When looking at Medicare recipients in North Carolina, a little more than 2,000,000 residents benefit from this coverage. Many of these citizens enrolled in all aspects of Medicare. Others have chosen to use just some portions of Medicare.
This article will explain Medicare and the different supplemental plans North Carolinians can choose.
North Carolina Medicare: Looking at the numbers
- Over 1,246,000 North Carolina residents enrolled in either Part A or Part B. Meanwhile, shy of 1,119,000 citizens in the state have both Part A and Part B.
- Of the North Carolinians who enjoy both, nearly 937,000 aged into the program. Another almost 182,000 came in due to disability.
- Nearly 803,000 boomers have a Medicare Advantage plan.
- There is a shade under 1,500,000 residents enrolled in a prescription drug plan.
Assessing Medicare costs in North Carolina
To determine what your costs will be for Original Medicare, knowing each part’s function can be helpful.
Part A covers any hospital visits and services surrounding this. It’s known as inpatient care, and a prime example is a trip to the emergency room. Anyone 65 or older with a 10-year or longer work history can receive Part A for free.
On the other side, Part B carries a monthly premium set at the federal level that’s the same regardless of where you live. Medicare Part B is all outpatient care — routine doctor visits, yearly checkups, flu shots, medical equipment or supplies, and more.
| Medicare Part A Costs in 2023 | Medicare Part B Costs in 2023 |
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Original Medicare coverage in North Carolina
In just Part A, there are 1,240,000-plus people enrolled. In just Part B, nearly 1,125,000 North Carolinians enjoy benefits — right around 943,000 joined because of age; another 182,000 have it because of disability.
Medicare Part A (Hospital Coverage)
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Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
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Checking out Medicare plans in North Carolina
In a perfect world, everyone would pay a low rate that didn’t change yearly. However, that’s not the case for anyone. Healthcare costs have steadily been on the rise with no end in sight.
So it would be best if you advocated for yourself by exploring all of your options to secure the best medical insurance that’s also affordable. That’s not always easy when it involves Medicare.
Thankfully, we can help lay out some of your choices. Exploring Medicare Supplemental plans in North Carolina can be an excellent first step.
Beneficiaries value these plans because they’re easy to understand and use while being standardized.
Medicare Advantage plans also offer benefits that neither Part A nor Part B of Original Medicare extends to its recipients.
Private companies provide these plans for a low monthly cost. A Medicare Supplemental plan is also known as Medigap because it fills in the gaps in your Medicare coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans are also popular options. Medicare Advantage plans are often low-cost plans for those with limited incomes and serve to add coverage for things like dental and vision that Original Medicare doesn’t cover.
One last advantage of using Medigap or Medicare Advantage is that both include or can be paired with a prescription drug plan.
North Carolina Medicare resources
The North Carolina Department of Insurance has a website dedicated to Medicare and its SHIP program. This North Carolina resource is a comprehensive landing page with information about Medicare for North Carolinians.
The Tar Heel State also takes care of Medicaid. The state of North Carolina, through the NCDHHS, has information on how to apply for or access your current Medicaid coverage.
Cities in North Carolina with Medigap coverage’s estimated premiums
For the below cities in North Carolina, we’ve created handy charts with estimated premiums for Medigap coverage:
FAQs
What is the income limit for Medicare in North Carolina?
For Part A, you qualify for Medicare through age, disability, and work history, so income doesn’t come into the equation if you hit all those marks. For Part B, however, your premium depends on your income for each tax year. J
How old do you have to be to apply for Medicare in NC?
You can start the application process to receive Medicare in North Carolina three months before your 65th birthday. If you have ALS, have been receiving disability income, or have a family member, such as a spouse, already on Medicare, you can get it as early as age 62.
Does North Carolina have free healthcare?
A couple of instances qualify as free healthcare in North Carolina. The first is if you’re old enough and have enough of a work history to receive Part A of Medicare with no premium.
The second instance is receiving Medicaid. North Carolina’s Medicaid program is for all low-income residents, which includes children and pregnant women.
Part B has a standard monthly premium everyone pays based on their yearly income, so it’s not free.
How to sign up for Medicare plan in North Carolina
Your best bet comes from working with a licensed agent since Medicare is not easy to navigate independently. The services for working with a licensed agent are free, so don’t worry about any additional costs. Call us today to see what you can receive regarding supplemental plans. Or fill out this easy rate form to get pricing on plans in your area.
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