If you are eligible for Medicare and need to either sign up or change plans, your opportunity to do so closes Dec. 7. Do not delay in reviewing your options and take advantage of these essential insurance plans.
“Original Medicare continues to be a healthcare lifeline for seniors across America. Knowing your options and making the best choice is critical,” says Tim Jones, CEO of Heart of Texas Healthcare System. “Original Medicare continues to be the best option for seniors in McCulloch County, and we at Heart of Texas Healthcare System want to make sure that we can continue to provide seniors with a continuity of services that they expect.”
The Original Medicare program began in 1965 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill that led to the formation of both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Over the years, Congress has made many changes to the Medicare program that expanded coverage and made more people eligible for benefits.
Today, there are three essential parts of Medicare: Part A and Part B (known as Original Medicare) and Part D.
Medicare C, a fourth option, is known as Medicare Advantage and dramatically differs from Original Medicare. This plan is serviced through private insurance companies and provides an alternative to Original Medicare for health and drug coverage.
In most cases, Medicare Advantage requires policyholders to use doctors in the plan’s network, creating confusion for patients and limiting their choice of medical providers, especially in rural regions like McCulloch County.
Original Medicare provides a more streamlined experience for area seniors, requiring fewer pre-approvals and resulting in fewer restrictions compared to Medicare Advantage plans. Despite major advertising efforts to sell Medicare Advantage plans by private insurance companies, Heart of Texas Healthcare System urges patients choose Original Medicare.
“Choosing Original Medicare means a more seamless experience when it comes to receiving healthcare services from the hospital and most local medical providers,” Jones emphasizes. “Additionally, other programs and services offered by Heart of Texas Healthcare System are covered by Original Medicare. Overall, we continue to see that this is the best option for our patients.”
Ensuring you have health insurance coverage is essential. No matter which plans you choose, remember that qualifying individuals can enroll or make changes to their existing plans until Dec. 7.
For more information regarding Medicare and to learn about your choice of healthcare for individuals ages 65 and older, please visit www.choosingmedicare.org or call 325-792-3937 to speak with a member of the HTHS team.
To learn more about local healthcare programs and services in McCulloch County, visit www.heartoftexashealthcare.org.
About Heart of Texas Healthcare System
Heart of Texas Healthcare System provides healthcare for residents of McCulloch County and the surrounding area. Founded in 2011, the system offers many medical services, including 24-hour emergency care, advanced radiology services, a clinical laboratory, dialysis services, physical therapy, surgical services, patient education, sleep studies, and more. The system also owns and operates Brady Medical Clinic, which provides family medicine, preventive care, and acute care for minor emergencies. For additional information, please visit www.heartoftexashealthcare.org.