Medicare and You 2020 & 2021

Medicare and You 2020 & 2021 Guidebook – Read This First

Your Introduction to the Medicare and You 2020 & 2021 Book, and where to get a copy.

The Medicare and You 2021 Guidebook details what you need to know about Medicare benefits for the current year. In it you will find the basics of Medicare, how to get it, and what changes the program is implementing in the calendar year.

However, it is 120 pages long and very detailed. It is also very dry and technical.

So, if you are trying to learn more about Medicare – without falling asleep in the process – we have on-topic website article suggestions for you here that follow the elements of the Medicare and You 2020 Guide.

Where to find the guide

What is included in the Medicare and You 2021 Guidebook?

Here we will outline the sections of the guidebook and give you relevant articles that discuss the various Medicare elements and benefits.

What are the Parts of Medicare?

Intro Section (page 5)

The Medicare and You book starts out with summarizing parts A, B, and D and what they include.

Medicare Part C is discussed in the next section.

Related Article: For an illustrated overview of the four parts of Medicare, visit our medicare parts infographic and article “Medicare Parts A B C D.”

What are my Medicare options?

Intro Section on Original vs Medicare Advantage (pages 6-8)

how to read Medicare and You 2020 guidebook

Many online comparisons are between Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans as those are the additions that are in your hands to choose.

However, all these comparisons are in their simplest form between having Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage. This section does a side-by-side comparison of the two (with or without a supplement).

Related Article: For a more in-depth discussion to help you decide what Medicare options are right for you, please read the “Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplements” article here.

How do I get Medicare?

“Section 1: Signing up for Medicare” (pages 15-24)

People get Medicare in different ways. Some are signed-up for it automatically if you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement. Some people must sign up for it when they turn 65 (or delay it if they are not ready at 65).

This section gives you people to call (Social Security at 1-800-772-1213) and places to visit (online at ssa.gov/benefits/medicare) if you need to sign yourself up.

Other topics covered include, when to sign-up, what to sign-up for, and what does each part cost?

Related Articles:

Hey, Medicare and You 2021, Will Medicare Cover My…?

“Section 2: Find out if Medicare covers your test, service or item” (pages 25-50)

This section lists all Medicare Benefits you will receive if you are signed-up for both Medicare Parts A and B. These benefits are universal, meaning they are the standards of care you will receive whether you are receiving Medicare from the federal government or through a private carrier with a Medicare Advantage Plan.

If you are looking to see if a specific benefit is included in Medicare, this is the section to search for it.

This section also reminds you of what is not included in Medicare, such as Long-Term Care insurance. In addition, Original Medicare does NOT include many services that ARE covered by Medicare Advantage Plans. These include dental care, eye exams, hearing benefits, and fitness programs.

2020 New Offering Alert: One interesting change noted in the Medicare and You 2020 book is that many Medicare Advantage programs are now offering “telehealth” benefits where you can see a provider at home instead of at their facility. The guidebook notes that this is typically beyond what Original Medicare can offer.

Related Article: To see the basics of what Medicare Covers, please see our article “Medicare Parts A B C D.”

What exactly is Original Medicare?

“Section 3: Original Medicare” (pages 51-54)

The Original Medicare section explains how our Federal Health Insurance for Seniors works. If you have Original Medicare, with or without a supplement, you are a beneficiary of a nationalized health care system and the government is the primary payer of your health benefits.

Read this section to learn how that works and how to use your benefits once you are on Medicare.

Related Article: Read “What is Medicare?

What is Medicare Advantage?

“Section 4: Medicare Advantage Plans & other options”

The other option than being on Original Medicare is to be on a Medicare Advantage Plan. In this case, a private insurance company becomes your primary payer and main contact. Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) Plans are called “bundled plans” because they combine parts A, B and D to form one “Plan C.”

They often have reduced costs for premium payments, with some of them even offering “$0” monthly premiums. In addition, they often include extra benefits, not included by government Medicare, such as dental, hearing and eye care. ““Silver Sneakers” and similar fitness/wellness programs are also often an included benefit.

Related Articles:

What is a Medicare Supplement / Medigap Plan?

“Section 5: Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policies” (pages 69-72)

Medigap Policy Chart
CLICK HERE to see more about the various Medigap plans and what they offer.

When you opt for keeping Original Medicare (instead of a Medicare Advantage Plan) you will most likely want to pair that with not just a stand-alone drug plan, but also with a Medigap Plan. These plans are also called Medicare Supplement Plans.

They are supplemental insurance plans that pick up paying where Original Medicare leaves off – such as with the 20% coinsurance, co-pays and deductibles.

The government sets the requirements for each supplement plan and then the private insurance companies decide what price they can offer for each plan in each market they are in. These plans are labeled with letters, and offer the exact same benefits no matter what private insurance company you choose.

Related Article: For more information, please read this article on Medicare Supplement Insurance.

What is Part D?

“Section 6: Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)” (pages 73-82)

Read this section to learn how Medicare Drug Plans work, where to get one, and when you can get one / switch them.

Remember, that if you opt for a Medicare Advantage Plan, you will most likely have your drug plan included (which is called a MAPD plan).

Related Articles:

Can I get help paying for medical costs?

“Section 7: Get help paying your health & prescription drug costs” (pages 83-88)

The government has set up several ways for Medicare Beneficiaries to get help in paying for their health insurance. Read this section to see if you qualify for the various tiers of assistance.

How can I protect myself?

“Section 8: Know your rights & protect yourself from fraud” (pages 89-100)

The U.S. government understands that health insurance can be confusing, and there are people out there that will try to take advantage of this confusion. Read this section to know how to protect yourself from health care and insurance fraud.

