Signed into law in 1965 to provide basic healthcare coverage to Americans age 65 and older
Over 50 million Americans are presently covered
Essentially all Americans will enroll when eligible – there aren’t many other options available to them.
Original Medicare includes:
- Part A – hospitalization, skilled nursing and hospice care
- Part B – doctor visits, outpatient surgery, lab tests, medical equipment, etc.
Original Medicare – Important Things to Know:
- It is not free – monthly premiums must be paid
- It doesn’t cover all expenses – deductibles and coinsurance apply to most services and there are no out-of-pocket expense maximums
- It doesn’t cover prescription drug costs when obtained at a pharmacy