Eligibility Requirements for Medicare in Louisiana

Health problems can arise quickly, and without adequate health care coverage, many people can face serious financial hardships. Medicare helps Louisiana residents get the health coverage they need to pay for hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drug payments. As of 2010, around 15 percent of Louisiana residents are enrolled in the Medicare program, according to Louisiana Medicare.

Types

• Medicare Part A covers hospital stays due to injury or illness. Part A also covers extended hospice stay, nursing home residence and private home care in some cases. Medicare Part B goes beyond basic coverage and covers incidental medical expenses such as X-rays, cancer treatments, ambulance rides and physical therapy. Medicare Part C covers both hospital stays and incidental treatments as well as doctor visits.

Prescription Coverage

• Medicare Part C pays for all or a portion of prescription drug charges in some cases. Medicare recipients in Louisiana also receive Medicare Part D which covers the cost of prescriptions. Medicare Part D may also cover prescription drug charges for low-income Louisiana residents who do not qualify for traditional Medicare plans.

Eligibility

• Medicare in Louisiana comes from a federal program which provides the service to any U.S. citizen over the age of 65. Residents suffering from end-stage renal disease under the age of 65 also qualify for the Medicare program. Some residents under the age of 65 with disabilities may also qualify.

Enrolling

• Louisiana residents can apply for Medicare Part A and Part B through the Social Security office when they reach age 65. Residents with end-stage renal disease or disabilities can apply for Medicare at any time by contacting the federal Social Security office. Residents who did not sign up for Part B during their initial enrollment can sign up during the general enrollment period. The general enrollment period runs from January 1 through March 31 each year.

Warnings

• While Medicare plans greatly reduce the cost of health services, most participants will have to pay some fees out of pocket. Extended hospital stays will require some out-of-pocket expenses under Medicare Part A and most services under Medicare Part B require a co-payment.