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The original Medicare Plan is a pay-per-visit health plan that allows a beneficiary to all healthcare providers that accept Medicare nationwide. The initial enrollment period (IEP) for Medicare is between 3 months before and after reaching the age of 65; late enrollment will result in penalties. In some cases, disability cases are allowed to enroll before this period, specifically from the 22nd to the 28th month of disability. Costs that must be shouldered by beneficiaries as not covered by Medicare are referred to as coverage "gaps". This is where a Medicare Advantage plan becomes important.
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The Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization and Improvement Act (MMA) passed by Congress in 2003 mandated the inclusion of health coverage options that would be run by private insurance companies that would follow the Medicare Marketing Guidelines established by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This includes Medicare Advantage plans as a supplementary health insurance. Enrollment for first-time Medicare Advantage plan enrollees is from January 1 to March 31 of each year.
General conditions for enrolling in a particular Medicare Advantage plan are:
The choices for Wyoming are somewhat limited. In the city of Cheyenne, for example, of the 22 Medicare-approved Medicare Advantage plans offered there are only three with no monthly premiums but they do not cover prescription drug costs*.
Advantra
Aetna
Blue Cross
Humana
SecureHorizons
Sterling Options
Today’s Options
UniCare
WellCare
WINhealth Partners
* 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