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Home › How Much Does Medicare Cost › Is Medicare Free for Seniors, the Disabled and Retirees?

Is Medicare Free for Seniors, the Disabled and Retirees?

by David Bynon, December 4, 2019

You may be eligible to get Medicare at no additional cost.

One of the most common questions we get at MedicareWire is, “Is Medicare free?” The answer all depends on your personal situation. In this article, I’ll do my best to dispel myths and help you get your Medicare benefits for FREE if you qualify.

If you don’t qualify to get Medicare at no cost, check out out this article, which explains your shared costsAn amount patients pay for their share of the cost of medical service or supply, like a doctor’s visit, hospital inpatient visit, or prescription drug. in Medicare. You might also be interested in some common healthcare needs not covered by Medicare.

How-to Get Medicare for Free

Overview: Medicare isn’t free. Most of us pay into the program during the years we, or our spouse, worked. However, certain circumstances allow individuals to qualify for government assistance that helps pay monthly premiumsA premium is an amount that an insurance policyholder must pay for coverage. Premiums are typically paid on a monthly basis. In the federal Medicare program, there are four different types of premiums. , co-pays, coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service. , and prescription costs. Here are the basic steps to get additional help:

Here are the basic steps to get additional help: 

  1. Qualify by checking your household income.
  2. Visit the Social Security Administration to get “Extra Help”.
  3. Visit MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States. to get your QMB, SLMB, or QI benefits.
  4. It doesn’t matter if you are retired or disabled. It works the same way.

Yes, Medicare is FREE for 8-Million+ People. Do You Qualify?

In this frequently asked question, I’m going to share with you the quickest and easiest way to help yourself, put some money back in your paycheck, and get Medicare for FREE (if you qualify).

Yes, free.

This may or may not work for you. It all depends on your situation. Regardless, please read this, and share it with your family and friends on social media and email, because even if it does not help you, it will help people you know. And that’s a fact.

Answer These Simple Questions

  • Are you single? Is your monthly income less than $1,060 per month?
  • Are you married? Is your combined income less than $1,430 per month?

If you fall into one of the income categories above, all it takes is one more “yes” answer to get Medicare for free.

It comes down to the value of your assets. If you’re single, and your assets (i.e., money in the bank, stocks, bonds, or real estate other than your primary residence, etc.) are less than $7,730, you’re in! If you’re married and your assets are at or below $11,600, you’re in.

If you meet this simple test, the government will pay your Medicare Part B premiumThe Medicare Part B premium is the monthly charge paid by beneficiaries for their outpatient medical care, services, and supplies. A beneficiary's premium may be uplifted by an IRMAA surcharge if their income is above... (worth $170.10 per month) under the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program.

Note: Alaska and Hawaii are slightly different.

What Do I Get for Free?

There are three programs for people with low incomes, collectively known as the Medicare Savings Programs. They include:

  • Qualified Medicare BeneficiaryA person who has health care insurance through the Medicare or Medicaid programs. (QMB) program,
  • Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) program, and
  • Qualifying Individual (QI) program.

If you qualify, the QMB program pays your premium, Part B deductiblesA deductible is an amount a beneficiary must pay for their health care expenses before the health insurance policy begins to pay its share., and co-insurance. The SLMB and QI programs pay your monthly Part B premium only.

Your Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare benefits. It covers doctor visits, preventative care, tests, durable medical equipment, and supplies. Medicare Part B pays 80 percent of most medically necessary healthcare services. is just the start. Here’s the full range of coverage:

  • Part AMedicare Part A is hospital coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. It covers inpatient care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. It also covers limited home healthcare services and hospice care.: Pays for hospitalization costs. Your Part A premium is already covered (if you worked 40 quarters or you’re disabled). QMB then covers the 20% co-insurance that Medicare does not pay.
  • Part B: Pays for physician services, lab and x-ray services, durable medical equipmentDurable medical equipment (DME) is equipment that is designed to last and can be used repeatedly. It is suitable for home use and includes wheelchairs, oxygen equipment, and hospital beds., and outpatient and other services. QMB covers nearly all of your Part B costs.
  • Part C: Medicare Advantage PlanMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B). (like an HMO or PPO) offered by private companies approved by Medicare. In many areas, you can join a QMB approved plan.
  • Part D: Assists with the cost of prescription drugs. If your income and assets meet the tests above, you qualify for the Medicare Part DMedicare Part D plans are an option Medicare beneficiaries can use to get prescription drug coverage. Part D plans provide cost-sharing on covered medications in four different phases: deductible, initial coverage, coverage gap, and catastrophic. Each... “Extra HelpSocial Security's Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program helps Medicare beneficiaries pay for their Medicare Part D prescription drugs by paying some of the costs. Also known as "Extra Help", beneficiaries who qualify for LIS receive premium...” program. It covers all or part of your Part D premiums, deductibles, and co-pays at the pharmacy. And, it offers coverage through the doughnut hole coverage gapA period of time in which you pay higher cost-sharing for prescription drugs until you spend enough to qualify for catastrophic coverage..

If you’re familiar with state Medicaid rules, and you’re concerned about the state requirements, you can relax. The Medicare Savings Programs are exempt from estate recovery.

You Won’t Get Rich… BUT, What a Savings!

Obviously, these programs won’t add a heap of cashback into your bank account, but they will help. Particularly when you have unexpected medicare bills. So, if you qualify, take action. Here’s what you do:

  1. Go to the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp and apply for “extra help.” This should be your first step because it’s the easiest.
  2. To become a dual-eligibleDual-eligible beneficiaries are those who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. It includes beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B while receiving full Medicaid and/or financial assistance through a Medicare Savings Program.... for Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Medi), contact your state Medicaid office or visit their website (see below).
  3. Do the happy dance, because you just scored. What a relief!

