As we all know, there have been a lot of changes made to the Affordable Care Act recently – most notably with the passage of Trumpcare. This article will give you everything you need to know about qualifying for Medicare benefits, including what has changed since the ACA was originally passed.
Why does Medicare exist?
Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to people age 65 and older and their spouses.
How do I qualify for Medicare?
To qualify for Medicare, you must be age 65 or older, have been a U.S. resident for at least five years, and have not received Social Security benefits for at least 10 years.
If you are age 65 or older and have limited income, you may be able to get help from the program. You can find out if you are eligible for Medicare by visiting the website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
What changes does Trumpcare make to the Medicare program?
The most significant change made by Trumpcare is that it would end the coverage of prescription drugs under Medicare Part D. This means that people who are currently covered by Part D would no longer be able to afford their medication, and would have to switch to a different plan or pay out of pocket. Trumpcare also would change how premiums are paid for MedicarePart D coverage, which could result in higher costs for seniors.
What are some ways that I can protect myself from potential problems with the Medicare program?
There are a few things that you can do
How to Qualify for Medicare Benefits?
If you are aged 65 or older, or have a disability, you may be eligible for Medicare benefits. You can find out if you qualify by contacting your state’s Social Security office. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, check to see if your benefits include Medicare coverage. If not, you will need to apply for Medicare.
There are several ways to qualify for Medicare. You may be eligible if you have paid into the system for at least ten years (or have received at least two Social Security checks averaging $1,000 a year). You may also be eligible if you are receiving disability benefits from an insurance company or the government.
Once you know whether you are eligible, you will need to complete a few forms and submit them to the appropriate government agency. In most cases, this will involve filing a Form 5695 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The form will ask for information about your income and health insurance coverage. You will also need to provide proof of age and citizenship.
Once your application is processed, you will receive a letter in the mail confirming your eligibility and listing the specific Medicare benefits that you are entitled to receive. You should contact the agency that sent you the
Changes from Trumpcare Affecting Medicare
The biggest change from Trumpcare affecting Medicare is the elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid expansion, which would leave millions of Americans without coverage. Without the Medicaid expansion, Medicare would be able to pay for only half of the care for people with complex health needs.
Another major change is that people over 80 years old would no longer be able to receive Medicare benefits if they have an income above $26,500 a year. Currently, people over 80 can receive benefits regardless of their income.
Lastly, Trumpcare would end the “doughnut hole” – a gap in Medicare’s coverage that starts after people reach Part D drug coverage limits and gets progressively larger as income rises. Under Trumpcare, this gap would grow to up to $8,000 a year by 2027.
All in all, these changes would make it much more difficult for seniors to access Medicare benefits and could lead to increased costs for taxpayers.
Conclusion
As you may know, the new Trumpcare bill was passed into law earlier this year. If you are over the age of 65 or have a disability, many of your benefits will change starting in 2020. This guide is designed to help you qualify for Medicare benefits and understand what changes might affect you. We hope that this guide has been helpful and that you now feel equipped to tackle any questions or concerns that you may have about qualifying for Medicare benefits. Thanks for reading!