Medicare was signed into Federal Law in 1965 and is a health insurance program for:

• People age 65 and older
• People under age 65 with certain disabilities
• People of all ages with permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant

Medicare has four parts

Part A Hospital Insurance – helps cover inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A because they or a spouse already paid for it through their payroll taxes while working.

Part B Medical Insurance – helps cover doctor’s services and outpatient care, therapy and preventive services. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B. People on Medicare who have low incomes can apply for the monthly premium to be paid for them by Medicare.

Part C Medicare Advantage Health Plans – these plans, when available in your primary county of residence, supplement services to your Original Medicare Parts A and B. Advantage Plans include Managed Care Plans (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO) and Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS).

Part D Prescription Drug Plans – these plans and services will begin in January 2006 and will start to enroll Medicare beneficiaries starting November 15, 2005. Most people will pay a monthly premium for Part D. People on Medicare who have low incomes and limited assets can apply for the monthly premium to be paid for them and for extra prescription drug benefits.

Medicare and You Handbooks are mailed out to the over 42 million Medicare Beneficiaries in the fall of each year. We provide these links as a convenience to our visitors. If you click on any of these links, you will be leaving the NACOG AAA website.

Medicare – Official U.S. government site for people with Medicare. Serves as a clearinghouse for all information related Medicare issues and to the prescription drug benefit: www.medicare.gov

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) – Comprehensive site featuring fact sheets, handouts, regional maps and implementation dates for Medicare programs: www.cms.hhs.gov

Administration on Aging – Features useful questions and answer section on the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: www.aoa.gov

BenefitsCheckUp – Helps people with Medicare and other older adults to learn about and enroll in government benefits: www.benefitscheckup.org

Social Security Administration (SSA) – Provides information to organizations and individuals: www.ssa.gov

RxAssist – Created by Volunteers in Health Care, this site provides information you need to access pharmaceutical companies’ patient assistance programs: www.rxassist.org

The links listed above are listed for your convenience. The Northern Arizona Council of Governments does not specifically recommend or endorse any resource or program.