That’s it. Really, that’s all there is to it, so don’t be intimidated by or get hung up about the government bureaucracy.  You’ll be asked to provide documentation, but who cares? We’re talking about access to healthcare without worries.

State Medicaid Offices

  • Alabama
    • (800) 362-1504,
    • (334) 242-5000, or
    • http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov/
  • Alaska
    • (800) 780-9972 ,
    • (907) 465-3030, or
    • http://www.hss.state.ak.us/dpa
  • Arizona
    • (800) 523-0231,
    • (602) 417-4000, or
    • http://www.ahcccs.state.az.us/
  • Arkansas
    • (800) 482-5431,
    • (501) 682-8233, or
    • http://www.medicaid.state.ar.us/
  • California
    • (916) 636-1980 or
    • http://www.medi-cal.ca.gov/
  • Colorado
    • (800) 221-3943,
    • (303) 866-3513, or
    • http://www.chcpf.state.co.us/
  • Connecticut
    • (800) 842-1508,
    • (860) 424-4908, or
    • http://www.dss.state.ct.us/
  • Delaware
    • (800) 372-2022,
    • (302) 255-9500, or
    • http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dmma
  • District of Columbia
    • (202) 639-4030
  • Florida
    • (866) 762-2237,
    • (850) 487-1111, or
    • http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/
  • Georgia
    • (800) 869-1150,
    • (404) 656-4507, or
    • http://www.dch.georgia.gov/
  • Hawaii
    • (800) 316-8005,
    • (808) 524-3370, or
    • http://www.med-quest.us/
  • Idaho
    • (208) 334-6700 or
    • http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/
  • Illinois
    • (800) 226-0768,
    • (217) 782-4977, or
    • http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/
  • Indiana
    • (800) 403-0864,
    • (317) 233-4454, or
    • http://www.in.gov/fssa/
  • Iowa
    • (800) 338-8366,
    • (515) 256-4606 or
    • http://www.ime.state.ia.us/
  • Kansas
    • (800) 766-9012,
    • (785) 296-3981 or
    • http://www.kdheks.gov/
  • Kentucky
    • (800) 635-2570,
    • (502) 564-4321 or
    • http://www.chfs.ky.gov/
  • Louisiana
    • (888) 342-6207,
    • (855) 229-6848, or
    • http://www.medicaid.dhh.louisiana.gov/
  • Maine
    • (800) 977-6740 or
    • http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/bms
  • Maryland
    • (800) 456-8900,
    • (410) 767-5800, or
    • http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/
  • Massachusetts
    • (800) 841-2900 or
    • http://www.mass.gov/masshealth
  • Michigan
    • (800) 642-3195,
    • (517) 373-3740, or
    • http://www.michigan.gov/mdch
  • Minnesota
    • (800) 657-3672,
    • (651) 431-2801, or
    • http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/
  • Mississippi
    • (800) 421-2408,
    • (601) 359-6050, or
    • http://medicaid.ms.gov/
  • Missouri
    • (800) 392-2161,
    • (573) 751-3425, or
    • http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/index.htm
  • Montana
    • (800) 362-8312 or
    • http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/
  • Nebraska
    • (855) 632-7633,
    • (402) 471-3121, or
    • http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/default.aspx
  • Nevada
    • (800) 992-0900,
    • (702) 631-7098, or
    • http://www.dwss.nv.gov/
  • New Hampshire
    • (800) 852-3345,
    • (603) 271-4344, or
    • http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/
  • New Jersey
    • (800) 356-1561 or
    • http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs
  • New Mexico
    • (888) 997-2583,
    • (505) 827-3100, or
    • http://www.state.nm.us/hsd/mad/Index.html
  • New York
    • (800) 541-2831,
    • (518) 473-3782, or
    • http://www.omig.ny.gov/
  • North Carolina
    • (800) 662-7030,
    • (919) 855-4100, or
    • http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dma/mqb.html
  • North Dakota
    • (800) 755-2604,
    • (701) 328-2321, or
    • http://www.nd.gov/dhs/
  • Ohio
    • (800) 324-8680 or
    • http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp
  • Oklahoma
    • (800) 522-0310,
    • (405) 522-7171, or
    • http://www.okhca.org/
  • Oregon
    • (800) 527-5772,
    • (503) 945-5712, or
    • http://www.oregon.gov/dhs
  • Pennsylvania
    • (800) 692-7462 or
    • http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/
  • Rhode Island
    • (401) 462-5300 or
    • http://www.dhs.ri.gov/
  • South Carolina
    • (888) 549-0820,
    • (803) 898-2500, or
    • http://www.scdhhs.gov/
  • South Dakota
    • (800) 597-1603,
    • (605) 773-3495, or
    • http://www.state.sd.us/social/medical
  • Tennessee
    • (800) 342-3145 or
    • http://state.tn.us/tenncare
  • Texas
    • (877) 541-7905,
    • (512) 424-6500, or
    • http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/
  • Utah
    • (800) 662-9651,
    • (801) 538-6155, or
    • http://health.utah.gov/medicaid/
  • Vermont
    • (800) 250-8427,
    • (802) 871-3009, or
    • http://humanservices.vermont.gov/
  • Virginia
    • (804) 786-7933 or
    • http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/
  • Washington
    • (800) 562-3022 or
    • http://www.hca.wa.gov/
  • West Virginia
    • (800) 642-8589,
    • (304) 558-1700, or
    • http://www.wvdhhr.org/bms/
  • Wisconsin
    • (800) 362-3002,
    • (608) 266-1865, or
    • http://www.dhfs.wisconsin.gov/
  • Wyoming (307) 777-7656

Filed Under: How Much Does Medicare Cost

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