There are plenty of government resources available if you’re looking for Medicare information. The United States government plays an important role in inspecting coverage and laying rules for Medicare. This is because Medicare is a government health insurance program. If you sign up for a Medicare Plan from a private insurance company, the government will still be largely involved. Same if you sign up with a federal Original Medicare program.
Medicare involves various government agencies in one way or another. Here’s how:
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare. The CMS provides insurance programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid as well. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is also involved in providing the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- Your eligibility for Medicare is usually determined by The Social Security Administration (SSA). If you obtained your retirement benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or Social Security, you will apply for Medicare through them. A lot of beneficiaries will qualify for automatic enrollment for Medicare at age 65 if they’re already receiving RRB or SSA benefits. You can also qualify for automatic enrollment under 65. This applies if you have gotten certain RRB or SSA disability benefits for 24 straight months.
- If you want a tool that lets you look at your health information for free, like how recently you’ve had vaccinations and your prescription drugs. Then visit MyMedicare.gov.
- If you want more information on eligibility, costs, coverage, and more. Then visit Medicare’s general website, Medicare.gov.