Medicare in New York

Check out our information about the different parts of Medicare, how to sign up, and how to choose a Medicare plan.

Medicare Basics         Choosing the Right Medicare Plan         Enrolling in Medicare

Getting help may be valuable when making decisions about Medicare. As a New Yorker, you can get support from a number of places, such as the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), also known as the New York Office for the Aging, Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance (HIICAP). HIICAP has counselors all over the state who work with local nonprofits, public health agencies, and your county’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) to give Medicare information to New York beneficiaries. 

Medicare Plan Options in New York 

If you live in New York, you can choose from a number of Medicare plans. People who are 65 or older or who have a disability and qualify for Medicare can sign up for Original Medicare. A Medicare Advantage plan may be a better choice if you want more thorough coverage. Other options to consider are prescription drug plans or Medicare Supplemental Insurance when deciding on the best healthcare plan for you and your lifestyle. 

Original Medicare (Parts A & B) 

Original Medicare is the core program of Medicare. It has two parts: Medicare Part A, which covers hospital insurance, and Medicare Part B, which covers medical insurance. Things to think about if you want to keep Original Medicare: 

• Original Medicare in New York is an excellent choice if you want to be able to choose doctors and hospitals anywhere in the U.S. that accept Medicare. 
• Know that there is no limit on how much you can pay out of pocket for health care services or prescription drugs if you don’t need much. There are separate plans for prescription drugs for these situations. 

Medicare Advantage (Part C) 

Medicare Part C, another name for Medicare Advantage plans, is an alternative to Original Medicare coverage offered by private insurance companies. In New York, Medicare Advantage plans cover at least what Medicare Parts A and B do, and the best part is that they often offer additional benefits. 

Check out our Medicare Part C Resource Page to find out more about Medicare Advantage. 

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) 

Many Medicare Advantage plans include cover prescription drugs through Medicare Part D. You can also add a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) to Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy. Coverage for Medicare Part D is offered by private insurance companies that have been approved by Medicare. Depending on the plan you choose, you may have to pay a deductible, copay, or coinsurance for each of your medications.   

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) 

Some New Yorkers with Medicare buy a Medigap policy, which is also called Medicare Supplement Insurance. These plans aim to help pay for what Original Medicare doesn’t. Some of these gaps include deductibles and coinsurance for Parts A and B, and coverage for medical care outside of the U.S. 

It’s important to know that benefits related to Medicare Advantage is not covered by Medigap. You can’t have both a Medicare Advantage Plan and a Medigap policy at the same time. If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan and want to buy a Medigap policy, the start date of your Medigap policy should begin the day after the end date of your Medicare Advantage plan for consecutive coverage.  

Medicaid 

Medicaid is a public insurance program that has been around since 1965, that both the federal government and the states pay for it equally. In line with federal rules, each state runs its own Medicaid program. Medicaid eligibility and benefits can and often do vary significantly from one state to the next. Medicaid helps those who qualify with low incomes get access to health care, including children, parents, pregnant women, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. 

How and when to sign up for Medicare in New York 

The majority of Americans can sign up for Medicare when they turn 65. The following also activate eligibility for Medicare if: 

• You are under 65, permanently disabled, and have been getting disability benefits from Social Security for at least 24 months or are eligible for disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board if you were a railroad employee. 
• You have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 
• You have a condition called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

Medicare Enrollment Periods in New York and Nationwide 

Here is a quick overview of the Medicare enrollment periods in which you can elect or change your Medicare Advantage plan.

We’re almost done, Knickerbockers. Healthpilot knows that figuring out Medicare can be tricky and that adding deadlines for enrollment can make things even more complex. What’s the best news you’ll hear today? We’d be happy to do all of that for you. Answer a few questions, and we’ll suggest the best plan for you. You can even sign up for a Medicare plan online in just a few minutes. We do this for you every year for as long as you are a Healthpilot customer. When you have Healthpilot on your side, you don’t need to keep track of enrollment deadlines. 

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Key Stats 

Some interesting facts about Medicare coverage in New York: 

• In New York, 3,672,562 individuals are enrolled in Medicare, 19% of the state population. 
• New York offers 288 Medicare Advantage plans that are available to qualifying beneficiaries. 
• New York’s lowest monthly premium for a stand-alone Medicare Part D rings in at $10.90. 
• And a fun fact about New York Metro Area: more than 800 languages are spoken in New York City, making it one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world. 

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