Part A | Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A covers care you receive when you stay in a hospital (this is called “inpatient” care). It also covers care you get at skilled nursing facilities, home health care, and hospice care. Read More.
Medicare Basics and Answers to Your Questions
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What is Medicare?
Medicare is the largest health insurance program in the United States. It is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a government agency. Whether you're new to Medicare or already have the basics covered and know what coverage you need, ConnectiCare is here to guide you with information to help you make the right choice.
You can join Medicare if you’re 65 or older and:
- You’re a United States citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
- You or your spouse paid Medicare taxes when you worked.
You may also be able to join if you are under 65 and:
- You’re a United States citizen or lawfully present in the U.S.
- You have certain disabilities or conditions.
What is Medicare?
Medicare Basics
Original Medicare has two parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). It is a “fee-for-service” health plan. This means you pay for each service you receive. To better understand Original Medicare, let’s look at what each part covers:
Part B | Medical InsuranceMedicare Part B helps you pay for medical services. These are services like doctor visits, tests, outpatient hospital services, and other like services. Read More.
Part C | Medicare Advantage PlansOriginal Medicare coverage is good, but it can be hard to manage multiple plans, ID cards, bills, and networks. With a Medicare Advantage plan from a private company like ConnectiCare, you can get what you need from a single plan. Read More.
Part D | Prescription Drug CoverageMedicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans also include Medicare Part D drug coverage. Medicare Part D is not included in Original Medicare. You can get Medicare Part D from a Medicare Advantage plan from a private company like ConnectiCare. Read More.
How to Get Help Covering Costs
- Medicare Savings Programs
If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get help from your state to pay your Medicare costs. Some of the programs may help to pay your Medicare Part B premium, or some of your costs to get services like deductibles, coinsurance, or copays.
- Medicaid
Medicaid is a health plan for low-income and disabled people. Each state runs its own program. The federal government and each state government share the costs of this program. “Dual eligibles” are those that have both Medicare and Medicaid and most health care expenses are covered.
- "Extra Help"
Extra Help is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Part D drug plan costs. It can help pay monthly premium fees, deductibles, and coinsurance. Are you eligible for “Extra Help”? Read More.
Moving From Individual or Group Coverage Through Access Health CT to a Medicare Plan
Once you qualify for Medicare, you may have a limited time (an initial enrollment period) to sign up. For most people, the enrollment period starts three months before their 65th birthday and ends three months after their 65th birthday.
In most cases, it’s to your advantage to sign up for Medicare when you’re first eligible.
Medicare Resources
BrochuresConnectiCare Medicare Made Simple Guide
Get our Medicare Made Simple Guide — A ConnectiCare guide to help you make the right Medicare decisions.
CMS Medicare & You Brochure
Helpful information for people eligible for Medicare and their caregivers.
Download PDF
Helpful LinksConnecticut’s Program for Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information and Referral, Counseling, Eligibility Screening (CHOICES) Call: 800-994-9422 TTY: 711
Official U.S. Government website for people with Medicare General information and helpful tools.
Medicare Rights Center
A national not-for-profit consumer service organization dedicated to making sure that older adults and people with disabilities get affordable health care.
Administration for Community Living
The Administration for Community Living educates people and their caregivers about the benefits and services available to help them.
Phone NumbersSocial Security Administration
800-772-1213 (TTY: 800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
We're Here for You
If not currently enrolled call 877-224-8221 (TTY: 711)
From Oct. 1 to March 31, you can call us from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. From April 1 to Sept. 30, you can call us from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Medicare members call 800-224-2273 (TTY: 711)
From Oct. 1 to March 31, you can call us from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. From April 1 to Sept. 30, you can call us from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
