Making a plan for your Medicare coverage is the best way to ensure that your coverage will meet your needs. The most basic element of making your plan is to know when you’ll actually enter the program. While most of the entry requirements are the same for the whole country, some elements are set at the state level. In this article, we’ll review the Idaho Medicare eligibility requirements for 2023 plans.

Idaho Medicare Eligibility Requirements For 2023 Plans - Parts A And B

Original Medicare, which is split into two Parts - A and B - is the basic program that you’ll enter at some point in time. This is the government sponsored and administered health insurance program that is available to every U.S. citizen and permanent legal resident. Besides this very basic rule of eligibility, there are a few different ways to actually enter the program. It was designed for people aged 65 and older, but there are some cases where you can enter early.

You can get Medicare coverage before turning 65 if you meet one of these health or disability statuses:

• You receive federal disability payments for 24 consecutive months
• You are diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• You are diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

Most people don’t get to enter Medicare until they turn 65. In this case, your enrollment might be automatic if you’re already receiving Social Security retirement income. If you’re not yet taking your Social Security payments, you’ll have to enroll manually. If you have to enroll manually, you’ll have a seven month eligibility window during which you can enroll. This is called your Initial Election Period (IEP), and it is centered on the month you turn 65.

Idaho Medicare Eligibility Requirements For 2023 Plans - Private Medicare Options

Once you enter Part A and B, you’ll have the option to select and enroll in a private Medicare Insurance plan. These plans are designed to improve the coverage provided by Part A and Part B, which though very good can require a good deal of out of pocket spending in many cases.

The three private options available include:

• Part D standalone prescription drug plans
• Medicare Supplement Insurance plans
• Part C Medicare Advantage plans

It is very easy to add a Part D drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan as soon as you enter Medicare, regardless of your age. However, things are more complicated for Medicare Supplement Insurance, which is also known as Medigap.

There is no federal requirement for insurance companies to provide Medigap coverage to people younger than age 65. This rule is set on a state by state basis; Idaho is one of the states that require insurers to offer Medigap coverage to all Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of age.

Idaho is actually one of the few states that not only require insurers to offer Medigap to those under 65, they also have provisions to limit how high the premiums can be for under-65 coverage. Because of this, Idaho Medicare eligibility requirements for 2023 plans are among the least restrictive in the country. No matter what age you enter Medicare in Idaho, you’ll have a rich assortment of options for coverage.