Medicade medicare question

Question

my mother is a working widow at the age of 65 with insurance through her work and she recieves my fathers social security income. she has to choose what type of plan for medicare/ medicade and we read in the book that the rate is locked in at the age you take the plans, but if one was to change their coverage or add more at lets say age 70 would it change the rate as you are older or would it be the same for age 65 when you started? any help would be great

Answer 1

I believe the 65 start age is applicable even if you are 65+

Try the CRA website or gov website.

Answer 2

It depends on the plan and the company. Most Medicare Supplements are rated by age so as you get older the premium goes up. If you change to a different plan you pay the premium for that age range. Also as the years go by the premium will increase even on the plans that are not rated by age (called community rated). The rates for age rated and community rated plans are not locked in with any company that I know.

Medicare Advantage plans, which are similar to Medicare Supplements, do not increase the premium with age but they can increase over time. Sometimes, although rarely, the premium can even go down.

Very few long term care policies see a rate increase even over time. Many of these companies do advertise the rate is locked in. You should go back and check the book to make sure you are not confusing these plans.

Answer 3

It's medicare, not medicaid.

You don't change plans for medicare - it is what it is, and you have it or you don't, There aren't a lot of choices like some insurances have.  She should probably get some kind of medicare supplement for the things medicare doesn't pay for - there are tons of choices there - she can very possibly get one through her employer.