Medicare in Kentucky
Are you one of nearly one million Medicare beneficiaries in Kentucky? You have several different plan options to choose from, and we’re here to help you. Medicare Plan Finder is your best source for finding Medicare plans in Kentucky.
An Easy Guide to Medicare in Kentucky Includes:
- What is Medicare?
- Who is Eligible for Medicare in Kentucky?
- What Does Medicare Cover in Kentucky?
- What is the Cost of Medicare in Kentucky?
- Can I Have Medicare and Medicaid in Kentucky?
- What Medicare Plans are Available in Kentucky?
- What is the Best Medicare Plan in Kentucky?
- What is the Medicare Savings Program in Kentucky?
- What is the Best Medicare Supplement in Kentucky?
- Where Do I Apply for Medicare in Kentucky?
- How Do I Apply for Medicare in Kentucky?
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a federally funded healthcare program for seniors & medicare eligibles. The best Medicare plan in Kentucky will vary based on your healthcare and financial needs and what you’re looking for in a healthcare plan. You can use this guide to find out if you are eligible for Medicare in Kentucky and how to apply for Medicare in Kentucky as well as what types of cost savings you may be eligible for.
Who is Eligible for Medicare in Kentucky?
Anyone over age 65 is eligible for Medicare in Kentucky. Unlike the health plans you may be used to, pre-existing conditions do not determine Medicare eligibility. You should enroll during your initial enrollment period, which begins three months before you turn 65 and ends three months after. If you wait until after you are initially eligible, you will be faced with a late enrollment penalty fee.
If you are not yet 65, you can still qualify for Medicare programs in Kentucky. If you receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Benefits in Kentucky during your 25th month of SSDI. The same can apply for Railroad Retirement Benefits. Additionally, if you have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you may be eligible for Medicare in Kentucky.
What Does Medicare Cover in Kentucky?
Medicare coverage in Kentucky always starts with Original Medicare, which includes Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (medical coverage). Part A covers hospital services, some home health care, nursing home care*, and hospice. Part B covers preventative doctor visits, outpatient care, ambulance services, screenings and tests, and some medical equipment.
Even though Original Medicare does not include prescription drug coverage, if you do not enroll in some form of prescription drug coverage when you first become eligible for Medicare, you will be faced with a late enrollment penalty fee later. To get prescription drug coverage, you can either enroll in Medicare Advantage, Part D, or in some cases, Medicare Supplements.
Medicare Advantage plans include Original Medicare but usually add prescription drug coverage and other benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and fitness programs. If you’re not interested in paying for those extra benefits, you may want to consider a Kentucky Medicare Supplements plan, which will not provide additional benefit coverage (in most cases), but will help you pay for your deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
*Click here to view nursing homes in the Louisville, Kentucky area that accept Medicare.
What is the Cost of Medicare in Kentucky in 2019?
If you paid Medicare taxes for a minimum of 39 quarters, you’ll be eligible for “premium-free Part A.” If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, you’ll be charged $240/month for Part A. If you did not pay Medicare taxes for at least 30 quarters, you’ll pay $437/month for Part A. Most people will pay $135.50/month for Part B, but that can differ based on your income. If you choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements, or Part D, you will have additional costs based on the plan you choose.
Can I Have Medicare and Medicaid in Kentucky?
Though Medicare and Medicaid are not the same thing, CMS manages both Medicare and Medicaid in Kentucky. Medicare is for seniors and those with certain disabilities, while Medicaid is for low-income individuals and the disabled. It is possible to qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid in Kentucky.
If you have both Medicare and Medicaid in Kentucky, you may also qualify for additional benefits. You can be granted a special enrollment period, which means you don’t have to wait for the annual enrollment period in the fall to make changes to your coverage. You may also qualify for Extra Help, a Medicare prescription drug cost savings program, or another type of Medicare Savings Program in Kentucky.
What Medicare Plans are Available in Kentucky?
All types of Medicare Plans are available in Kentucky. That includes Original Medicare (Part A and B), Medicare Advantage (Part C), prescription drug plans (Part D), and Medicare Supplements (Medigap).
What is the Best Medicare Plan in Kentucky?
The best Medicare plan in Kentucky is not the same for every beneficiary. Every Medicare beneficiary has different health and financial needs – that’s why there are so many different Medicare options in Kentucky! Before you choose the best Medicare plan in Kentucky for you, write down all of your doctors, pharmacies, prescriptions, and monthly budget. A Medicare Plan Finder agent can use those to determine which Medicare plans in Kentucky are best for you.
What is the Medicare Savings Program in Kentucky?
Are you nervous about the cost of Medicare in Kentucky? There are several different cost- saving Medicare programs in Kentucky that you may be eligible for.
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Program (QMB)
The QMB program covers the Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for those that meet the following income/asset limits:
- Single Income – $1,032/month
- Single Assets – $7,560
- Married Income – $1,392/month
- Married Assets – $11,340
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Program (SLMB)
The SLMB program can cover Part B premiums for those that meet the following income/asset limits:
- Single Income – $1,234/month
- Single Assets – $7,560
- Married Income – $1,666/month
- Married Assets – $11,340
Qualifying Individual Program (QI)
The QI program can pay for Part B premiums. You may qualify if you meet the following income/asset limits:
- Single Income – $1,386/month
- Single Assets – $7,560
- Married Income – $1,872/month
- Married Assets – $11,340
Qualified Disabled and Working Individuals Program (QDWI)
The QDWI program program can pay your Part A premium. To qualify, you must:
- Be working, disabled, and under 65
- Have lost your premium-free Part A after returning to work
- Not receive state medical assistance
- Not earn more than:
- Single: $4,132/month
- Married: $5,572/month
- Not have more assets than:
- Single: $4,000
- Married: $6,000
What is the Best Medicare Supplement in Kentucky?
If the cost of Medicare in Kentucky is giving you pause, you may want to look into Medicare Supplements. Medicare Supplements in Kentucky are organized by letter (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N). Each letter represents a different plan type with a different price range and coverage level.
Most Medicare supplements in Kentucky are going to have the same basic coverage. For the cost of a monthly premium (cost varies), you’ll get coverage for your Medicare costs, like your deductible, copayments, and coinsurance. A Medicare Plan Finder agent can answer your Medicare questions and help you select the best Medicare Supplement in Kentucky.
Where Do I Apply for Medicare in Kentucky?
There are three main places where you can apply for Medicare in Kentucky through Social Security. You can go to www.SocialSecurity.gov, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM, or apply in-person at your local Social Security office.
How Do I Apply for Medicare in Kentucky?
Are you eligible for Medicare in Kentucky? Countless different Medicare plans are available in Kentucky, and we have agents all throughout the state that can help you enroll! All you have to do is give us a call and we can help you schedule an appointment. Then, an agent in your area can help you figure out what types of plans you are eligible for and help you find any available cost savings.
To get started, give us a call at 844-431-1832 or complete this form.
