Greenville, South Carolina

Medicare Basics South Carolina. Medicare is a form of health insurance that is available to people who fall into certain categories:

• Those who are 65 and older;
• Those who are under 65 but have certain disabilities
• Anyone who has end-stage kidney disease requiring dialysis or a transplant.

There are two main parts to Medicare: Part A and Part B

Medicare Part A is Hospital Coverage.

The purpose of Medicare Part A is to cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and limited home health care. It also covers what are known as critical access hospitals, which are small facilities that provide limited services to rural populations. It does not cover custodial or long-term care.

Medicare Part A is free to eligible recipients. Workers who accumulated enough quarters of employment automatically receive Medicare Part A when they turn age 65. No monthly or annual premium is required because they or their spouse paid for the coverage in taxes while employed.

Those who do not qualify for free Medicare Part A may still be able to purchase it, under certain conditions:

• You are 65 or older and are not entitled to Social Security because you didn’t work or didn’t pay enough Medicare taxes when you were working;
• You were previously disabled but have since returned to work and are no longer receiving premium-free Part A as a result;
• If you are low income, you may be eligible for assistance in purchasing either Part A or B through the State of South Carolina.

Medicare Part B is Medical Insurance, as opposed to inpatient hospital care

Medicare Part B covers services provided by doctors, outpatient hospital visits, and certain other medical services that are not covered by Medicare Part A. Additional covered services are physical therapy, occupational therapy, and some home health care. In order to be covered by Part B, these services must be deemed to be medically necessary.

For a quote on a Medicare Supplement Policy contact us today.