| Health care is a priority at any given age. After | | | | out of their own pockets or depend on benefits |
| retiring however, health care probably becomes | | | | from long-term care insurance (LTCI), or for |
| the most important focus as one tries to stay in | | | | those whose assets and/or income are low |
| good health; this means more visits to the doctor | | | | enough to allow them to be eligible for Medicaid. |
| for routine checkups and preventative tests. | | | | Nearly all Americans automatically qualify or |
| There's also that chance of ones health declining | | | | become entitled to Medicare when they reach the |
| as they grow older and the increasing need for | | | | age of sixty-five. Factually, for those who have |
| expensive prescription drugs and medical | | | | been receiving Social Security benefits does not |
| treatments. This is the main importance of | | | | need to apply for Medicare because they will be |
| retirement health insurance. | | | | routinely enrolled. However, they will have to |
| Retirement health insurance allows for those aged | | | | decide whether they need only Part A coverage, |
| sixty-five or older to be lessened with worries | | | | which is premium-free for the majority of |
| when it comes to paying health care when they | | | | retirees, or if they want to also buy Part B |
| retire. Most retirees presumably are eligible for | | | | coverage. Part A, frequently referred to as the |
| certain health benefits from a federal health | | | | hospital insurance portion of Medicare, helps pay |
| insurance program, Medicare, when they reach | | | | for hospice care, home health care, and inpatient |
| the age of sixty-five. But if one retires before this | | | | hospital care. Part B assists in covering other |
| age, then they'll need some other way to pay | | | | medical care such as laboratory tests, physical |
| their health care until Medicare benefits take | | | | therapy, and physician care. Persons who want to |
| effect. Some generous employers may offer | | | | pay a fewer out-of-pocket health care costs may |
| extensive retirement health insurance coverage to | | | | opt to enroll in a managed care plan or private |
| their retiring employees, but this is most of the | | | | fee-for-service plan under Part C of Medicare or |
| time and exception rather than a rule. If | | | | Medicare Advantage. |
| employers do not extend health benefits, then | | | | The likelihood of prolonged stay in a nursing home |
| there is a need to buy a private retirement health | | | | ponders heavily on minds of many senior |
| insurance policy, which will be expensive, or | | | | Americans and their families, so does the thought |
| extend the employer sponsored coverage | | | | of health conditions that may need expensive |
| through COBRA. | | | | treatments; however, with the aid of retirement |
| But take note, Medicare will not pay for long-term | | | | health insurance, this burden is lightened. |
| care if one ever needs it. They'll need to pay that | | | | |