Medicare

Medicare is the federal government program that gives you healthcare coverage if you are 65 or older, or have a disability, no matter your income.

Medicare is divided into three parts:
Part A, Part B and Part D.

Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health and hospice care.	Medicare Part B covers almost all reasonable and necessary medical services, including doctors’ services, laboratory and x-ray services, durable medical equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, hospital beds), ambulance services, outpatient hospital care, home health care, blood and medical supplies.	Medicare Part D is the new outpatient prescription drug benefit, which is only available through Medicare private drug plans or Medicare private health plans.

Note: Medicare Part C allows people to get their Medicare-covered services from Medicare private health plans, such as HMos and PPos.

Eligibility

You are eligible for Medicare if you are a U.S. citizen or have been a permanent legal resident for five continuous years, and you are 65 years or older. You are also eligible for Medicaid if you are under 65, disabled and have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months, or you get continuing dialysis for permanent kidney failure or need a kidney transplant. You are also eligible for Medicare if you have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS-Lou Gehrig’s disease).

More Medicare Resources

For general Medicare information, ordering Medicare booklets, and information about health plans, call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for assistance:
1-800-MEDICARE.

English and Spanish-speaking customer service representatives at this number can answer questions about the Original Medicare Plan and provide up-to-date information regarding the health plans available in Alaska.