| Medicare and RVers |
Medicare-eligible RVers have additional considerations
when reviewing and selecting the hospital, medical, and
Rx services because they may be traveling away from
their home locations.
when reviewing and selecting the hospital, medical, and
Rx services because they may be traveling away from
their home locations.
Medicare and Rvers
We remind our readers all who are Medicare-eligible that the Medicare and You 2008 information
booklets were being mailed to eligible participants from the Centers for Medicare and Medicare
in late October. RVers have additional considerations when reviewing and selecting the hospital,
medical, and Rx services because they may be traveling away from their home locations.
The Medicare information booklet provides extensive information about the various covered
services, including:
Note: Selected Part C plans may offer and provide prescription coverage.
The above coverage options, along with the various insurance companies providing Part C and D
services are described in detail in the information booklet.
There is turnover in the insurance carriers providing Medicare Part C and Part D coverage.
Accordingly, current Medicare enrollees carrying Part C or Part D coverage need to verify that the
carriers they want to use will be providing coverage in their geographical area for 2008.
There is no premium for Part A coverage and Part B coverage will increase to $96.40/month per
eligible person in 2008. Individuals earning more than $82,000/year and couples earning more than
$164,000 per year will have higher Part B premiums. Part A and Part B claims are submitted to and
processed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicare.
Enrollees selecting Part C coverage will have hospital coverage provided by the insurance carrier,
not from Medicare Part A.
The premiums for Part C and Part D plans depend on the specific insurance carrier plan selected.
The rates are also affected by the specific insurance carrier coverage, prescription coverage, and
the geographic area that you reside in. Part C and Part D claims are submitted to and processed
by the insurance carrier providing the coverage.
The premiums for Part C may be lower than those for Part B ($96.40/month), but the Part C plans
may impose different copays, coverage, restrict the hospitals that can be used, and may limit or
deny coverage or service outside the geographical area they serve. In addition, enrollees obtaining
Rx coverage from Part C or Part D insurance carriers will normally be limited to the prescription
formularies established by the carrier.
There are restrictions associated with joining, switching, or dropping a Part C Medicare Advantage
Plan or Part D Medicare Drug Plan. Part C and Part D plan changes to covered services and
procedures, or changes to pharmaceutical formularies during the year are not grounds for
switching or dropping coverage. It is very important to read, understand, and follow the guidelines
and conditions regarding joining, switching, or dropping Part C or Part D plans that are specified in
the Medicare and You 2008 information booklet.
Medicare eligible persons using Part A and Part B coverage have the most flexibility because Parts
A and B provide nationwide hospital and medical service by any provider accepting Medicare
payment for the various services described in the Medicare and You 2008 information booklet.
Note: Medicare-eligible RVers enrolling in Part C or Part D programs should understand any
limitations on obtaining hospital, medical, or prescription coverage when traveling away from the
provider service area. Availability of services may be restricted or not available at all.
We recommend you closely review the Medicare and You 2008 information booklet to understand
your hospital, medical, and Rx options, coverage, monthly premiums, deductibles and copays,
Consider and discuss any limitations on obtaining service and traveling away from your home area
with these carriers before selecting any Part C or Part D plans managed Medicare approved
insurance carriers.
It is important to remember that Medicare coverage for health services is limited to the United
States and its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the
Northern Mariana Islands).
RVers traveling outside of the country should consider emergency evacuation insurance and
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans that provide foreign coverage, with no extra cost for
treatments that are considered eligible.
Medigap plans generally require you to pay the bill when you receive treatment and then submit it
for payment. Most Medigap and emergency evacuation plans have a dollar limit on any claims
processed for each trip. You will find additional information about Medicare coverage, premiums
and services on the Medicare website.
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We remind our readers all who are Medicare-eligible that the Medicare and You 2008 information
booklets were being mailed to eligible participants from the Centers for Medicare and Medicare
in late October. RVers have additional considerations when reviewing and selecting the hospital,
medical, and Rx services because they may be traveling away from their home locations.
The Medicare information booklet provides extensive information about the various covered
services, including:
- Part A - Hospital Insurance
- Part B - Medical Insurance – Doctors, outpatient care, and other medical services
- Part C – Combined Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance), and Part D
(Prescription coverage for an additional premium) by private insurance companies approved
by Medicare (see Note below) - Part D – Medicare Drug Plan (prescriptions) – There are late enrollment penalties if you do not
join a Medicare drug plan when you are first eligible.
Note: Selected Part C plans may offer and provide prescription coverage.
The above coverage options, along with the various insurance companies providing Part C and D
services are described in detail in the information booklet.
There is turnover in the insurance carriers providing Medicare Part C and Part D coverage.
Accordingly, current Medicare enrollees carrying Part C or Part D coverage need to verify that the
carriers they want to use will be providing coverage in their geographical area for 2008.
There is no premium for Part A coverage and Part B coverage will increase to $96.40/month per
eligible person in 2008. Individuals earning more than $82,000/year and couples earning more than
$164,000 per year will have higher Part B premiums. Part A and Part B claims are submitted to and
processed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicare.
Enrollees selecting Part C coverage will have hospital coverage provided by the insurance carrier,
not from Medicare Part A.
The premiums for Part C and Part D plans depend on the specific insurance carrier plan selected.
The rates are also affected by the specific insurance carrier coverage, prescription coverage, and
the geographic area that you reside in. Part C and Part D claims are submitted to and processed
by the insurance carrier providing the coverage.
The premiums for Part C may be lower than those for Part B ($96.40/month), but the Part C plans
may impose different copays, coverage, restrict the hospitals that can be used, and may limit or
deny coverage or service outside the geographical area they serve. In addition, enrollees obtaining
Rx coverage from Part C or Part D insurance carriers will normally be limited to the prescription
formularies established by the carrier.
There are restrictions associated with joining, switching, or dropping a Part C Medicare Advantage
Plan or Part D Medicare Drug Plan. Part C and Part D plan changes to covered services and
procedures, or changes to pharmaceutical formularies during the year are not grounds for
switching or dropping coverage. It is very important to read, understand, and follow the guidelines
and conditions regarding joining, switching, or dropping Part C or Part D plans that are specified in
the Medicare and You 2008 information booklet.
Medicare eligible persons using Part A and Part B coverage have the most flexibility because Parts
A and B provide nationwide hospital and medical service by any provider accepting Medicare
payment for the various services described in the Medicare and You 2008 information booklet.
Note: Medicare-eligible RVers enrolling in Part C or Part D programs should understand any
limitations on obtaining hospital, medical, or prescription coverage when traveling away from the
provider service area. Availability of services may be restricted or not available at all.
We recommend you closely review the Medicare and You 2008 information booklet to understand
your hospital, medical, and Rx options, coverage, monthly premiums, deductibles and copays,
Consider and discuss any limitations on obtaining service and traveling away from your home area
with these carriers before selecting any Part C or Part D plans managed Medicare approved
insurance carriers.
It is important to remember that Medicare coverage for health services is limited to the United
States and its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the
Northern Mariana Islands).
RVers traveling outside of the country should consider emergency evacuation insurance and
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans that provide foreign coverage, with no extra cost for
treatments that are considered eligible.
Medigap plans generally require you to pay the bill when you receive treatment and then submit it
for payment. Most Medigap and emergency evacuation plans have a dollar limit on any claims
processed for each trip. You will find additional information about Medicare coverage, premiums
and services on the Medicare website.
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