Medicare Part B partially covers doctor fees, medical tests, and medical supplies for those aged 65 or older or permanently disabled. It can be obtained by paying a monthly fee or through Medicare Part C. Medicaid may also cover Medicare Part B for those on low incomes.
Medicare Part B is part of the Medicare plan, the U.S. federal government program designed to offer lower costs of medical care for people age 65 and older or who are permanently disabled and qualify for a disability. Medicare Part A covers some of the costs associated with hospitalization, but Part B is different and tends to partially cover doctor fees, medical tests, allied health care provider services, and some of the expenses associated with medical supplies and durable medical equipment .
There are a few ways Medicare Part B can be provided. People can pay the government a monthly fee for coverage. This amount varies based on your income and the amount currently charged.
It should be noted that the amount paid does not cover all costs associated with the approved services. Those with Medicare Part B are likely to have a deductible they must first meet before getting any coverage, and will have to pay a percentage of each cost over and above the deductible. Typically, however, coverage can provide access to preventive and necessary health services, although each service is subject to a personal charge and no services are usually covered until the deductible is met.
Typically, most Medicare Part B reimbursements under the government system are on an 80/20 plan. In theory this means that after deductibles have been paid for, the government will pay 80% of the cost of any covered health services. However, the cost is determined on an average or normal cost basis. What a doctor charges and what the government usually determines the cost can be two very different things, and most doctors expect patients to make up the difference. This isn’t exactly 80/20.
There is a different method of getting Medicare Part B and that is getting Medicare Part C instead. This is choosing to contract with a private insurance company that the government has approved. Purchasing this form of Medicare may cost slightly more, but may result in more coverage than Part B allows, changing the way Part B is paid. People may be paying copays instead of the associated higher costs a Medicare Part B purchased through the government. Participation in Part C also gives people greater access to prescription drug coverage and may provide vision care and/or dental care, which is not covered by Part B.
Another way to get Medicare Part B and Part A is available to some people in the United States. Those on extremely low incomes may be able to apply for their state’s Medicaid program. Eligible amounts can change on a yearly basis and are usually higher in states like Hawaii and Alaska. There may also be help to cover Medicare Part D, which helps reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
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