Here’s What You Can Expect if You Have Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage kidney disease. This MedicareFAQ will explain the basics of Medicare.

Medicare offers three main coverage parts: Part A (hospitalization), Part B (medical care), and Part D (prescription drug coverage). This part of Medicare helps cover some or all of your costs for medications that you buy at a pharmacy and this includes drugs both prescribed by doctors and available over-the-counter (OTC). The difference between what they charge here in the U.S., which could be up to $1500 per month without insurance, vs something like eBay where it can cost just pennies on the dollar with no RX needed.

To be eligible for Medicare, you need to have been a resident of the U.S. for at least five years and meet certain eligibility requirements, like age or disability status.

Some people choose to get both Part A and B while others purchase one coverage part only. People who are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) automatically qualify for Medicare Parts A and B if they don’t want any other health insurance coverage parts from another company during their first two months after becoming disabled; otherwise, SSDI beneficiaries must wait 24 months before qualifying for Part A without making premium payments or having worked in high-paying jobs that covered them through work-related retiree programs.

Part D is available with most types of private health plans as well as most state Medicaid programs. You can choose to enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or even purchase Part D coverage from a private company if you’re eligible for both parts A and B of Medicare (e.g., people with disabilities).

You may be able to qualify for Extra Help Paying Your Medical Bills Through Social Security, which helps pay your prescription drug costs.