by Catherine Burdine, Feature Writer
You are eligible to join Medicare when you turn 65 years old. You may also qualify for Medicare if you are under 65 because you have a disability, or other special situation. But, normally, even if you are receiving Social Security, you cannot get Medicare coverage until you are 65 years old.
There are two types of Medicare coverage. First option – you may sign up for Part A and Part B. Medicare Part A helps with hospital costs and skilled nursing services after a hospital stay, plus some other skilled care. Medicare Part B helps with the cost of doctor visits and other medical services that do not require an inpatient hospital stay. Medicare Parts A and B are provided by the government and government subcontractors. Medicare pays fees for your care directly to the hospitals and doctors you visit. This is often referred to as “fee for service.”
The second option is to enroll for Medicare Advantage Part C. Medicare Advantage Part C is provided by private companies approved by Medicare. Medicare pays a fixed fee to the plan for your care, then the plan pays the doctors and hospitals. Plan C combines hospital, doctor, and outpatient care in one plan.
Along with Medicare Parts A and B or C, you may also sign up for Part D which helps pay for prescription drugs. This additional coverage costs will come directly out of your Social Security payment each month, along with any payments that you already have for Part B or Part C.
To cover anything not covered by Parts A, B and D, you may also sign up for a Supplemental Insurance Plan, commonly called “Medigap” insurance. Currently, the Medigap plans are designated Parts F, G, K, L and M, or N. However, if you are a senior citizen who lives outside the U.S. for 6 months per year or longer, it would be more beneficial to you to purchase a global medical insurance plan instead of a Medicare Supplemental Plan. Medigap premiums also come out of your Social Security payment.
Medicare Parts A, B or C do not cover you outside the US after 60 days. When you have been outside the US for more than 60 days, you have no health insurance coverage while you remain outside the country. Furthermore, within the 60 days of coverage, the benefit limit is $50,000.
But, if you live outside the US for 6 months per year or longer, you qualify for international global medical insurance. A global policy will follow you wherever you travel. When you are within the US borders, Medicare covers you as it normally does, and a global medical insurance policy kicks in as your supplemental insurance.
MoMM partners with American Insurance for Expats and highly recommends the Global Medical Insurance plan they offer through International Medical Group (“IMG”). The plan allows you to visit any doctor available to you outside the US, no matter where you are in the world. The IMG staff is multi-lingual and can work with any language and currency. While you are in the US, there is a comprehensive PPO network of providers to choose from. While you remain in the US, Medicare will be your primary insurance, while Global Medical Insurance will be your supplemental insurance plan coverage.
IMG’s Global Medical Insurance is designed to meet your all of your health insurance needs. The program offers you flexibility with an assortment of benefit options. From the scheduled benefits of the Silver plan to the “benefit-rich” Platinum plan, there is a wide range of coverage options. You can customize your coverage plan, and then select from multiple deductibles and modes of payment in order to accommodate your financial means. With your medical history in mind, the program provides flexible underwriting methods to extend coverage to you that may be declined by other companies. In addition, you will also have direct access to their “Medical Concierge,” a unique service that provides you with personalized assistance in locating the best provider for your specific needs while saving you out-of-pocket and medical expenses. You can also save time managing routine areas of your account by using our secure, online service tools. In addition, IMG is available for online assistance at your convenience – via phone, e-mail or “Live Chat.”
No medical plan is perfect, including Medicare. And, if you are excluded from Medicare coverage because you live outside the US for six months per year or longer, you qualify for IMG’s Global Medical Insurance. It, not only, can provide you with the “Medigap” coverage you need in the US, it will follow you as you travel and cover you wherever you are in the world.
Who could ask for anything more?