City School District of the City of Niagara Falls

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, retirees, the disabled, and children of deceased workers and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD)

Here are the ABC's and D of Medicare

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance): Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.  There is typically no cost for Part A. 

Medicare Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.

For 2023, the cost of Medicare Part B is $164.900 and is deducted directly from your Social Security check. 

Medicare Part C sometimes called "MA Plans," are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still have Medicare. You get your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan and not Original Medicare.

Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage): Part D adds prescription drug coverage.  These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare.  Unions may also sponsor Retiree Drug Subsidy Plan (RDS) that provide Creditable Coverage".  These plans are an alternative to Medicare Part D for eligible retirees.

For more information, see Medicare's website, medicare.gov

Please review the Medicare Reference Table for additional information on when Medicare is required.

Most employees forgo enrollment in Medicare Parts B & D until they retire.  Check with Social Security for details regarding your ability to delay enrollment in Parts B & D without penalty. Employees who enroll in Part B while still working are usually not subject to late enrollment penalties as long as they have maintained continuous medical coverage from age 65 on. If you decide to forgo Part B when you are first eligible, confirm your ability to avoid late enrollment penalties with Social Security. Employees and their legal spouses are usually allowed to enroll in Part B at any time while continuously covered by medical insurance through active employment (or, immediately upon termination of employment or retirement).

When you retire and you or your spouse are 65 or older or eligible for Medicare due to a disability, you and your spouse MUST enroll in both Medicare Parts A and B in order to be enrolled in the coverage coverage School District of the City of Niagara Falls medical plan.   At this time, Independent Health is secondary coverage to Medicare, which means that it typically pays after Medicare pays. In order to be fully covered, for Medicare-covered services you will need both Part A and Part B.