Medicare Advantage Plans provide all your Part A and Part B benefits, except for certain costs of clinical trials (clinical research studies), hospice care, the cost of getting a kidney for transplant, and, for a temporary time, some new benefits that come from legislation or national coverage determinations. With a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may have coverage for things Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like fitness programs (gym memberships or discounts) and some vision, hearing, and dental services (like routine checkups or cleanings). Plans also have a yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for all Part A and Part B services. Once you reach this limit, you’ll pay nothing for services Part A and Part B cover.

Financial assistance programs for people with limited income and assets include:

Extra Help is a program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug program costs, like premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. If you get Extra Help but you’re not sure if you’re paying the right amount, call your drug plan. Your plan may ask you to give information to help them check the level of Extra Help you should get.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that:

• Helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources
• Offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, like nursing home care and personal care services

In some cases, Medicare Savings Programs may also pay Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments if you meet certain conditions.

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps people meet their health care needs in the community instead of going to a nursing home or other care facility. With PACE, you have a team of health care professionals working with you and your family to make sure you get the coordinated care you need. Usually they care for a small number of people, so they really get to know you. When you enroll in PACE, you may be required to use a PACE-preferred doctor.

Medicare and Medicaid are both government health care programs but they are very different. Medicare is generally for people who are older or disabled. Medicaid is for people with limited income and resources. When a person qualifies for both programs out-of-pocket costs can be minimal.

You automatically get Part A and Part B after you get one of these:

• Disability benefits from Social Security fosr 24 months
• Certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months

You don’t need to sign up if you automatically get Part A and Part B. You’ll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your 25th month of disability.