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Medicare Premium Aid

Some states help pay Medicare costs, including premiums and deductibles. In order to qualify for this aid you must meet certain requirements:

  1. You must have Medicare Hospital Insurance (Part A). Look at your Medicare card to see if you have Part A, or call Social Security toll free at 800-772-1213 to find out.
  2. Your income is below certain limits. See chart below:
  3. Your financial resources or the things you own are below $4,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a couple. Financial resources are things like bank accounts, stocks, and bonds. Some things are not counted like the home you live in, one car, burial plots, furniture, and some life insurance.

Your Monthly Income Limit
in 2000
*

Program Will Pay

Program Name

$716 Individual
or
$958 Couple

Medicare Part A and B premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

$855 Individual
or
$1,145 Couple

Medicare Part B
premiums

Specified Low-Income
Medicare Beneficiary
(SLMB)

$960 Individual
or
$1,286 Couple

Medicare Part B
premiums

Qualifying Individual
(QI-1)

$1,238 Individual
or
$1,661 Couple

A small part of your
Medicare Part B
premiums

Qualifying Individual
(QI-2)


* If you live in Alaska or Hawaii income limits are slightly higher. Income limits have increased in 2001and we will update these limits when they become available this week.

 

If you think you qualify, contact your State or local welfare, social service, or Medicaid agency. Ask them if you can apply by mail or if you have to apply in person. Since each state has different requirements as to what papers you need to show don't forget to ask them which papers are required as proof to qualify. If you need help in finding the right Medicare office in your state please call 800-633-4227. For deaf or hearing impaired who use a TTY/TDD call 877-486-2048.

 

FOR AN INFORMATIVE AND PERSONAL ARTICLE ON PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS WHEN SELECTING A NURSING HOME SEE OUR ARTICLE "How to Select a Nursing Home"

Allan Rubin
updated April 1, 2001

http://www.therubins.com

To e-mail: rehabstrat1@aol.com or rubin@brainlink.com 

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