Archive for the ‘Medicare Card Replacement’ Category
Part A (Hospital Insurance) Helps Pay For:
Care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities that give limited outpatient and inpatient services to people in rural areas), skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care), hospice care, and some home health care. Information about your coverage under Medicare Part A can be found in the Your Medicare Coverage database.
If you aren’t sure if you have Part A, look on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. If you have Part A, “HOSPITAL (PART A)” is printed on your card.
Cost:
Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They don’t have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working.
If you don’t automatically get premium-free Part A, you may be able to buy it if
•You (or your spouse) aren’t entitled to Social Security because you didn’t work or didn’t pay enough Medicare taxes while you worked and you are age 65 or older, or
•You are disabled but no longer get premium-free Part A because you returned to work.
If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A and/or Part B. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov on the web or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call your local RRB office or 1-877-772-5772.
Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren’t yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:
•You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
•You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven’t yet filed for them.
•You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if you have:
•Received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
•End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain requirements.
While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. The Part B monthly premium in 2010 is $110.50. (Note: Most beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 premium amount they pay today. For additional details, see our FAQ titled: Will my Medicare Part B premium increase in 2010?) It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.
Note: You will be eligible for Medicare when you turn 65 even if you are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. For more information, please visit our retirement age FAQ.
If you have questions about your eligibility for Medicare Part A or Part B, or if you want to apply for Medicare, please call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit or call your local Social Security office. TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778. You can also get information about buying Part A as well as Part B if you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A.
You automatically qualify for Extra Help if you have Medicare and meet one of these conditions:
* You have full Medicaid coverage.
* You get help from your state Medicaid program paying your
* Part B premiums (belong to a Medicare Savings Program).
* You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
* Medicare will mail you a purple letter to let you know you automatically qualify for Extra Help. You don’t need to apply for Extra Help if you get this letter.
* Keep the letter for your records.
* If you aren’t already in a plan, you must join a Medicare drug plan to get this Extra Help.
* If you don’t join a drug plan, Medicare may enroll you in one.
* If Medicare enrolls you in a plan, Medicare will send you a yellow or green letter letting you know when your coverage begins.
Different plans cover different drugs. Check to see if the plan you are enrolled in covers the drugs you use and if you can go to the pharmacies you want. Compare with other plans in your area. If you’re getting Extra Help, you can switch to another Medicare drug plan anytime. Your coverage will be effective the first day of the next month. In most cases, you will pay only a small amount for each covered prescription.
If you have Medicaid, Medicare will provide you with prescription drug coverage instead of Medicaid. Medicaid may still cover some drugs that Medicare prescription drug coverage doesn’t cover. Medicaid may still cover other care that Medicare doesn’t cover.
If you have Medicaid and live in certain institutions (like a nursing home), you pay nothing for your covered prescription drugs.
If you qualify, your drug costs in 2010 will be no more than $2.50 for each generic drug and $6.30 for each brand-name drug. Look on the Extra Help letters you get, or contact your plan to find out your exact costs.
You automatically qualify for Extra Help if you have Medicare and meet one of these conditions:
* You have full Medicaid coverage.
* You get help from your state Medicaid program paying your
* Part B premiums (belong to a Medicare Savings Program).
* You get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
* Medicare will mail you a purple letter to let you know you automatically qualify for Extra Help. You don’t need to apply for Extra Help if you get this letter.
* Keep the letter for your records.
* If you aren’t already in a plan, you must join a Medicare drug plan to get this Extra Help.
* If you don’t join a drug plan, Medicare may enroll you in one.
* If Medicare enrolls you in a plan, Medicare will send you a yellow or green letter letting you know when your coverage begins.
There is no charge for a Social Security number and card. If someone contacts you and wants to charge you for getting a number or card, or for any Social Security service, please remember that Social Security services are free. You can report anyone attempting to charge you by calling the Office of the Inspector General hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
How do I make sure my records are accurate?
Each year your employer sends a copy of your W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) to Social Security. They compare your name and Social Security number on the W-2 with the information in their files. They add the earnings shown on the W-2 to your Social Security record.
