New To Medicare
A Brief History of Medicare
Medicare's history began in 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Congress to create the program. In 1965, Congress passed legislation to create Medicare as part of the Social Security Amendments, and on July 30th, Pres. Johnson signed the bill into law. The signing ceremony took place in Independence, Missouri, with former President Harry S. Truman in attendance. Medicare services began on July 1, 1966, and more than 19 million Americans aged 65 and older enrolled. Before Medicare, only about half of people over 65 had some form of hospital insurance, and few of those had coverage for surgical and out-of-hospital physician costs. Over time, Medicare was expanded to include more disabilities and provisions for prescription drug coverage.
What does Medicare cover?
Medicare Covers:
- Inpatient Hospital Care
- Skilled Nursing Facility Care
- Behavioral & Mental Health
- Hospice Care
- Home Health Services
- Nursing Home Care
- Therapy
- Preventive services
- Ambulance services
- Clinical research
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Limited outpatient prescription drugs
- Mental health & substance use disorders
- Medically necessary services or supplies that meet accepted standards of medical practice to diagnose or treat medical conditions
- Oxygen equipment & accessories
What does Medicare NOT Cover?
Medicare does NOT Cover:
- Maintenance medications
- Custodial care or long-term care
- Most dental care, including routine cleanings and dentures
- Routine eye examinations
- Cosmetic surgery
- Massage therapy
- Annual physical examinations
- Hearing aids
- Retainer-based or concierge care
Who is Eligible?
- Must be a citizen of the United States or have been a legal resident for at least 5 years
- You or your spouse (current or former) has worked for at least 10 years (or 40 quarters) in Medicare-covered employment
- People with disabilities, End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant) or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig's disease).
Medicare is generally available to individuals who are 65 or older under the following conditions:
Medicare is generally available to individuals who are younger than age 65 under the following conditions:
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