Can A Person Have Medicaid And Private Insurance

Medicare Part D In California

Original Medicare does not cover outpatient prescription drugs. More than half of Original Medicare beneficiaries have supplemental coverage via an employer-sponsored plan or Medicaid, and these plans often include prescription coverage. But Medicare enrollees without need to obtain Medicare Part D prescription coverage. Part D coverage can be purchased as a stand-alone plan, or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan that includes integrated Part D prescription drug coverage.

Insurers in California are offering 32 stand-alone Part D plans for sale in 2021, with premiums that range from about $7 to $130/month.

As of October 2020, there were nearly 5.1 million Medicare beneficiaries in California with Part D prescription coverage. More than 2.3 million had stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, while more than 2.8 million had Medicare Advantage plans with built-in Part D coverage.

Medicare Part D enrollment is available when a beneficiary is first eligible for Medicare, and also during the annual open enrollment period each fall, from October 15 to December 7.

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For services covered by both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare pays first and Medicaid serves as the secondary payer. That means Medicare will pick up the bill first and pay its share before handing it off to Medicaid. Copayments and coinsurances that are left remaining after Medicare applies its coverage will be picked up by Medicaid.

Dual-eligible beneficiaries can expect to pay little to nothing out of their own pocket after Medicaid has picked up its share of the cost.

There are also some additional ways in which Medicaid beneficiaries can save money on care with Medicares help.

• Dual-eligible beneficiaries are often automatically enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program , which covers the Medicare Part B premium and may offer additional services.
• Dual-eligible beneficiaries also generally receive Extra Help, which provides assistance with Medicare Part D drug costs.
• There are certain types of Medicare Advantage plans known as Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans that are custom built to accommodate the specific needs of those on both Medicare and Medicaid.

How Do I Know If I Should Be Dual Eligible

Beneficiaries can find out if theyre eligible for Medicaid by contacting their Medicaid office. An Internet search for Medicaid offices in a beneficiarys state should provide the number to call but beneficiaries should make sure they are contacting a government office before sharing any personal information.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also maintains a list of state agencies that oversee Medicaid. Beneficiaries can see if they already have Medicaid by contacting 1-800-MEDICARE and asking whether they receive Extra Help with their prescription drug costs .

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Medicaid Vs Medicare: You Can Have Both

Posted: January 17, 2020

Medicaid and Medicare. Its hard to think of two words that cause as much confusion.

• Whats the difference between these two government health insurance programs?
• What exactly are Medicaid and Medicare?
• Whos eligible to get Medicaid or to get Medicare?
• And how can some people get both?

Read on to find out the answers to these questions and more.

If Your Or Your Spouse’s Employer Has 20 Or More Employees Then The Group Health Plan Pays First And Medicare Pays Second

If the

didn’t pay all of your bill, the doctor or

should send the bill to Medicare for secondary payment. Medicare will pay based on what the group health plan paid, what the group health plan allowed, and what the doctor or health care provider charged on the claim. You’ll have to pay any costs Medicare or the group health plan doesn’t cover.

Employers with 20 or more employees must offer current employees 65 and older the same health benefits, under the same conditions, that they offer employees under 65. If the employer offers coverage to spouses, they must offer the same coverage to spouses 65 and older that they offer to spouses under 65.

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What If I Have Additional Questions About Coverage

Working with both private insurance and Medicare can be a complicated process. If you have questions or concerns about whats covered and which provider pays first, there are several sources you can reach out to, including:

• Medicare. You can get in touch with Medicare using its general contact information or by reaching out to its Benefits Coordination and Recovery Center directly at 800-MEDICARE .
• Social Security Administration . Contacting the SSA at 800-772-1213 can help you get more information on Medicare eligibility and enrollment.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program . Each state has its own SHIP that can aid you with any specific questions you may have about Medicare.
• United States Department of Labor. If your employment has ended, you can contact the Department of Labor to learn more about COBRA coverage at 866-487-2365.
• TRICARE. Contacting TRICARE directly at 866-773-0404 may be beneficial when navigating coverage alongside Medicare.

Medicare And Private Insurance: Medicare Supplement

Medicare Supplement policies are sold by private insurance companies to work alongside your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. These plans can help pay your Original Medicare out-of-pocket expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Read more about Medicare Supplement plans.

eHealths licensed insurance agents would be happy to help with any questions you may have about private insurance and Medicare. If youd like to compare Medicare health plans or prescription drug plans, just enter your zip code on this page.

Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealths Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage. Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.

