One of the most eye-opening facts about Medicare is how much it DOES NOT cover. Need dental services? Eye exams or eyeglasses? Hearing aids and fitting? Routine foot care? None of these items are covered by traditional Medicare Part A and Part B. Additionally, it is important to understand the distinction between recovery from an acute illness and long-term care needs. Medicare WILL pay for expenses related to recovery from an incident such as a heart attack but WILL NOT pay for long term services such as nursing homes or assisted living expenses.
Understanding the gaps in Medicare are very important as you face your future in retirement. Assisted living and nursing home care typically cost more than $78,000 a year. For people with lower incomes, it is covered through the government’s MEDICAID program, but to qualify, patients must “spend down” all their financial assets – generally not an option for most retirees.
Supplemental insurance helps pay for those things Medicare won’t cover and the cost of this insurance can provide peace of mind that your finances won’t be drained if you need dentures or cataract surgery. Medicare.gov provides a resource to see if your test or procedure is covered. Take a look at that list here.
It is also important to prepare for Medicare deductibles. Here is what you need to expect as Medicare changes are projected to go into effect in January 2023.
- Part A deductible: $1600 per hospital visit
- Part B deductible: $226 per year
- Part B co-insurance: Seniors will also owe 20% AFTER the Part B deductible
- The price for Part B: $164.90 per month
All these numbers can be daunting if you don’t understand the financial impact on your bottom line. That’s where we come in. We will give you the information you need to make good decisions and help you pick a plan that works best for you. Every person is different.
Remember “We Put the CARE in Medicare” so, we welcome your calls and questions. Call 833-777-GARY (4279)