How to Pay for what Medicare Doesnt Cover

Medicare will pay for a lot of your health care expenses. But whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll still have medical costs that your plan won't cover. Those expenses you have to pay, called out-of-pocket fees, can add up fast.

But there's good news. With a little research, you can get help from supplemental plans and other programs that will cut down your medical bills and keep more money in your pocket.

If You Have Parts A & B: Ways to Pay Less

Most people on Medicare have Original Medicare, also known as Medicare Parts A and B. While Original Medicare should cover most of your care, it has these gaps.

Gaps in coverage:

• Original Medicare doesn't cover some essentials. For instance, it does not pay for most prescription drug costs.
• Even when Medicare covers a treatment, you still have to pay copays and coinsurance.
• Most people have to pay a monthly fee, called a premium, for Medicare Part B.

Fortunately, Medicare offers these choices to supplement your Original Medicare.

Prescription Drug Plans. Also known as Medicare Part D, a Prescription Drug Plan will help you pay for prescription medicines. You'll pay an extra fee each month for the plan, but you'll probably save a lot on pharmacy expenses.

Private companies sell prescription drug plans, but you can sign up for them through Medicare. To compare plans in your area and sign up, use the Medicare Plan Finder. Note: you will pay a higher premium if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part D when you sign up for Original Medicare.

Medigap plans. Just like it sounds, a Medigap plan will fill some of the gaps in coverage with Original Medicare. Medigap plans help:

• Pay copays and coinsurance.
• Lower the deductible, which is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before Medicare pays toward your care.

What don't Medigap policies cover? Most don't pay for long-term care, dental care, hearing aids, eye exams, or eyeglasses.

To get a Medigap plan, you have to have Original Medicare. As with a Prescription Drug Plan, you also have to pay a monthly fee for a Medigap plan. The plans vary on what they cover and how much they cost. You can use the Medicare Plan Finder to choose a Medigap plan in your area.

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

While Medigap and Prescription Drug Plans are things you add to Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans are private health plans that contract with the federal government to offer Medicare benefits to enrollees. Medicare Advantage plans may cover things that Original Medicare doesn't. For instance, most have built- in drug coverage. Some may have additional benefits -- like dental, hearing, vision, or wellness programs. You may have to pay an extra monthly fee for a Medicare Advantage plan on top of your monthly Medicare fee. In addition, you must go to the providers in the plan’s network and follow the plan rules for receiving benefits, such as getting pre-authorization for some service.

If you sign up for Medicare Advantage, you can't get a Medigap plan. But if your Medicare Advantage plan doesn't already have drug coverage, you can add on a Prescription Drug Plan.

Each state has many health plans to choose from. If you pick one, you'll use it instead of Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans can change each year. What's covered might change. How much you pay may change, too.

More Ways to Lower Your Costs

Even if you have a Medigap plan and prescription drug coverage -- or a Medicare Advantage plan -- you'll still have medical costs that aren't covered. You may qualify for financial aid to pay all or part of these costs. There are also some other programs and pointers that may help.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program. Available to low-income Medicare beneficiaries. This program helps you pay for your Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, as well as co-insurance, copayments, and deductibles. Contact your state Medicaid office to find out if you qualify.

Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program and Qualified Individual (QI) Program. These two programs are largely the same, but with different eligibility standards. The programs help low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare premiums. Contact your state Medicaid office to see if you qualify.

Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals (QDWI) Program. Individuals who qualify for Medicare because of disability, rather than age, may receive help paying their Medicare Part A premiums through this program. Contact your state Medicaid office to apply.

Read more on: health insurance