Many Indiana seniors and disabled individuals qualify for Medicare. Indiana Medicare program offers hospital and medical insurance for a fixed monthly cost. It also provides prescription drug coverage and supplemental benefits. There are more than 1.3 million people in Indiana who are enrolled in Medicare. Individuals can enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or Medicare Advantage Plans. They can also choose to purchase a Medigap plan for additional coverage.
Indiana Medicare Income Limits
Indiana Medicaid programs regulate both income and assets to help seniors qualify for long-term care services. There are many ways that seniors can protect their assets while still meeting the Indiana Medicaid program rules. One way is to include Medicaid planning as part of a comprehensive estate plan.
People with countable assets over Indiana’s Medicaid asset limit can “spend down” excess assets by transferring them to family members and/or tax-exempt non-profit organizations. This allows them to avoid the 5-year Medicaid Look-Back Period and penalty for failing to meet a work requirement.
To be financially eligible for the state’s long-term care program, Hoosier Care Connect, individuals must satisfy both an income and asset limit. Generally, all income is counted, including employment wages, alimony payments, pension payments, Social Security disability benefits, and IRA withdrawals. However, there are some exceptions, such as Holocaust restitution payments and Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefits. Non-countable assets also include personal belongings, household furnishings, automobiles, and irrevocable burial trusts.
Nursing home enrollees aren’t allowed to keep most of their income and must pay the facility all but a $52 monthly Personal Needs Allowance and Medicare premiums. In addition, the state’s estate recovery program attempts to recoup some of the cost of the individual’s care from any remaining estate. However, careful planning strategies can avoid estate recovery.
How to Apply for Indiana Medicare?
Before you apply for Indiana Medicare, be sure that you have the necessary documents. This includes proof of your age, citizenship, work history, military service (if applicable), and income. If you have trouble getting these documents, contact Social Security for help. You can also get help applying for Medicare through an approved enrollment partner. These partners can help you fill out an application, review your choices, and enroll. They may offer additional services, like assistance in a different language or a free in-person consultation.
You can apply for Medicaid at an enrollment center in your community or visit this website for more information. In addition to providing Medicare Advantage and Part D, Indiana Medicaid offers a Medicare Extra Help program that helps pay for prescriptions.
Indiana Medicare Advantage Plans
Choosing the right Medicare plan in Indiana is important. So much information is available, and it can be hard to know what to believe. eHealth’s Medicare content complies with CMS regulations, so you can be sure the information is accurate. You can apply for Medicare online or in person at a Social Security office.
Depending on your county, you may have access to one or more Medicare Advantage plans in Indiana, including prescription coverage, or you can choose a stand-alone Part D plan. Regardless of which type of Medicare Advantage plan you choose, you can enroll during the General Enrollment Period or during the Annual Election Period.
In Indiana, there are 23 stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and 73 Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription coverage. Most of these plans offer a senior savings model, which reduces the amount Medicare beneficiaries have to pay for insulin. Several programs also help with the Medicare premium in Indiana.