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Iowa residents who are over the age of 65 are eligible for Medicare insurance from the state. This can be obtained by going through the local health department or welfare office. The Iowa Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility program (FLEX) and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) re-authorized the FLEX program.
The FLEX program consists of five core components:Iowa's FLEX program is intended to preserve access to primary and emergency health care services, improve quality of rural health services, provide health services that meet community needs, and foster a health delivery system that is both efficient and effective.
285,000 people in Iowa are currently uninsured, and 35% of those residents are seniors. Providing health care to coverage to this uninsured population would costs state residents an estimated $550 million a year, according to a consultant's estimates.Get a quote today for senior health insurance plans for seniors in Iowa >>
It is important that you do as much research as possible before you reach the eligible age for Medicare coverage; this way you will be prepared when it is time to apply. You can find out this information online or by asking a health care physician or other professional in the industry. There are two types of 'original' Medicare plans available - Part A and Part B. Some of the elderly in the state of Iowa decide to go with private plans (which include Part C and Medigap) to go along with their Medicare coverage.
Make sure that when you are approved during the application process for Medicare that you go over the policy to ensure that you will get all the benefits you need. Then if you have a primary physician that you are already seeing, ask to make sure that he or she accepts your specific Medicare plan before going for another appointment. If you use medications, make sure that they are covered under your policy; Original Medicare (Part A and B) no longer covers prescription drugs, so you'll probably need a Medigap, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part D plan* to cover any prescription drugs you may need. It is a good idea to go over this with your insurance agent beforehand, so that you can apply for the right Medicare plan for your needs.Tired of paying too much for coverage? Request a quote for Iowa seniors health coverage >>
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Start on your path to living healthy with Iowa Medicare plans >>
* You may be able to get extra help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for getting extra help, call:
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week;
The Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY/TDD users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or Your State Medicaid Office
Dental or vision options can be added to your
coverage.
Living longer means paying more for health care.
A woman who retires at 65 can expect to maintain her health until the age of 84, on average.2
Men who expect high health costs after they turn 65 end up retiring – on average – 13 months later than those who don't.3