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CHA can help answer your healthcare questions.

  • Call our helpline at (888) 614-5400 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm,
  • or email cha@cssny.org.

Medicare

Medicare provides health insurance to people over age 65 and people with disabilities without regard to income. Medicare beneficiaries can receive services through Original Medicare or through a Medicare Advantage plan. See the questions below to determine if you qualify for Medicare and if it is the best option for you.

Who qualifies for Medicare?

You may qualify for Medicare if:

  • You are over 65
  • You are under 65 but have a disability or
  • You have Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) or kidney failure (End-stage Renal Disease) and
  • You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

How much does Medicare cost?

Medicare has several parts, Part A, Part B, and Part D, and each part has different costs.

Medicare Part A is premium free for people who have paid into the social security system for 10 years or have 40 quarters of work history. If you have no work history or less than 40 working quarters, you may have to pay a monthly premium.

Medicare Part B premium is $144.60 per month in 2020, but those with a higher income may pay more.

For both part A and B, Medicare will pay 80% of the cost of covered medical services and you will be responsible for 20%.

Medicare Part D premiums and cost-sharing depends on the prescription drug plan you choose.

You may be wondering what happened to Part C. Medicare Part C is known as the Medicare Advantage Plans (MAP). If you decide to enroll in a plan, you will receive both part A and B, (and sometimes D) covered services through your plan. The premium and cost-sharing varies from plan to plan. However, many plans have a $0 premium.

What services will Medicare cover?

Medicare Part A (Hospital/inpatient benefits) covers:

  • Inpatient hospital care
  • Inpatient skilled nursing facility care
  • Hospice care
  • Lab tests
  • Surgery
  • Home health care

Medicare Part B (Doctors/Outpatient benefits) covers:

  • Outpatient care
  • Doctors’ services
  • Preventive care
  • Durable medical equipment

Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs.

How do I enroll in Medicare?

You may apply for Medicare by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or by applying on-line at: https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/. If you need assistance enrolling into Medicare or want more information, please contact CHA at 888-614-5400.

Resources

  • Medicare website

    You may apply for Medicare by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or by applying on-line at:

CHA can help answer your healthcare questions.

  • Call our helpline at (888) 614-5400 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm,
  • or email cha@cssny.org.

Healthcare Q&A

Read short articles that answer frequently asked questions about healthcare and insurance. Find out how CHA has helped others, and can help you. Choose a topic: