Generally speaking, Medicare provides medical insurance for those over 65 and also disabled people under the age of 65. However, there is still a question as to who qualifies for medicare as not everyone meeting the criteria qualifies. You need to go through an enrollment process to confirm your eligibility.

Medicare has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage and Part B is medical insurance. Medicare was signed into legislation in 1965 as an amendment to the Social Security program and is administered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Department of Human Services.

If you have been working for at least 10 years in covered employment, then Part A is free. Part A is mandatory. There is a slight cost to Part B and it is optional. Typically, seniors sign up for both of these  parts once they become eligible. However, those seniors who are still working and are under group coverage at work delay Part B till retirement.

A deductible applies to both Part A and Part B before the coverage starts. Neither of these parts is applicable for coverage outside of the United States. Prescription drug coverage is also not covered.

Part A also has copayments for each day of hospitalization, on top of  the deductible. There is a maximum of 90 days hospital coverage per illness for Part A, with an additional 60 days that can be used only once in a lifetime.

For Part B, after a doctor’s visit, lab tests or other medical bills, you pay the deductible first, after which Medicare pays 80% of the approved medical and doctor bills. There is no limit to this. The inidividual is responsible for the remaining 20% and 100% of those charges that Medicare does not cover.

It is important that you not only consider who qualifies for Medicare, but also what actually your qualify for to ensure that you are appropriately prepared for the future.