The Short Answer – Not Much at All
Like most healthcare questions there is a short answer and a long answer. The short answer is that Obamacare, also known as National Healthcare, The Affordable Care Act, The National Healthcare Bill, and other terms, doesn’t affect Medicare very much at all. Here is a screenshot taken directly from the National Healthcare Website that should help put your mind at ease.
If you can’t read the highlighted text it says:
Medicare isn’t part of the Health Insurance Marketplace, so you don’t need to do anything. If you have Medicare, you are considered covered.
Note: The Marketplace does not offer Medicare supplement (Medigap) insurance or Part D drug plans.
Marketplace and Exchange
You will also hear the terms “Healthcare Marketplace” and “Healthcare Exchange” thrown around quite a bit. Tuesday October 1st was the first day the new Healthcare Marketplace was open. Individuals and families who do not have health insurance or want to shop for another plan can use the Exchange to “shop around” for available plans in their state.
Does Obamacare Change Medicare?
Back to the original question. There are a few changes to Medicare which were part of the overall Healthcare Bill. Here are several changes which are already in effect or will be going into effect soon.
- Medicare now covers Annual Wellness checkups. This is a great new benefit. Everyone knows it’s better to stay healthy.
- Deductibles and co-payments for many preventative services and screenings (colonoscopies, mammograms, etc.) are being eliminated.
- If you enter the Prescription donut hole you will receive a $250 rebate and a 50% discount on some brand named prescriptions. The donut hole is scheduled to go away in 2019.
Calls from Medicare about Obamacare
Medicare employees do not make outbound phone calls. If you receive ANY calls from ANYone claiming to be part of Obamacare, or affiliated with Medicare or the Affordable Care Act, ask them for their name, company and phone number and then hang up.
If you have any other questions about the new Healthcare Plan, send us an email using the contact form on this website. I hope you feel a little better now.
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