There’s no way to overstate the fact that healthcare is enormously expensive and near impossible for most people to access without the help of an insurance plan. That’s why understanding how to find health insurance for seniors without Medicare is critically important. As a senior citizen, if you find yourself without Medicare coverage because you’ve retired early or for any other reason, you need to figure out a new plan for your insurance coverage. Finding yourself in a situation without health care coverage in the more vulnerable stages of your life is a recipe for financial disaster.
As we age, instances of hospitalization become more and more likely, even if they are just for small issues. With the costs of healthcare, these small issues can stack up to become very large bills. This is one reason why finding adequate health insurance for seniors without Medicare is a necessity. Going without any healthcare coverage can literally be the difference between financial stability and breaking the bank.
Understanding why some seniors may not qualify for Medicare and what they can do as an alternative is vital to maintaining financial independence.
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Understanding Why Some Seniors Don’t Qualify for Medicare
The primary reason some seniors would not qualify for Medicare is because of early retirement. Medicare eligibility kicks in at age 65 (although some exceptions could allow earlier enrollment). If you lose the healthcare coverage you had through work because of retirement, you need to find coverage for those gap years.
It’s also possible that you may not qualify for Medicare if you or your spouse don’t have a sufficient work record in the United States. While this can be a problem, you can still buy into the Medicare program. The cost of buying into Medicare Part A can change depending on your and your spouse’s working record in the United States and how much you have paid in Medicare taxes over your lifetime.
Premiums will either be $505 per month or $278 per month, depending on your working history.
Consider This Information for Health Insurance for Seniors Without Medicare
Some confusion comes with the different parts of Medicare that exist. Technically there are four parts (A, B, C, and D). Part A is hospital insurance, and part B covers doctor visits. You can buy part B without part A but must enroll in part B if you purchase part A. Part D is for prescriptions; you can buy into part D if you are enrolled in either part A or part B. Part C is the private insurance Medicare Advantage Plan which you can only purchase if you are already enrolled in both parts A and B.
This can get confusing when taken all at once, but it gets easier to grasp when you break it down to its actual meaning. You can get coverage for hospital visits without having coverage to see doctors. You can’t have the Advantage plan without having both of the basic plans. And, you need at least one of the basic plans to be able to get coverage for prescriptions.
It’s estimated that 15% of Medicare-eligible seniors are also eligible for Medicaid, which offers coverage for low-income seniors.
You can learn more about eligibility here.
If your earnings make you ineligible for Medicaid, you can also contact a health insurance agent to clarify whether you are eligible for Medicare and figure out which plans, or supplemental coverage, would be best for you.
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*This post is periodically updated.