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Medicare Enrollment In California

Nationwide, 62 million people are covered by Medicare and more than 10 percent of them are in California. As of October 2020, 6,439,998 California residents had Medicare coverage. But thats only about 16 percent of the states 40 million people, versus about 19 percent of the United States population that is enrolled in Medicare.

For most Americans, Medicare coverage enrollment goes along with turning 65. But Medicare eligibility is also triggered when a person has been receiving disability benefits for 24 months . Nationwide, 15 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries are eligible due to disability. Its a little lower in California, though, with just 12 percent of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled due to a disability.

Read our guide to Medicares open enrollment.

Effective Date Of Coverage

Once an individual is determined eligible for Medicaid, coverage is effective either on the date of application or the first day of the month of application. Benefits also may be covered retroactively for up to three months prior to the month of application, if the individual would have been eligible during that period had he or she applied. Coverage generally stops at the end of the month in which a person no longer meets the requirements for eligibility.

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Incarcerated People And The Fee For Being Uninsured

Because you arent eligible to buy private health insurance through the Marketplace while in prison or jail, you dont have to pay the penalty that some others without insurance must pay for plan years through 2018.

After youre released, you must either have health coverage, pay the fee, or get an exemption for 2018 plans and earlier. , the fee no longer applies.).

Spending Down To Qualify

If youre single and applying for Medicaid services, you cant have over $2,000 worth of countable assets . Its also against the rules to give away your resources in order to qualify for benefits within five years of applying for Medicaid.

ALTCS and other benefit programs may deny applicants who have too much value in assets. Spending down is one strategy you can use to qualify financially for Medicaid benefits in Arizona. To spend down means to reduce these assets and reapply later.

If you decide to try this strategy, its ideal to work with an attorney to ensure you do it in the best possible way.

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Requirements For Medicaid Eligibility

You may qualify for Medicaid based on your assets and income, while others will qualify because of their MAGI .

If youre pregnant, between 19 and 64 years old with no children, or a caregiver living with relatives, you may qualify based on MAGI. Some people may qualify for reasons other than their MAGI, including some institutionalized individuals, foster and former foster kids, and others.

Eligibility for Medicaid benefits isnt as simple as it used to be. While your income does play a role, you may qualify or not based on whether you participate in other government programs.

Its a good idea to work with a long-term care expert if you have any questions about what you may qualify for and how to apply for services.

Unitedhealthcare Senior Care Options Plan

UnitedHealthcare SCO is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Medicaid program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plans contract renewal with Medicare. This plan is a voluntary program that is available to anyone 65 and older who qualifies for MassHealth Standard and Original Medicare. If you have MassHealth Standard, but you do not qualify for Original Medicare, you may still be eligible to enroll in our MassHealth Senior Care Option plan and receive all of your MassHealth benefits through our SCO program.

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What Are Dual Special Needs Plans

Dual health plans are also known as dual special needs plans. Theyre offered by private insurance companies, so you can find a dual health plan that best meets your health insurance needs. Being on a dual health plan does not change your Medicaid eligibility or benefits.

See UnitedHealthcare plans in your area.

Please note that the specific benefits dual health plans include can change depending on where you live. Search by your ZIP code to find the right plan to meet your health care needs.

Resource Center

Were here to help.

Contact us at:

Were here to help.

Contact us at:8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, 7 days a week.

Looking for the federal governments Medicaid website? Look here at Medicaid.gov.

If Your Or Your Spouse’s Employer Has Less Than 20 Employees And Isn’t Part Of A Multi

Medicare pays first. Medicare may pay second if both of these apply:

• Your employer, which has less than 20 employees, joins with other employers or employee organizations to sponsor a group health plan , and
• At least one or more of the other employers has 20 or more employees.

However, your plan may ask for an exception and request not to be part of a multi-employer group health plan. Check with your plan first and ask whether it will pay first or second for your claims.

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How Medicaid Works With Private Insurance

If you are already enrolled in private health insurance, Medicaid benefits are applied a little differently. While each state has its policies and eligibility requirements associated with Medicaid, individuals struggling to pay premiums can often combine their existing health insurance plan with Medicaid.

Once you have had a visit with your doctor or hospital, the benefits departments coordination determines which of your health insurance plans will be billed for the services. Typically, Medicaid is only charged once the coverage from the private insurer has reached its limits.

