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Frequently Asked Questions about General Medicare


Still have questions? Explore our FAQs and Articles or Click here to contact us.

Most Viewed FAQs in Category
  • Jul, 09 2023 — You can call the Social Security Administration to report the death of a Medicare beneficiary at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). As noted on the Social Security Administration site: "You ca . . .
  • Jan, 04 2024 — Medicare should mail you a printed copy of the Medicare & You handbook each year with Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans that are available in your area, unless you have opted out of rec . . .
  • Jul, 20 2023 — No, your original Medicare coverage does not include Lifeline or any other Personal Emergency Response system (PERS) or Medical Emergency Response System (MERS) as a benefit. However, some Medicare . . .
  • Apr, 20 2024 — If you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare. Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for it.
  • Sep, 15 2020 — Here is an example of the new Medicare card (as of April 2018) with unique and randomly-assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) (source: CMS) You will notice from the example graph . . .
  • Aug, 07 2019 — Your MBI is your 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier - or new Medicare Number (starting April 2018). From April 2018 through January 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . . .
  • Aug, 02 2022 — Medicare Part B (out-patient medical insurance), according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: Medicare medical insurance that helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hos . . .
  • Jul, 23 2023 — Medicare Part A (In-patient or Hospital Insurance), according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: Medicare Part A is the part of Medicare that pays for inpatient hospita . . .
  • Jul, 19 2023 — An appeal is the process members can use when the plan makes a decision to deny coverage for a drug.  The member, the member's appointed representative, or, in some cases, the member's doctor can . . .
  • May, 30 2023 — In general, no.  Medicare Part A (inpatient care) and Medicare Part B coverage is usually not covered as you travel outside the United States or U.S. Territories including: American Samoa, Guam, . . .
  • Mar, 06 2024 — No. The Medicare annual wellness visit is not mandatory - but, the visit is provided at no cost every 12 months for people who have Medicare Part B coverage (and who see a provider who accepts Medicar . . .
  • Aug, 31 2022 — An Original Medicare Plan, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: A fee-for-service health plan that lets you go to any doctor, hospital, or other health care suppl . . .
  • Jul, 10 2023 — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reminds people with Medicare to keep their personal information safe. Don’t give your information to anyone who comes to your home (or calls . . .
  • Jul, 09 2023 — Yes, in some situations, limited chiropractic services are covered by Medicare. According to the Medicare.gov website, your "Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers manual manipulation of the sp . . .
  • Jul, 09 2023 — As noted on the Medicare website, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) current guidance on coverage related to the novel corona virus COVID-19 is as follows: Medicare covers FD . . .
  • Aug, 26 2020 — As noted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): "Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older, people under 65 with certain disabilities, people of any age with End-‑Sta . . .
Newest FAQs in Category
  • Apr, 20 2024 — If you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare. Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for it.
  • Mar, 06 2024 — No. The Medicare annual wellness visit is not mandatory - but, the visit is provided at no cost every 12 months for people who have Medicare Part B coverage (and who see a provider who accepts Medicar . . .
  • Jan, 04 2024 — Medicare should mail you a printed copy of the Medicare & You handbook each year with Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans that are available in your area, unless you have opted out of rec . . .
  • Jul, 23 2023 — Medicare Part A (In-patient or Hospital Insurance), according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: Medicare Part A is the part of Medicare that pays for inpatient hospita . . .
  • Jul, 20 2023 — No, your original Medicare coverage does not include Lifeline or any other Personal Emergency Response system (PERS) or Medical Emergency Response System (MERS) as a benefit. However, some Medicare . . .
  • Jul, 19 2023 — An appeal is the process members can use when the plan makes a decision to deny coverage for a drug.  The member, the member's appointed representative, or, in some cases, the member's doctor can . . .
  • Jul, 10 2023 — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reminds people with Medicare to keep their personal information safe. Don’t give your information to anyone who comes to your home (or calls . . .
  • Jul, 09 2023 — You can call the Social Security Administration to report the death of a Medicare beneficiary at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). As noted on the Social Security Administration site: "You ca . . .
  • Jul, 09 2023 — As noted on the Medicare website, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) current guidance on coverage related to the novel corona virus COVID-19 is as follows: Medicare covers FD . . .
  • Jul, 09 2023 — Yes, in some situations, limited chiropractic services are covered by Medicare. According to the Medicare.gov website, your "Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers manual manipulation of the sp . . .
  • May, 30 2023 — In general, no.  Medicare Part A (inpatient care) and Medicare Part B coverage is usually not covered as you travel outside the United States or U.S. Territories including: American Samoa, Guam, . . .
  • Aug, 31 2022 — An Original Medicare Plan, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: A fee-for-service health plan that lets you go to any doctor, hospital, or other health care suppl . . .
  • Aug, 02 2022 — Medicare Part B (out-patient medical insurance), according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is defined as: Medicare medical insurance that helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hos . . .
  • Sep, 15 2020 — Here is an example of the new Medicare card (as of April 2018) with unique and randomly-assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) (source: CMS) You will notice from the example graph . . .
  • Aug, 26 2020 — As noted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): "Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older, people under 65 with certain disabilities, people of any age with End-‑Sta . . .
  • Aug, 07 2019 — Your MBI is your 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier - or new Medicare Number (starting April 2018). From April 2018 through January 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . . .






