Louisiana Medicare
Louisiana Medicare is a federal program that provides insurance to people who are 65 years of age and above. Some people with permanent disabilities and chronic renal diseases may also be eligible.
The total number of Medicare recipients in Louisiana today is 644,114, which shows that approximately 15% of the population of Louisiana is enrolled in the Medicare program. About $8,659 is used for each enrollee annually, on average.
The Four Parts of Louisiana Medicare
Louisiana Medicare has four parts, some of which are optional (only Part A is provided premium-free for most seniors)
Part A covers a portion of the patient's hospital and nursing home stays, hospice, and care at home, too. This coverage is limited and if your length of stay exceeds a certain amount of time, you may be required to contribute more out-of-pocket.
Part B is an optional program in which some of the services not insured by the Part A are covered, including x-rays, chemotherapy, and dialysis. Part B may also cover ambulance services, outpatient care, and physical therapy. The beneficiary pays a premium every month and an annual deductible is also included.
Part C is a program where the beneficiary is allowed to choose a private health that offers - at minimum - the same level of coverage as traditional Medicare (which means this plan has the benefits of both plan A and plan B). Some plans may also include prescription drug coverage.
Part D provides all the enrollees of the Louisiana Medicare program, drug prescriptions, whose price is very affordable for the beneficiaries to use. In Louisiana, if beneficiaries fall below the minimum specified income level, and they do not qualify for Medicaid, then they could potentially enroll as a qualified Medicare beneficiary.
The Original "Medicare"
This option is also called the fee-for-service, where the beneficiaries are given a choice to choose a doctor or a physician of his / her own choice. The "original" Medicare has been replaced largely by Medigap policies, which offer choice in providers with additional coverage for prescription drugs and durable medical equipment (only for certain plans).
Medigap plans are labeled A-J. Some states may not offer all ten plans, and other states may offer more than ten. Check with your state's insurance commissioner to see if your state offers a full range of Medigap policies.
*You may be able to get extra help to pay for your prescription drug premiums and costs. To see if you qualify for getting extra help, call:
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY/TDD users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day/7 days a week;
OR
- The Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. TTY/TDD users should call, 1-800-325-0778; or Your State Medicaid Office.