Medicare and You Handbook 2021
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Medicare The official U.S. government & You Medicare handbook 2022 What’s new & important? COVID-19-related items & services Medicare covers several items and services related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), like vaccines, diagnostic tests, antibody tests, and monoclonal antibody treatments. See page 37. Cognitive assessment & care plan services Medicare covers a cognitive assessment to help detect the earliest signs of cognitive impairment. Your doctor may perform this assessment during a routine visit. If you show signs of cognitive impairment, Medicare also covers a separate visit with your regular doctor or specialist to do a full review of your cognitive function, establish or confirm a diagnosis like dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, and develop a care plan. See page 34. Blood-based biomarker test Medicare covers this screening test for colorectal cancer, in certain cases, once every 3 years. See page 36. Medicare.gov updates We’re making updates to Medicare.gov throughout the year to improve your online experience. We’re focused on making it easier to find and use the information you need. Help in accessible formats and additional languages You can get the “Medicare & You” handbook in an accessible format at no cost to you. See page 107. To get free help in a language other than English, see pages 125–126. 3 Contents What’s new & important? .........................................................................................................2 What are the parts of Medicare? .......................................................................................... 4 Your Medicare options ...............................................................................................................5 At a glance: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage ............................................6 Get started with Medicare ........................................................................................................8 Get the most out of Medicare .................................................................................................9 Index of topics .............................................................................................................................10 Section 1: Signing up for Medicare .....................................................................................15 Section 2: Find out if Medicare covers your item or service .................................. 25 Medicare & COVID-19 .......................................................................................................... 37 Section 3: Original Medicare ................................................................................................ 57 Section 4: Medicare Advantage Plans & other options .............................................61 Section 5: Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) ........................................... 75 Section 6: Medicare drug coverage (Part D) .................................................................79 Section 7: Get help paying your health & drug costs ................................................91 Section 8: Know your rights & protect yourself from fraud ...................................97 Section 9: Get more information .....................................................................................109 Section 10: Definitions .......................................................................................................... 121 Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check the “Index of topics” starting on page 10. Symbol key Look for these symbols throughout this book to help you understand your Medicare coverage options: Compare: Shows Important! Important: Highlights comparisons between information that’s Original Medicare and important to review. Medicare Advantage Plans. New! New: Highlights information Cost & coverage: Gives that’s new in this year’s information about costs “Medicare & You.” and coverage for services. Preventive service: Gives information about preventive services. 4 What are the parts of Medicare? Part A (Hospital Insurance) Helps cover: • Inpatient care in hospitals • Skilled nursing facility care • Hospice care • Home health care See pages 25–29. Part B (Medical Insurance) Helps cover: • Services from doctors and other health care providers • Outpatient care • Home health care • Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment) • Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits) See pages 29–54. Part D (Drug coverage) Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage (Part D) are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare. See pages 79–90. Replace your Medicare card If you need to replace your Medicare card because it’s damaged or lost, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account at Medicare.gov to print or order an official copy of your Medicare card. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and ask for a replacement card to be sent in the mail. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. 5 Your Medicare options When you first enroll in Medicare and during certain times of the year, you can choose how you get your Medicare coverage. There are 2 main ways to get Medicare: Original Medicare Medicare Advantage • Original Medicare includes Medicare (also known as Part C) Part A (Hospital Insurance) and • Medicare Advantage is a Part B (Medical Insurance). Medicare-approved plan from a • You can join a separate Medicare private company that offers an drug plan to get Medicare drug alternative to Original Medicare for coverage (Part D). your health and drug coverage. These • You can use any doctor or hospital “bundled” plans include Part A, that takes Medicare, anywhere in Part B, and usually Part D. the U.S. • In most cases, you’ll need to use • To help pay your out-of-pocket costs doctors who are in the plan’s network. in Original Medicare (like your 20% • Plans may have lower out-of-pocket coinsurance), you can also shop for costs than Original Medicare. and buy supplemental coverage. • Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover—like vision, hearing, and dental services. Part A Part B Part A You can add: Part B Part D Most plans include: You can also add: Part D Supplemental coverage Some extra benefits This includes Medicare Supplement Insurance Some plans also include: (Medigap). See Section 5 (starting on page 75) to learn Lower out-of-pocket more about Medigap. Or, you costs can use coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid. See Section 4 (starting on page 61) to learn more about See Section 3 (starting on Medicare Advantage. page 57) to learn more about Original Medicare. 6 AT A GLANCE Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage Doctor & hospital choice Original Medicare Medicare Advantage (Part C) You can go to any doctor or hospital In many cases, you’ll need to only use that takes Medicare, anywhere in doctors and other providers who are in the U.S. the plan’s network (for non-emergency care). Some plans offer non-emergency coverage out of network, but typically at a higher cost. In most cases, you don’t need a referral You may need to get a referral to see to see a specialist. a specialist. Cost Original Medicare Medicare Advantage (Part C) For Part B-covered services, you usually Out-of-pocket costs vary—plans pay 20% of the Medicare-approved may have different out-of-pocket costs amount after you meet your deductible. for certain services. This is called your coinsurance. You pay a premium (monthly payment) You pay the monthly Part B premium for Part B. If you choose to join a and may also have to pay the plan’s Medicare drug plan, you’ll pay a separate premium. Plans may have a $0 premium premium for your Medicare drug and may help pay all or part of your coverage (Part D). Part B premium. Most plans include Medicare drug coverage (Part D). There’s no yearly limit on what you Plans have a yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket, unless you have pay out of pocket for services Medicare supplemental coverage—like Medicare Part A and Part B covers. Once you Supplement Insurance (Medigap). reach your plan’s limit, you’ll pay nothing for services Part A and Part B covers for the rest of the year. You can get Medigap to help pay your You can’t buy and don’t need Medigap. remaining out-of-pocket costs (like your 20% coinsurance). Or, you can use coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid. 7 Coverage Original Medicare Medicare Advantage (Part C) Original Medicare covers most medically Plans must cover all of the medically necessary services and supplies in necessary services that Original hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other Medicare covers. Most plans offer some health care facilities. Original Medicare extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover some benefits like eye doesn’t cover—like some routine exams exams, most dental care, and routine and vision, hearing, and dental services. exams. See page 55. You can join a separate Medicare drug Medicare drug coverage (Part D) is plan to get Medicare drug coverage included in most plans. In most types (Part D). of Medicare Advantage Plans, you can’t join a separate Medicare drug plan. In most cases, you don’t have to get a In some cases, you have to get a service service or supply approved ahead of or supply approved ahead of time for time for Original Medicare to cover it. the plan to cover