Here’S What You Need To Know About Medicare Plans In Chicago
Here’s what you need to know about Medicare plans in Chicago
The city of Chicago, Illinois is huge! It has a significant aging population that requires stellar healthcare services. One of the best ways to provide such services is through Medicare. The average age of beneficiaries of this healthcare insurance in Chicago is about 73. Further, over 700,00 people are eligible for Medicare plans in Chicago.
You’re sure to know someone who is eligible for Medicare since it’s a federally-funded healthcare plan available to people above the age of 65. However, that is not the only criteria. Medicare plans in Chicago are also available to younger people with disabilities, and to all citizens who suffer from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Here are some frequently asked questions along with their answers about Medicare plans in Chicago.
What are the basic things that one needs to know about Medicare plans in Chicago?
The most defining factor about Medicare is its division into four parts. These four areas cover different aspects of health care needs and services required by a patient.
- Plan A: It covers all kinds of hospice care, hospital stays and admissions, skilled nursing facilities, and some level of home health care services. This is also known as hospital insurance as it covers all your hospital stays and costs attached to it.
What are some useful facts about Medicare plans in Chicago?
Here are some both interesting and useful facts that one should know about Medicare plans in Chicago.
- The total cost of Medicare in 2014 alone was $5.7 billion.
- 13% of total expenses go towards outpatient care, and 37% of total costs are used for inpatient care.
- Within Illinois, Cook County has taken special attention for two reasons. 691,609 citizens in Cook County are beneficiaries of Plan A and Plan B. $9,692 are invested per person in Cook County on Medicare. It may seem like a high figure, but it is only 4.3% higher than the national average.
- High blood pressure is the number one reason quoted for Medicare expenses in Cook County.
What is SHIP?
- SHIP stands for Senior Health Insurance Program. It is a counseling service extended to citizens under Medicare and all of their caregivers.
- The Illinois Department on Aging (IDA) maintains this special program, and citizens in Chicago can access its resources if they have Medicare coverage.
- It is important to remember that SHIP isn’t an insurance provider or affiliated with any provider of insurance.
- The counselors you meet are trained and well-versed in helping people.
How can one contact SHIP?
You can contact SHIP via multiple channels.
- You can send a letter to the Illinois Department on Aging, Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP).
- You can also call them on their official numbers.
- For further information, you can visit their website or send them an email on their official email-id.