Medicaid will then allocate money towards the premium payment and disperse these funds to the individual each month in a check. Listing Medicaid as your primary health insurance provider while also being enrolled in a private health insurance plan will often delay billing. It can cause other issues that can delay benefits. Because Medicaid always is the second-payer option, listing it as such will ensure bills are sent to the correct spot and benefits continue as usual. More information can be found here: Coordination of Benefits & Third Party Liability | Medicaid

What Is The Income Range For Beneficiaries Who Are Dual Eligibles

Generally, beneficiaries earning less than 135 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for the MSP if they also have limited savings . This equates to $17,226 annually for single beneficiaries and $23,274 for married couples. Beneficiaries qualify for full Medicaid benefits if their incomes and assets are even lower .

Many seniors who live in nursing homes are dual eligible: they qualify for Medicare based on their age, and Medicaid because of their financial circumstances. It is also common for Medicare beneficiaries who are under 65 and live on Social Security Disability Insurance to receive Medicaid benefits.

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Unitedhealthcare Connected Benefit Disclaimer

This is not a complete list. The benefit information is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan or read the Member Handbook. Limitations, copays and restrictions may apply. For more information, call UnitedHealthcare Connected® Member Services or read the UnitedHealthcare Connected® Member Handbook. Benefits, List of Covered Drugs, pharmacy and provider networks and/or copayments may change from time to time throughout the year and on January 1 of each year.

You can get this document for free in other formats, such as large print, braille, or audio. Call , TTY 711, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., local time, Monday – Friday . The call is free.

You can call Member Services and ask us to make a note in our system that you would like materials in Spanish, large print, braille, or audio now and in the future.

Language Line is available for all in-network providers.

Puede obtener este documento de forma gratuita en otros formatos, como letra de imprenta grande, braille o audio. Llame al , TTY 711, de 08:00 a. m. a 08:00 p. m., hora local, de lunes a viernes correo de voz disponible las 24 horas del día,/los 7 días de la semana). La llamada es gratuita.

Puede llamar a Servicios para Miembros y pedirnos que registremos en nuestro sistema que le gustaría recibir documentos en español, en letra de imprenta grande, braille o audio, ahora y en el futuro.

Los servicios Language Line están disponibles para todos los proveedores dentro de la red.

How Do The Benefits Differ

Private insurance and original Medicare plans provide varying benefits and coverage.

Most of both types of plans cover hospital care and outpatient medical services, including doctors visits, physical therapy, and diagnostic tests.

However, Medicare may have gaps in coverage that private insurers cover. For example, Medicare does not cover prescription drugs, meaning that a person needs to get a Medicare Part D plan. However, private insurance plans often include prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans, which replace original Medicare, may offer coverage that more closely resembles that of a private insurance plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans offer dental, vision, and hearing care and prescription drug coverage.

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Reduced Coverage / Medicare Cost Sharing Or Premium Payment

Qualified Medicare BeneficiariesCovered group: individuals covered by MedicareIncome limits: Income cannot exceed 100% of the federal poverty level. For more information, view the Guidelines for Medicare Cost-Sharing Programs brochure.Age: Medicare beneficiaries of any ageQualifications: Individuals must be eligible for Medicare Part A hospital insurance.

Specified Low-Income Medicare BeneficiariesCovered group: individuals covered by MedicareIncome limits: Income cannot exceed 135% of the federal poverty level. For more information, view the Guidelines for Medicare Cost-Sharing Programs brochure.Age: Medicare beneficiaries of any ageQualifications: Individuals must have Medicare Part A

Qualified IndividualsCovered group: individuals covered by MedicareIncome limits: Income cannot exceed 135% of the federal poverty level. For more information, view the Guidelines for Medicare Cost-Sharing Programs brochure.Age: Medicare beneficiaries of any ageQualifications: Individuals must have Medicare Part A

Transferring Medicaid Benefits To Another State

Technically, theres no formal program or option that allows you to transfer your Medicaid coverage from one state to another. Therefore, if youre relocating, youll need to reapply for Medicaid in the new states.

The good news is that youre allowed to apply for Medicaid in your new state immediately after relocating, and doing so can help you avoid a lapse in benefits. It generally takes anywhere from 15 to 90 days to receive a letter of approval once you apply for Medicaid, and you can usually submit your application online.

One thing you should know about Medicaid is that you cant be covered by it in two different states at the same time. Therefore, to transfer your coverage so to speak youll need to first terminate your original Medicaid coverage and then apply in your new state once youve relocated.

Most states offer retroactive Medicaid coverage, which allows you to receive coverage for up to three months prior to the date of your applications approval. However, you may be forced to pay for healthcare services out of pocket until that retroactive coverage kicks in and renders you eligible for reimbursement. To this end, make sure to retain copies of all medical receipts for services received during your coverage gap.

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