It is critical that your name and Social Security number on your Social Security card agree with your employer’s payroll records and W-2 so that they can credit your earnings to your record. It is up to you to make sure that both Social Security’s records and your employer’s records are correct. If your Social Security card is incorrect, contact any Social Security office to make changes. Check your W-2 form to make sure your employer’s record is correct and, if it is not, give your employer the accurate information.
Over Age 25 and Not Receiving Benefits
If you are a worker age 25 and older and not receiving benefits, you receive a Social Security Statement every year that summarizes your earnings. Review this Statement to make sure that all your earnings are included. If your Statement does not include all your earnings, let your employer and your Social Security office know about any incorrect information.
According to the National Association of Dental Plans, approximately half of the U.S. population does not have an affordable dental plan. The cost for affordable dental insurance can vary. Therefore, it is important to understand all your options in obtaining the most affordable dental plan coverage.
The company where you work may provide the most affordable dental insurance plan options. Dental insurance plans for individual and families are usually an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) or a PPO (Preferred Provided Organization) and operate much like traditional health insurance organizations.
Cosmetic dentistry may help you to get your best smile at any age. One of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures to a perfect smile is bonding. Cosmetic dental bonding is a fairly painless procedure usually performed in one dental visit by applying an enamel like material to your teeth which is then shaped, hardened with a special light and polished.
For a more dramatic smile, porcelain veneers can make a drastic difference. With veneers, you can control the color, position, shape, and size of your new teeth which can correct crooked, worn, or chipped teeth. This procedure can cost between $1,200 – $3,500 per tooth.
Cosmetic dentistry insurance coverage is not afforded by most dental insurance companies. If you are with a group dental insurance company through your employer, you may want to inquire if cosmetic dentistry insurance coverage is provided under your dental plan.
Cosmetic dental coverage is normally provided by discount dental plans. Discount dental plans usually cover 15 to 20 percent of the cosmetic dental care cost.
Similar to medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans are often categorized as either Indemnity or managed-care plans. Dental insurance functions in the similar manner to that of an auto insurance in providing you compensation. Dental Insurance Plan Choices – Indemnity Plan: An indemnity dental insurance plan allows you to select your own individual or family dental dentist.
Individual dental insurance plans differ in the level of reimbursement offered for certain procedures and in annual dental spending caps. Dental Insurance Plans and Programs Dental health is extremely important for individuals and families and it’s financially helpful to have some form of dental coverage to minimize the costs of dental care.
What is a DHMO dental network?
When one is insured with an HMO medical plan the term means a health maintenance organization. In the dental industry the title is similar except that the DHMO refers to a dental health maintenance organization instead. Dentist in a DHMO belong to a network and if you are a client in that network then in theory you can see any dentist within the network.
Just remember, the administrator of the DHMO or the company that manages the plan pays the dental office once a month, normally based on a per person fixed amount rate.
Before Mickey Rooney passed away in 2014, he did something brave. The movie star that played over 200 roles stood before Congress and gave a heartbreaking testimony.
Rooney confessed to being a victim of elder abuse in 2011. He believed that if a celebrity like him could be physically and verbally abused, then it can happen to anyone. The actor revealed his stepson held him hostage in his own home.
Whenever he tried to speak out he was silenced by his abuser.
“When a man feels helpless, it is terrible. And I was helpless,” Rooney said. “For years I suffered silently, unable to muster the courage to seek the help I knew I needed.”
Rooney’s stepson took control of all of his money, took his identification so he couldn’t travel, was verbally abusive, and deprived him of medicine and food. He even took his Oscar and his Emmy. Rooney felt like a prisoner in his own home until he filed a restraining order against the monster.
Finally, Rooney courageously shared his story to beg Congress to take a stance against elder abuse. Each year over 2 million elderly people will become victims of abuse.
According to the Administration on Aging, these are the signs of elder abuse:
Bruises, bedsores, broken bones, or burns
Depression or unexplained changes in behavior such as withdrawing from activities
Sudden changes in finances
Poor hygiene, sudden weight loss
Strained or tense relationships between the elderly and a family member or the caretaker
To learn more about elder abuse please visit AOA.gov or call 1-800-677-1116.