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  • The Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data on our site comes directly from Medicare and is subject to change.
  • Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed the information on our site.
  • We provide our Q1Medicare.com site for educational purposes and strive to present unbiased and accurate information. However, Q1Medicare is not intended as a substitute for your lawyer, doctor, healthcare provider, financial advisor, or pharmacist. For more information on your Medicare coverage, please be sure to seek legal, medical, pharmaceutical, or financial advice from a licensed professional or telephone Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
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  • Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Our PDPCompare.com and MACompare.com provide highlights of annual plan benefit changes.
  • The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan.
  • Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply.
  • We make every effort to show all available Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plans in your service area. However, since our data is provided by Medicare, it is possible that this may not be a complete listing of plans available in your service area. For a complete listing please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov.
    Statement required by Medicare:
    "We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."
  • When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.
  • Medicare beneficiaries with higher incomes may be required to pay both a Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Read more on IRMAA.
  • Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage (MAPDs) are considered Medicare Part D plans and members with higher incomes may be subject to the Medicare Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), just as members in stand-alone Part D plans. In certain situations, you can appeal IRMAA.
  • You must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Members may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan only during specific times of the year. Contact the Medicare plan for more information.
  • If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with Part D prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for financial Extra Help to assist with the payment of your prescription drug premiums and drug purchases. To see if you qualify for Extra Help, call: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov; the Social Security Office at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or your state Medicaid Office.
  • Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-Star rating system. Star Ratings are calculated each year and may change from one year to the next.
  • A Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service plan (PFFS) is not a Medicare supplement plan. Providers who do not contract with the plan are not required to see you except in an emergency.
  • Disclaimer for Institutional Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who meets the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) level of care and resides in a nursing home.
  • Disclaimer for Dual Eligible (Medicare/Medicaid) Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare. Premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details.
  • Disclaimer for Chronic Condition Special Needs Plan (SNP): This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with the plan specific Chronic Condition.
  • Medicare MSA Plans combine a high deductible Medicare Advantage Plan and a trust or custodial savings account (as defined and/or approved by the IRS). The plan deposits money from Medicare into the account. You can use this money to pay for your health care costs, but only Medicare-covered expenses count toward your deductible. The amount deposited is usually less than your deductible amount, so you generally have to pay out-of-pocket before your coverage begins.
  • Medicare MSA Plans do not cover prescription drugs. If you join a Medicare MSA Plan, you can also join any separate (stand-alone) Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
  • There are additional restrictions to join an MSA plan, and enrollment is generally for a full calendar year unless you meet certain exceptions. Those who disenroll during the calendar year will owe a portion of the account deposit back to the plan. Contact the plan provider for additional information.
  • Medicare beneficiaries may enroll through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center located at www.medicare.gov.
  • Medicare beneficiaries can file a complaint with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by calling 1-800-MEDICARE 24 hours a day/7 days or using the medicare.gov site. Beneficiaries can appoint a representative by submitting CMS Form-1696.