Part A - Hospice Care

If a patient is willing to waive coverage under Medicare Part A and certain other criteria are met, Medicare will cover many aspects of palliative hospice care.

Medicare Part B - Supplemental Medical Insurance

Two types of individuals are eligible for Medicare Part B coverage: (1) patients who are eligible for Medicare Part A without paying premiums; and (2) individuals older than 65 years of age who are U.S. citizens, U.S. residents, or legal resident aliens who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years.

Insurance - Long-Term Care - Features - Coverage, Benefits, and Related Issues

After a decision to purchase long-term case insurance has been made, a savvy consumer will closely compare policies to determine which, also taking cost into consideration, best fits his or her needs. Policies have many different features relating to the definition of long-term care; the amount and type of benefits and benefit periods; and exclusions. Additionally, some policies provide for death benefits.

Medicare - Limiting Charges and Assignment

Medicare limits the amount it will pay for some services, supplies, and medical equipment. This is called the Medicare limiting charge. Whether a limiting charge is available to help limit the cost of services or supplies, however, depends upon who is rendering the service, whether the provider has agreed to accept assignment, what type of item or service is at issue, and whether the physician and the patient executed a private contract. Assignment means that a provider has agreed that it will accept the Medicare-defined reasonable and customary fee for its services. A full discussion of assignment appears in a separate article.

Medicare Fraud

Every year, Medicare is cheated out of millions of dollars due to fraud. Fraud includes billing Medicare for services never provided or for services different than those provided. It also includes using someone else's Medicare card to obtain health care.