Nation’s Oldest And Largest Dental Network
Under the Delta Dental Premier program you have in-network and out-of network coverage. Coverage is administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company, part of the nation’s oldest and largest dental benefits system. Over 50 years of experience, Delta Dental is the leader in providing cost-effective, flexible dental coverage to employer groups and organizations of all sizes. If you are looking for individual or family dental coverage, just put your zip code and an instant quote will be provided to you.
Some of the Dental Insurance Plans
If you are looking for individual dental coverage, we can find a local Delta Dental plan; to submit a customer service inquiry, find a dentist or your local Delta Dental member company. We offer several product information pages on our web site to help you learn more about Delta Dental Premier, Delta Dental PPO, DeltaCare and other national products. With over 50 years of experience, Delta Dental is the leader in providing cost-effective, flexible dental coverage to employer groups and organizations of all sizes.
Three out of four dentists participates with a member company of the Delta Dental Plans Association. Please note, the Delta Dental PPO program requires you use a network provider for dental services. Under the Delta Dental Premier program you have in-network and out-of network coverage. Although in-network dentists will submit your claims for you, you may need to submit claims directly to Delta Dental if you visit an out-of-network dentist.
Individual dental insurance plan is a very great way to cover yourself at reduced costs. With dental insurance plans for you and your family, we can help make it easier to keep your smile healthy. Our individual dental insurance plans provide you with the coverage you need to promote good dental health. We feature a wide variety of dental insurance plans. Some dental plans are administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company, part of the nation’s oldest and largest dental benefits system.
For your dental health, you need to take care of two things — Your daily dental teeth care: A well planned dental insurance plan. We will provide you with that information, what are the most affordable dental insurance plans around, making terms such as insurance quotes, direct reimbursement, family discount options, financial availability and premium capitation a breeze. There is a difference between traditional dental insurance plans and discount plans.
Bruxism or other wise know as teeth grinding, is a serious dental issue that needs to be address by your dentist. Teeth grinding can wear teeth down over time, as well as chip or crack your teeth. It is most often caused by stress and sleeping habits, which can make this dental issue hard to control. Avoiding hard foods during the day can reduce pain and damage from this habit. Wearing a mouth guard at night can prevent the damage caused by grinding while sleeping.
Shop And Save By Buying Online
The first company to enable individuals to both comparison-shop and apply for dental health insurance and discount protection directly via the Internet. Medicarecard. com is a provider of free quotes and advice for buying dental health insurance and discount plans that provide group, family and individual coverage. There also are other dental health insurance key terms, such as predetermination of costs and annual benefits limitations.
A direct reimbursement dental health insurance plan reimburses participants on the amount they spend on any dental service rather than covering the type of service performed. In dental health insurance, usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) is used to determine how much of the cost of a dental service an insurance company will agree to pay.
I recommend you consider reviewing the insurance company’s dental health insurance plans as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) which has a brief, but informative, description of usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) in regard to dental health insurance. It’s just one easy step to get your dental heath insurance quote. Please put your zip code to get your instant dental health insurance quote, and let Medicarecard.com do the work for you.
Are Invisalign Braces – Covered By Orthodontic Insurance
Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, each patient should review their orthodontic insurance coverage. However, if a patient has orthodontic insurance, Invisalign Braces should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces. Most insurance companies cover most or all of the most of Invisalign, treating it as if you got traditional braces.
Comparable To That Of Traditional Braces
The cost of the Invisalign treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. The cost depends on the severity of your malocclusion and how may aligners, time, and effort, it will take to fix your teeth. However, only your dentist can determine the actual cost of treatment because it will be based on your specific needs, including how extensive your dental problems are, how long your treatment will last, etc.
Treatment with Invisalign may cost as much as 20 to 50 percent more than traditional orthodontic treatments. Geographic locations of orthodontist also effects the average Invisalign cost. You should inquire directly with your insurance company to determine whether the cost of Invisalign is fully or partially covered.
If you have been considering orthodontic treatment with, rather than traditional braces, you should find an orthodontist to discuss Invisalign cost and determine whether you are a candidate for the procedure. Many dentists also offer financing for Invisalign and can bring the cost down to easy monthly payments.