In addition, Section 8 also explains your rights under Medicare and how to make an appeal if you decide your rights have been violated. The Medicare and You 2020 book defines an appeal as “…the action you can take if you disagree with a coverage or payment decision by Medicare or your Medicare plan.”

How do I get my questions answered?

“Section 9: Get more information” (pages 101-112)

Next, if you have questions related to Original Medicare, the handbook offers you the following numbers to call:

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
TTY users call 1-877-486-2048
Get information 24 hours a day, including weekends

Medicare and You 2021

Additionally, for questions regarding insurance plans like Supplement (Medigap) or Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) then we suggested talking to a licensed insurance professional.

If you are lucky enough to live in our headquarters of Nebraska or our neighboring state of Iowa, you can contact us here.

Related Article: Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page, and if you have a question, please leave it in the comments section or email us. Thanks!

What does this word mean?

“Section 10: Definitions” (pages 113-116)

Do you just live to read a good glossary? Well, here you go. You will find here definitions to all the health care and insurance lingo you need to know to navigate your health care effectively.

Related Article: Feel free to look through all our Medicare Articles. They are all listed on this page.

Medicare and You 2020/2021 Handbook Review

We hope our review of the 2020 & 2021 Medicare and You Book has been helpful.

Our one hope for next year is that the book might be more helpful in pointing beneficiaries towards ways to find LICENSED independent insurance professionals that can help them in making decisions. These agents are the only ones required to stay licensed, tested and up to date on the plans that are out there. Moreover, this applies especially for the Medicare Advantage approved agents as they have to be re-tested every year on changes.

Finally, we are MedicareLifeHealth.com just don’t understand how people can be offering advice on plans – that change yearly – they have not be certified to explain.

Our advice? Find yourself a good agent, and make them work for you.

Further Medicare and You 2021 Topic Relevant Reading

How to Dispose of Old Medications

How to Dispose of Old Medications

How to Dispose of Old Medications Do you have a stash of old or expired medications? Are you concerned about ...
Read More
does Medicare pay for dentures

Does Medicare Pay for Dentures

Does Medicare Pay for Dentures? One frequently asked question we get is "Does Medicare pay for dentures?" The short answer ...
Read More
Is acupuncture covered by Medicare

Is Acupuncture Covered by Medicare

Is Acupuncture Covered by Medicare Is acupuncture covered by Medicare? Only if you have chronic low back pain as defined ...
Read More
what does medicare cover - FAQ's to Medicare coverage questions

What Does Medicare Cover?

What Does Medicare Cover? The Most Frequently Asked Medicare Coverage Questions This is a quick directory answering what Medicare will ...
Read More
does medicare cover Chiropractic Care

Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care?

Does Medicare Cover Chiropractic Care / Services? Yes, when deemed medically necessary, Medicare does cover chiropractic services. Original Medicare Part ...
Read More
does medicare cover cataract surgery

Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery

Does Medicare Cover Cataract Surgery? Yes, Medicare covers cataract surgery. Medicare Part B covers the costs associated with cataract surgery ...
Read More
medicare part b costs 2021 chart - Medicare Part A Costs Chart

Medicare Part B Premium 2021 Changes

Medicare Part B Premium 2021 The Center for Medicare Services has announced the costs of Medicare Part B Premium 2021 ...
Read More
Does Medicare Cover Ambulances medicare FAQs

Does Medicare Cover Ambulance Services?

Does Medicare Cover Ambulance Services? Yes, Medicare covers ambulance services in approved emergency situations. As with all Medicare covered costs, ...
Read More
hearing aid alternatives with medicare life health - what is a psap

Best Hearing Aid Alternatives

Best Hearing Aid Alternatives Hearing aids are expensive. We are talking thousands of dollars, sometimes even with insurance. In addition, ...
Read More
HMO vs PPO Which is better in regards to health insurance, Medicare Advantage Plans and dental insurance

HMO vs PPO Which is Better?

HMO vs PPO Which is Better? Insurance has changed a lot over the last 20 years, and there is no ...
Read More
How Long Does Medicare Pay for Rehab

How Long Does Medicare Pay for Rehab?

How Long Does Medicare Pay for Rehab? How Long Does Medicare Pay for Rehab? It depends on what Medicare Plan ...
Read More
does medicare pay for stem cell therapy article from medicarelifehealth.com

Does Medicare Pay for Stem Cell Therapy?

Does Medicare Pay for Stem Cell Therapy? When does Medicare pay for stem cell therapy? The answer is: in a ...
Read More
What is MAPD + PDP+ Medicare Jargon Made simple

What is MAPD?

What is MAPD? There are a lot of acronyms in Medicare, and even more in insurance. We know, it can ...
Read More
attained age vs issue age in medigap pricing

Attained Age vs Issue Age

Attained Age vs Issue Age Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies all price their plans differently. One of the biggest differences between ...
Read More
What is Medicare Plan G - medigap plans made clear

What is Medicare Plan G?

What is Medicare Plan G? When people talk about Medicare Plan G, they are referring to the Medicare Supplement Plan ...
Read More
what are medicare part b excess charges

What are Part B Excess Charges?

What are Part B Excess Charges? Medicare Part B Excess Charges are important to understand when you are deciding what ...
Read More
how to apply for medicare article - medicare enrollment questions and answers

How to Apply for Medicare

How to Apply for Medicare (An Ultimate Guide) With so many rules, regulations, exceptions and unique situations, Medicare enrollment can ...
Read More
how much does an mri cost

How Much Does an MRI Cost?

How Much Does an MRI Cost? There is nothing worse than getting a hospital bill with an unexpected number on ...
Read More