Library hosts Medicare informational seminar

Father time is something that is inevitable.

With that being said, after the age of 65, Medicare in the United States is prominent.

"Explaining what Medicare is important because a lot of people are very confused with their choices in Medicare," said independent health insurance agent Lori Wylly. "What it covers, what it doesn't and what peoples options are is all very important to know about it."

Going over what the term Medicare actually is and what it can do for someone was expressed to start the hour seminar.

Medicare, a federal system of health insurance for people over 65 years of age and for certain younger people with disabilities and has been in existence since 1966.

With two different ways to get Medicare coverage including original or Medicare Advantage Plan, the first step is deciding which plan is better for the certain individual.

Original Medicare is made up of Part A and B.

Part A, is hospital insurance and generally covers care at skilled nursing facilities and sometimes nursing homes, while Part B is medical insurance and generally covers preventive care, doctor visits, lab tests, durable medical equipment and more.

Medicare Advantage program gives you another way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, where private insurance companies approved by Medicare offer Medicare Advantage plans.

Part C in Medicare Advantage (like an HMO or PPO), combines Part A, B and usually D.

Part D, which is if someone needs to add drug coverage, covers mostly self-administered Drugs.

"In all of their under 65 life, most people's employers did all of the heavy lifting with choosing plans, deductibles, co-insurance and co- payments which was left for confusion for a lot of people," Wylly said.

In 2018, Medicare provided health insurance for more than 59.9 million individuals - more than 52 million people aged 65 and older and about 8 million younger people, which Wylly adds why the correct information and understanding of all the benefits from Medicare is something that is essential.

Although there are plans that go from A through N which are Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, A through D are the most common.

Certain plans such as F includes a high-deductible plan by some insurance companies in some states, as well as the receiver paying for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,300 in 2019 before that persons policy pays anything.

For Plans K and L, after someone meets the out-of-pocket yearly limit and the yearly Part B deducible ($185 in 2019), the Medigap plan plays 100 percent of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.

Plan N plays 100 percent of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in an inpatient admission.

"One of the most common misconceptions is that A and B covers 100 percent of their healthcare costs," Wylly said. "Something we want people to leave with today is that your options through Medicare can be changed throughout your entire life, which is why people should know all of the options that would best suited for you."