506           MEDICARE

 

Medicare is a government health insurance program for people 65 and over, some people under the age of 65 with disabilities, and people of any age living with permanent kidney failure. It pays for many health care expenses but does not cover them all.

 

Medicaid has limits on the type of care it will pay for and for how long. For example, Medicare covers only medically "reasonable and necessary" care and does not cover personal care that helps you with things like bathing, dressing, etc.

 

506 A.      MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY

 

Generally, an individual is eligible for Medicare at age 65 or older if:

 

 

 

 

An individual may qualify for Medicare under age 65 if:

 

 

 

 

 

If an individual age 65 or older does not qualify for Medicare based on their own or their spouses work record, they may still receive Medicare if:

 

 

 

  

506 B.      MEDICARE ENROLLMENT

 

To be eligible for Medicaid, an individual who appears to be eligible for Medicare must apply for and enroll in Medicare coverage.   See ADLTC MS 505 for information about Third Party Resources and ADLTC MS 510 for information about Assignment of Rights.

 

This includes individuals who receive Medicare Part A at no charge, but who have not elected Medicare Part B because they were not willing or able to pay the associated monthly premium.

 

If an individual is receiving Medicare Part A but not Part B, and they are eligible for a Medicare Savings Program as explained in ADLTC MS 580, email DHCS at DMATPL@alaska.gov requesting that they start the Medicare Savings Program. This will open Part B without having to pend the case.

If the individual is not eligible for a Medicare Savings Program, refer them to the local Social Security Office to apply for Medicare. See ADLTC MS 506(J) for a listing of Social Security Office addresses and phone numbers.

 

The M008 - Medicare Benefits Available notice is used for this purpose.  If the individual fails, without good cause to apply for the Medicare benefits within 30 days, the caseworker must deny the Medicaid application or close the Medicaid case.

 

Information from the SSASocial Security Administration may be obtained by direct contact with the serving SSASocial Security Administration office, or by viewing the SOLQState Online Query, SVESState Verification Exchange System, or BENDEXBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange interfaces.

 

Note:

The Medicaid application should not be delayed during the 30 day period allowed for application of Medicare. If the individual meets all other eligibility factors except for the application of Medicare, the Medicaid application should be approved.

 

506 C.      MEDICARE CARD

 

When Social Security determines that an individual is eligible for Medicare, the beneficiary will receive a red, white and blue Medicare Health Insurance card (as seen below).  This card usually arrives about 3 months before the actual eligibility date.  

 

The card will show the beneficiary's name, Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), sex, Part A and/or Part B effective dates, and the beneficiary's signature block.  The Health Insurance Claim (HIC) number is being replaced by the MBIMedicare Beneficiary Identifier on the card.  The HICHealth Insurance Claim number will still be used by DHCSDivision of Health Care Services.  To find the HICHealth Insurance Claim number, use the SVESState Verification Exchange System interface.  The HICHealth Insurance Claim number will still be entered in EISEligibility Information System and ARIESAlaska's Resource for Integrated Eligibility Services.  DHCSDivision of Health Care Services will be collecting the MBIMedicare Beneficiary Identifier directly from CMSCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services so there is no need to communicate the MBIMedicare Beneficiary Identifier to DHCSDivision of Health Care Services.  If the client provides the MBI, it should be entered into the case note.

 

A recipient should present their Medicare card and the Medicaid Recipient Identification Card to health care providers as proof of both Medicare and Medicaid coverage.  See Section 501(C) for policy using the Medicaid Recipient Identification Card or coupon.  Subsequent Medicare cards issued, in addition to Bendex updates, will reflect the newest effective dates.  A photocopy of the recipients Medicare Card should be kept in the case file.    

 

     

 

506 D.      MEDICARE PART A THROUGH D

 

1. Part A - Hospital Insurance

 

Part A helps cover:

 

Most people who have Part A do not pay monthly premiums because they have at least 10 years of Medicare covered employment.  Those who do not have 10 years of employment must pay a monthly premium.  See Addendum 1.

 

Individuals who begin receiving Social Security benefits at age 65 are enrolled in free Medicare Part A at the same time.

 

Disabled individuals who receive Social Security Disability Insurance ( SSDI ) are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A after 24 months.  Disabled individuals receiving SSISupplemental Security Income benefits do not automatically qualify for Medicare Part A.  Once they reach age 65, they may be eligible for Medicare Part A, but they are charged a premium.

 

2. Part B - Supplementary Medical Insurance

 

Part B helps cover:

 

3. Part C - Medicare Advantage Plans

 

While the majority of people with Medicare get their health coverage from Original Medicare, some choose to get their benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as a Medicare private health plan or Part C. Medicare Advantage Plans contract with the federal government and are paid a fixed amount per person to provide Medicare benefits.

 

Many Medicare Advantage Plans also offer prescription drug coverage (Part D).

 

4. Part D - Prescription Drug Coverage

 

Part D helps cover:

 

Part D plans are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

 

To be eligible for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, the beneficiary must be entitled to Part A or enrolled under Part B.  The beneficiary does not need both Part A and Part B coverage to choose prescription drug coverage.

 

Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage replaces Medicaid prescription drug coverage for recipients who are eligible for both programs.  Medicare pays for prescription drugs through private plans.  

