply to you that apply to those who are over the age of 65. You or your spouse will need to have worked for at least 10 years with a company that offers Medicare coverage to its employees. Just as with your 65-and-over counterparts, Part A of your coverage will be free and Part B will be deductible if you're receiving Social Security payments.

If you've been receiving Social Security in advance of your 65th birthday, you'll receive a Medicare card in the mail three months before you turn 65. If you're not already on Social Security, you'll need to apply for Medicare yourself at least three months before turning 65. Either way, the process for getting Medicare coverage should be fairly easy if you meet all of the requirements and provide the necessary paperwork.

Getting Started on Your Application

To get the wheels in motion on your Medicare coverage, you'll need to call the 1-800 Social Security number and ask for an enrollment form. You could also download the Medicare application forms online or simply walk down to your local Social Security office to pickup the papers. In preparation for your application, you should set aside all the relevant documents that you'll need to show before they'll activate your Medicare coverage. These documents include your birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card and proof of any other insurance policies you might have. If you qualify for Medicare coverage due to a disability, you'll also need to bring the names of any doctors you've had and the clinics you've visited.

Medicare is a convenient means of health care coverage for the people who qualify. Regardless of whether you qualify at the present time, you should think about fulfilling the requirements for a future date. Unless you have a different plan for seeing yourself through, Medicare coverage might be your lifesaver in the years to come.

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