Medicare is a health insurance program offered by the United States government. New Yorkers are generally eligible for Medicare when they turn 65, but you may be eligible at a younger age if you have certain disabilities or medical conditions.
Read on to learn more about Medicare New York, including who’s eligible, how to enroll, and tips for shopping for Medicare Advantage plans in 2022.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in New York for the 2022 plan year:
- A total of 3,703,618 New York residents were enrolled in Medicare.
- The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium decreased in New York compared to last year — from $32.27 in 2021 to $30.20 in 2022.
- There are 280 Medicare Advantage plans available in New York for 2021, compared to 275 plans in 2021.
- All New York residents with Medicare have access to buy a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.
- There are 26 stand-alone Medicare Part D plans available in New York for 2022, compared to 28 plans in 2021.
- All New York residents with a stand-alone Part D plan have access to a plan with a lower monthly premium than they paid in 2021.
- There are 12 different Medigap plans offered in New York for 2022.
If you’re eligible for Medicare, there are two ways you can get coverage. One is original Medicare, the traditional program run by the government. The other is Medicare Advantage plans, which are offered by insurance companies as an alternative to original Medicare.
Original Medicare
Original Medicare has two parts:
- Part A (hospital insurance). Part A helps you pay for inpatient hospital stays, hospice care, and home health care. In certain circumstances, it may cover short-term skilled nursing care.
- Part B (medical insurance). Part B covers a long list of medically necessary services. These include doctors’ services, outpatient care, health screenings, preventative services, and durable medical equipment.
Medicare Advantage in New York
Medicare Advantage plans are another option. These bundled plans must cover everything in original Medicare, and they often include prescription drug coverage, too. Depending on the plan, you could also get other types of coverage, such as dental care, vision care, or even gym memberships.
When you start shopping for Medicare plans in New York, you’ll notice there are plenty of options. Here are some of the insurance companies that sell Medicare Advantage plans in New York for 2022:
- Aetna
- Healthfirst
- Excellus
- Empire HealthChoice HMO
- HealthNow New York
- Humana
- MVP
- Oxford
- UnitedHealthcare
- WellCare
Availability varies by county. Before choosing a plan, contact the provider and confirm that they cover your area.
Medicare supplement plans in New York
Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) policies help fill the gaps in original Medicare. Medigap policies may cover coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles, as well as extra benefits such as foreign travel emergency coverage.
In New York, several insurance companies offer Medigap plans. For 2022, some of the companies offering Medigap plans in New York include:
- AARP – UnitedHealthcare
- EmblemHealth
- Empire BlueCross BlueShield (an Anthem company)
- Humana
- Mutual of Omaha
- State Farm
In total, you have 12 different types of Medigap plans (including high-deductible versions of plans F and G) that are available to choose from this year if you live in New York.
In New York State, you’re eligible for Medicare if you fall into one of the program’s eligibility groups:
- you’re age 65 or older
- you’re under age 65 and have received Social Security Disability Insurance for 24 months
- you have end stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
If you qualify for Medicare based on your age, your first chance to apply is during your initial enrollment period. This period starts 3 months before the month you turn 65 and ends 3 months after your birthday month. You can sign up for Medicare at any time during this 7-month period.
If you miss your initial enrollment period, you can sign up for Medicare during the General Enrollment Period. This runs from January 1 through March 31 every year. Note that if you sign up late, you may need to pay higher monthly premiums for your coverage.
You may qualify for a special enrollment period that lets you sign up for Medicare at any time without paying a penalty. If you have job-based coverage, you can sign up at any time. You can also qualify for a special enrollment period if you lose your job-based coverage.
Original Medicare is the default for new enrollees, but it’s easy to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan if that’s what you prefer. You can sign up for one of these Medicare plans during your initial enrollment period. You can also sign up during Medicare’s fall open enrollment, which runs from October 15 to December 7.
Tips for enrolling in Medicare in New York
When deciding which type of plan works best for you, consider the following:
- Out-of-pocket costs. Monthly plan premiums aren’t the only cost to consider as you compare plans. You’ll also pay coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles until you meet your plan’s annual out-of-pocket limit.
- Services covered. All Medicare Advantage plans cover Medicare parts A and B services, but other covered services may vary. Make a list of services you’d like your plan to cover, and keep your wish list in mind as you shop around.
- Doctor choice. Medicare plans generally have a network of doctors and other healthcare providers. Before you choose a plan, make sure your current doctors are in the network.
- Star ratings. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Rating System can help you find high-quality plans. CMS ratings are based on customer service, care coordination, healthcare quality and other factors that affect you.
- Healthcare needs. If you have a chronic health condition, such as diabetes or HIV, you may want to look for a Special Needs Plan. These plans offer tailored coverage for people with specific health conditions.
To learn more about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, you can contact:
What should I do next?
When you’re ready to get Medicare or learn more about your plan options, here’s what you can do:
- To get Medicare parts A and B, fill out the Social Security Administration’s online application. If you prefer, you can also apply in person or by phone.
- If you want to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, you can shop for plans at Medicare.gov. After you choose a plan, you can enroll online.
- Over 3.7 million people in New York were enrolled in Medicare in 2021.
- There are several private insurance companies offering various types of Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans in New York.
- Overall, monthly premium costs have decreased for 2022 Medicare Advantage plans in New York.