Medicare Plans in Michigan

What Michigan Medicare Plans Are Available? 

If you live in Michigan, you are eligible for Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D. You can also enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan, referred to as Medigap. Medicare is paid for in part by Social Security, which means that a portion of your premiums come from the federal government. It is important to know what the cost of your coverage will be and what your out-of-pocket costs will be so you can make informed choices regarding the Medicare plans you decide to enroll yourself in. Following are the available plans in Michigan. 

• Medicare Part A: This is part of traditional Medicare and offers coverage for inpatient care, such as hospital stays, nursing care and hospice care. It also covers the cost of home health care, which is an alternative to residing in a nursing home. 
• Medicare Part B: The second part of original Medicare is Part B, which covers doctor’s visits, physical examinations, medical devices, medical transport and medical supplies.  
• Medicare Advantage: A Medicare Advantage plan is similar to a private health insurance policy and is administered by the private insurer you select. The difference is that the majority of your premium is paid via Social Security. Advantage plans can provide coverage for services not covered by original Medicare, such as vision and dental or prescription drug coverage. Law requires Advantage plans to cover all services covered under Part A and B. 
• Medicare Part D: Whether you select a Medicare Part D plan will depend on whether you’ve opted for a Medicare Advantage plan that does not provide drug coverage or if you’ve opted for original Medicare. Part D is your prescription plan and covers your prescription medications.  
• Medicare Supplement Plans: Even though you receive coverage for medical services through Medicare, you are still required to pay a copayment. A Medicare Supplement plan helps reduce your financial burden by assisting with the portion of your medical bills that you are responsible for.  

Original Medicare is only slightly more popular in Michigan than Medicare Advantage plans. In 2020, 1.1 million residents in the state enrolled in traditional Medicare plans compared to 947,000 who chose Medicare Advantage. The plan that is best for you will depend on your medical needs and ability to afford medical care. If you believe that you will need financial assistance to cover the cost of your copayments and deductible each year, it is a good idea to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan. 

Who Is Eligible for Michigan Medicare? 

If you have started receiving Social Security benefits already and have received checks for four months prior to turning 65 years old, you will be enrolled in Medicare automatically without needing to do a thing. There are some factors that can disqualify you for automatic enrollment, such as not receiving your Social Security benefits for long enough prior to your birthday or not contributing for at least 10 years to Social Security during your career. It is a good idea to check on your status because you could face penalties that impact the cost of your care for the rest of your life if you don't enroll properly. 

Medicare Part A is provided as part of your Social Security benefit and will cost you nothing. Part B can cost around $150 a month, but this is normally paid for out of your pension or Social Security benefit each month. Medicare Part D requires a premium, and the cost depends on the type of prescription drug coverage you will need. If you select Medicare Advantage, it is possible to have most, if not all, of your premium covered by the government.  

Your initial enrollment period is the time that you have to enroll in Medicare without incurring any penalties. It starts three months before your 65th birthday and runs three months afterward. There may be a number of factors that prevent you from being able to enroll during this period, but if it is possible to do so, it is a good idea to enroll during this time. 

From the beginning of the year until March 31, you will be able to enroll in Medicare. This is the general enrollment period. If the reason you did not enroll during your initial enrollment period is due to caring for someone with a disability, remaining on your employer’s health plan beyond your 65th birthday or serving or volunteering overseas, you will be able to avoid penalties by waiting to enroll during a special enrollment period. 

If you are considering enrolling in a Medicare Supplement Plan, it is important to know that as long as you do so within six months of turning 65, your insurer may not deny you coverage or increase your rates on the basis of your age or medical history. Federal law prohibits insurance companies that offer these plans from finding ways to drive up the price of your coverage in any manner.  

How Do I Enroll in Medicare in Michigan? 

The best way to see if you’ve already been enrolled in Medicare or to change your plan is to visit the Medicare website at Medicare.gov. By following the prompts on the website, you can learn more about your coverage options and enroll online. Because Medicare Supplement plans are not administered or paid for through Social Security, you will not be able to sign up for one of these plans through Medicare’s site and will need to go through a private insurer that offers Medigap coverage.