6 Common Medicare Myths That We All Have Heard
According to the National Academy of Insurance, only about half of senior Americans had health insurance when Medicare was established in 1965. Even though Medicare has been around for nearly 50 years, there are still some misconceptions regarding it. Today, we will debunk some Medicare myths and prevent you from falling for them.
The Facts about Medicare Myths
About 60M people in the United States rely on Medicare to cover their medical expenses. If you are one of them, you may have heard some things about how the program works. It can be perplexing, and comprehending it may necessitate considerable investigation. Unfortunately, there is a lot of false information out there, and getting your Medicare enrollment incorrect can cost you a lot of money. Therefore, it is better to know some Medicare myths and the actual truth to save yourself from any further misconceptions.
Myth # 1: Medicare is free
Misconception: Let us start with the most common Medicare misconception. Medicare is not accessible, contrary to popular belief because of the deductions on their paychecks over the years; many people believe Medicare is free.
Truth: There is no monthly cost for Part A (hospital insurance). For part B (medical insurance), however, the premium is subject to change each year.
Myth # 2: Medicare is available to older adults at any time.
Misconception: It makes no difference when older adults enroll in Medicare; they can do so at any moment, and everything will remain the same.
Truth: If older persons do not enroll during the Initial Enrollment Period, they may face higher rates in the future. The optimal time to register is during the Initial Enrollment Period, which begins 3 months before and ends 3 months right after their 65th birthday month.
Myth # 3: Older Adults living longer will bankrupt Medicare.
Misconception: Long-term care at a nursing home or at-home (custodial) care is the most expensive expense people face as they eventually get older. Medicare does not cover these services. It is a common misconception that as people age, they grow unwell.
Truth: The fact is that older adults who live longer save money for Medicare.
Myth # 4: Medicare’s costs and coverage will remain unchanged.
Misconception: The cost and coverage of Medicare do not change from year to year.
Truth: The truth is that Medicare assesses and adjusts the cost of care every year. Premiums and deductibles are frequently raised. They do, however, occasionally go down.
Myth # 5: You can put off enrolling in Medicare if you have health insurance via your employer
Misconception: You can delay enrolling in Medicare if you have coverage through an employer.
Truth: If your company has 20 or more employees, you can postpone Medicare enrollment without penalty. If you wait too long to enroll, your employer’s group insurance will become your primary insurance, and Medicare will become secondary.
Myth # 6: Medicare and Medicaid are the same things
Misconception: Medicare and Medicaid have the same things to offer.
Truth: It is easy to get Medicare and Medicaid mixed up. Both are government-run healthcare schemes. The federal government is in charge of the Medicare program. Medicaid is a partnership between the federal government and state governments, and it supports low-income individuals, families, pregnant women, and people with disabilities with free or low-cost healthcare.
Endnote
Five and a half million Americans over the age of 65 would not have been eligible for Medicare when it was established. Most people in the United States who have health insurance without Medicare or Medicaid still get it through work. Employers rather than individuals who purchase most health insurance are the primary reasons our healthcare system has become so complex and confusing. Now that you know the Medicare myths, you have a better and more accurate insight on the topic of Medicare, but to know more, you can always go to our website Newmedicare.com.
About Frank Nash
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