Medicare: 6 Reasons Why Seniors Should Get It Today

Your health is a priority.

And as you get older, having yearly checkups and being able to go in for the medical treatments you need will become even more a priority.

But medical insurance can be expensive and private insurance companies have whole lists of stipulations you have to meet to qualify.

If you’re a senior and want to have the best medical coverage possible, you should consider getting a Medicare policy. Medicare was designed to help seniors keep on top of their health without overpaying and here are six reasons you should get it today.

1 – The Low Cost

The number one reason seniors should get Medicare is because of its low cost. Medical insurance is notoriously expensive. Medicare, however, was created to be as affordable as possible.

In fact, Plan A is free for seniors. Even the more extensive policies offered by Medicare only require a small monthly payment, estimated to be about $135.50 a month. It’s amazing that for such a small fee, you can lower your personal cost on prescriptions, operations, and doctors’ appointments.

2 – Has Flexible Eligibility

As mentioned above, private insurance companies have very specific policies for whether or not you’re eligible for their healthcare plans. Medicare, however, has very broad eligibility requirements. You need to be over the age of 65 and you need to be a United States citizen or permanent resident. Even then, there’s some flexibility on the age requirement!

Even if you have preexisting conditions and are older, two factors private insurance companies charge more for, you can still qualify for certain Medicare plans.

3 – Accepted by Many Physicians

Another reason seniors should look into getting Medicare immediately is because so many doctors and hospitals accept the insurance.

If you want the ability to go to a wide selection of medical treatment facilities, whether hospitals or clinics, the likelihood that they accept Medicare is high. According a study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 90% of physicians accept Medicare.

This includes physicians in US territories!

4 – Offers a Variety of Plans

Your health needs are not the health needs of your neighbor or even your spouse. This is why one of the reasons seniors should get Medicare is because if offers a wide variety of plans, meeting the diverse needs of different people.

You might need a more robust healthcare policy because of a medical condition. Or maybe you only need something barebones, just meeting your basic needs. With Medicare, there are four basic plans and several supplemental plans that you can combine to create the perfect healthcare coverage plan for you.

5 – Works with Supplemental Health Insurances

Even though Medicare offers amazing coverage with its different plans, there are still a few gaps the insurance can leave.

However, these gaps don’t have to be detrimental to your care.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance policies, or Medigap, are private insurance plans that can be added onto Medicare policies. These low cost plans often make up the difference between what Medicare covers and what you would be paying out of pocket.

While Medigap policies will cost you some money, they are easy to add to your Medicare process. Once you’re enrolled in a Medigap plan, your Medicare will send any remaining bills to them automatically. You won’t have to worry about any extra work, you’ll just continue paying less for your medical costs.

6 – Enforces Quality Care

Medicare is a federal program, which means it is watched very carefully. There are very strict standards that hospitals and physicians who accept Medicare have to meet. Having this extra level of due diligence in place keeps you safer and guarantees a specific level of care.

As you get older and need to keep a closer watch on your health, you want to make sure you have the best medical support. The oversight that comes with being a Medicare hospital will help make sure you’re getting treatment with the best medical standards.