Observation services are short-term  outpatient  services you received when you are in the hospital. You usually have this for monitoring purposes and/or to determine whether you should be admitted as an  inpatient .  It is important to know that if you are receiving observation services, you haven't been formally admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, even if you are given a room or to stay overnight.  You can always ask the hospital staff about your status. Also, the hospital must provide you with a notice if you receive observation services for more than 24 hours. This is called the  Medicare  Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) . This notifies you that you are receiving observation services. This explains why you are an outpatient and your doctor should explain this notice to you in person. Since this kind of service often involves an overnight stay in the hospital, they may look no different than inpatient services. However, it is very impor...

Medicare  Savings Programs  is also known as Medicare Buy-In programs or Medicare  Premium  Payment Programs ,  this helps you pay your Medicare costs if you have limited income and savings.  There are three main programs each with different benefits and eligibility requirements: Qualified Medicare  Beneficiary  (QMB) : Pays for Medicare Parts A and B  premiums. If you have QMB, typically   you should not be billed   for Medicare-covered services when seeing Medicare providers or providers in your   Medicare Advantage   Plan’s   network . Specified Low-income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) : Pays for Medicare  Part B  premium. Qualifying Individual (QI) Program : also pays for Medicare Part B premium. If you will enroll, you will also automatically get  Extra Help.   To qualify for an MSP, you must have Medicare  Part A  and meet income and asset guidelines.  If you do not have Pa...

Medicare   enrollment  can be complicated if you live outside the United States. This means that you do not live inside the  50 states of the U.S, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands. Although Medicare does not typically cover medical costs you receive when you live abroad, you still need to choose whether to enroll in Medicare when you become eligible or to turn down enrollment.  This is subject to consideration as well; Whether you plan to return to the U.S. Whether you are working or volunteering outside the U.S. The potential costs of delayed enrollment If you are  65 or older and qualify for Medicare , you can enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, also known as  Original Medicare , either before or after you leave the U.S . However, you must remember that Medicare will typically not cover medical care you receive outside the U.S.  Part A coverage is the best to keep eve...

Hospital  discharge  planning is a process that determines what kind of care you will need after you leave the hospital. This discharge plans can help prevent future readmissions , and they should make your move from the hospital to your home or another facility as safe as possible. Medicare  requires hospitals to screen  inpatients  and provide discharge p lanning for those who need it. But this  is only mandatory for hospital inpatients, if you are an  outpatient, possibly  on  observation status,   Medicare will not require screening or discharge planning. However, there are some states that provide outpatients with rights to discharge planning services. For more information on discharge planning in your state, please contact your  State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) . Your  discharge plan  should include information about where you will be discharged to, the types of care you need, and who will provi...

The benefit period is the length of time during which a benefit is paid. It   measures your use of  inpatient  hospital and  skilled nursing facility (SNF)  services. This  begins the day you are admitted as an inpatient, or to an SNF, and ends the day you have been out of the hospital or SNF for 60 days in a row. After you meet your  deductible ,  Original  Medicare  will pay in full for days 1 to 60 that you are in a hospital. The remaining days, 61-90 , you will have to pay a  daily coinsurance. If your 90 days of hospital coverage has been consumed but you need to stay longer, Medicare covers up to 60 additional lifetime reserve days and yo u will also have to pay a daily  coinsurance . These days are nonrenewable , meaning you will not get them back when you become eligible for another benefit period. If you run out of days during your benefit period, Medicare will stop paying for your in-patient related ho...

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic diseases.  The virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids.  It can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available, and effective. Eligibility Medicare   Part B   covers the hepatitis B vaccine if you are at medium or high risk for hepatitis B. Medicare considers you at medium or high risk if you: Have  End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Have hemophilia Live in the same household as a hepatitis B  carrier Have unprotected sex with multiple partners or with someone who has hepatitis B Use certain federally prohibited substances Are health care professional in frequent contact with blood or other body fluids during routine work Note: If you are at low risk for hepatitis B, the shot will be covered under  Part D . Hepatitis C Hepa...

One of the most important roles of Medicare in keeping people healthy is the coverage of preventive serv ices.   Preventive services include Vaccines , which is the primary key to avoiding diseases and to prevent you from aging well . Lucky to say that Medicare now helps pay for four vaccines, each of which you should discuss with your doctor to protect yourself.  Influenza Vaccine The flu or influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that can be severe and life-threatening. Older adults, even those who are healthy, are at higher risk when it comes to the flu due to age-related weakening of their immune systems which makes it more difficult for them to fight off disease. In 86% of adults, 65+ are managing a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease, with this, the flu can be even more dangerous because they are more likely to develop complications or become hospitalized. According to the CDC, the best way to prevent the flu is through a flu va...

Some Medicare Advantage Plans cover services that are not covered by Original Medicare. Common supplemental benefits include dental care, vision care, and hearing aids. In 2019, Medicare Advantage Plans were granted more flexibility in the supplemental benefits. This includes the ability to offer benefits that are not directly considered medical care and this might include in-home supports and home modifications. For this year, 2020, plans are now allowed to begin offering supplemental benefits that are not primarily health-related for individuals who have chronic illnesses. These benefits might include meal delivery, transportation for non-medical needs, and home air cleaners.  Fact:  Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes referred to as Part C, contract with the federal government and are paid a fixed amount per person to provide Medicare benefits. Plans must provide all Part A and Part B services offered by Original Medicare, but can do so wit...

How can I protect myself from identity theft? Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information without your consent to commit fraud or other crimes. Personal information includes things like your name and your Social Security, Medicare, credit card or bank account numbers, and your Medicare.gov user name and password. Guard your cards and protect your Medicare and Social Security Numbers. Keep this information safe. Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to doctors, insurers or plans acting on your behalf and/ or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare like your State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) . Don't share your Medicare Number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or in person. Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will only call you in limited situations: Medicare health or drug plan can call if you're already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you...