 

People with both Medicare and Medicaid, known as "dual eligible", are automatically enrolled in a plan.  An applicant or recipient who has other creditable prescription drug coverage, such as employer or union coverage (including COBRACOBRAConsolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act ) is not required to join a Medicare drug plan.  This is because an applicant or recipient who drops employer or union coverage may not be able to get it back.  This may also affect coverage for spouses and dependents.  Applicants and recipients should be instructed to call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or the plan listed in their letter telling them they don't want to be in a Medicare drug plan.  TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.  

 

Persons who have been automatically assigned to a prescription drug plan can opt-out of a plan, or change plans at any time as long as they remain eligible for Medicaid.  However, if a person chooses to opt-out of a prescription drug plan without enrolling in another plan, Medicaid will not pay for the cost of their prescription drugs, and he or she will have a lapse in drug coverage.

 

Note:  

Send EISEligibility Information System notice "M710 - Medicare Drug Coverage Begins" when a Medicaid applicant has Medicare, and when a recipient becomes eligible for Medicare.

 

506 E.      HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER

 

The Medicare card shows the type of health insurance the person has, the effective date of the coverage, and the health insurance claim ( HIC ) number.  This may be his/her own SSNSocial Security Number , a spouse or parent SSNSocial Security Number, and will have a suffix further clarifying eligibility type.

 

Note:  

The HICHealth Insurance Claim # may be changed by SSASocial Security Administration with subsequent changes in eligibility.  If this occurs, update the MEREMedical Reference screen accordingly and send an email to DMATPL@alaska.gov so the Medicare Savings Program can be corrected.

 

506 F.      DISABILITY CLAIM NUMBER SUFFIX HA

 

When Medicare eligibility is based upon an individual’s disability, the SSASocial Security Administration adds a suffix of HA to the beneficiary's SSNSocial Security Number to indicate a disability claim. This number is not to be confused with a Health Insurance Claim number ( HIC #).  The disability claim number, which will look like 123456789HA, will appear on all SSASocial Security Administration correspondence to the beneficiary regarding his/her disability claim, including Medicare coverage related to that disability. This number should not be entered to MEREMedical Reference as the HICHealth Insurance Claim # as it will interfere with Medicare Savings Program. Enter the accurate HICHealth Insurance Claim # from the Medicare Card or BENDEXBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange update.  If these are not available, this information may be obtained from the SSASocial Security Administration or DHCSDivision of Health Care Services.  

 

506 G.      RAILROAD CLAIM NUMBER

 

Railroad beneficiaries have claim numbers consisting of 6 or 9 digits that do not fit into the HICHealth Insurance Claim # field on MEREMedical Reference without conversion. The caseworker should first document the Railroad Claim Number exactly as it appears on the RRB Medicare card in a case note ( CANO ) and then notify DHCSDivision of Health Care Services who will make a conversion to the appropriate ID number for input to EISEligibility Information System .  Verification of Railroad benefits may be made by contacting the Railroad Retirement Board toll free at 1-800-808-0772.

 

506 H.      MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS

 

Medicaid recipients who are Medicare eligible are automatically eligible for and enrolled in the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) Program. Depending on countable income and resources, they may also be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program. Please see ADLTC MS 580 for additional information.

 

506 I.        SDXState Data Exchange, BENDEXBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange, and SVESState Verification Exchange System

 

The SSASocial Security Administration produces the State Data Exchange ( SDX ), the Beneficiary Data Exchange (BENDEXBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange), and the State Verification Exchange System (SVESState Verification Exchange System) information systems.  Information from these sources is useful in determining who is eligible for or receiving Part A or Part B.

 

SDXState Data Exchange contains a record of all people who are eligible for SSISupplemental Security Income payments or federally administered state supplements.

 

BENDEXBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange provides only the data exchange that the state has requested.  The BENDEXBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange file provides SSASocial Security Administration payment status, SSISupplemental Security Income payment status and Medicare eligibility, Supplemental Medical Insurance premium (Part B) payer, changes to HICHealth Insurance Claim #, and Medicare entitlement dates.  SSASocial Security Administration sends BendexBeneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange data to the state each time a change occurs to the beneficiary record or household.  

SVESState Verification Exchange System
provides data when an inquiry is initiated on EISEligibility Information System.  A response is returned to EISEligibility Information System within approximately three working days.  The information from the SVESState Verification Exchange System response from SSASocial Security Administration verifies social security number, social security, Title II benefits, and supplemental security income.

 

506 J.       SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICES

 

The following Social Security offices and telephone/fax numbers are available to the public:

 

SSA National Number:

1-800-772-1213

TTY Users:

1-800-325-0778

 

 

Anchorage

222 W. 8th Ave, RM A11

Anchorage, AK 99513

907-271-4455

1-866-772-3081

907-271-4878 (fax)

907-271-6807 (back-up fax)

 

Juneau

709 W. 9th Street, RM 231

PO Box 21327

Juneau, AK 99802

1-800-478-7124

907-586-7620 (fax)

 

Fairbanks

101 12th St., RM 138

Fairbanks, AK 99707

907-456-5390

1-800-478-0391

907-456-0333 (fax)

Ketchikan

628 Mill St., RM 503

Ketchikan, AK 99901

907-225-5200

1-800-478-5199

907-225-8976 (fax)

 

Previous Section

 

Next Section

 

 

MC #53 (04/20)