Senior Health Insurance & What it Covers?

Health insurance for seniors covers some portion of eldercare costs. But before you go for a policy, you need to understand what you are entitled to. But these programs have limitations; you don’t want to waste your time and money buying a policy that doesn’t cover what you are looking for. 

For any individuals planning long term, it is important to understand the limitations of the coverage of a policy to avoid any misconception associated with who is going to pay for a specific benefit. So, what should you look for in a particular senior health insurance program? Keep reading to know all about that information!

Medical Coverage to Elderly People

The health insurance program that you are considering for yourself must have medical coverage for elderly people. This coverage should include a comprehensive list of providers within its network and cover additional plans for chiropractic, vision, and dental care. 

There are various options available that you can choose. For example, Medicare is a health insurance program from the federal government for seniors over 65. You should have worked full time for at least 10 years. 

Free Medical Screening

Free medical health screening is another important aspect that your health insurance should cover. This service should be provided through your biometric identification. 

And it must include the measurement and screening of various physical attributes of the insurance holder. These include tests associated with weight, height, blood pressure, body mass index, blood glucose, blood cholesterol, and aerobic fitness. 

Cashless Treatment

You need to make sure that you go for a policy that ensures you don’t have to go through any reimbursement formalities when taking care of the costs associated with treatment. Your insurance company will settle these costs. 

But there is a condition: the total amount of the bill should remain under the limit assured, and the hospital should be a network hospital. 

You will have to go for a pre-authorization form from the insurance desk in the hospital. It needs to be submitted after completion to the same desk, where it will be reviewed thoroughly for its authenticity.  

Medical Treatment Expense Cover

The policy you are going for must also include all the costs associated with medical expenses. These include the expenses of diagnosing and cure, treatment, mitigation, and prevention of any disease. 

Plus, it should be for any affected body part or its function. These payments are for the legal, medical services that surgeons, dentists, physicians, and other practitioners render. 

No Claim Bonus

This aspect of any health insurance policy is important for seniors. NCB or no claim bonus is bonus money added to the total sum insured for each year that goes claim-free. It is just like a reward or a benefit for the policyholder for not claiming on his/her health insurers in a year. 

Tax Benefits

For some people, health insurance is among the biggest monthly expenses. And this leads them to think about whether any medical expenses are subject to tax benefits for reducing their overall bill. 

This is due to the rising healthcare costs as some consumers are looking to reduce their costs via tax breaks. And the good thing is health insurance, and all other associated medical expenses are tax-deductible for all retirees in the US. 

If you don’t itemize the deductions, you will get a higher standard deduction if you and your spouse are both over 65. In addition, you will get an even higher standard deduction if one of you is blind. 

FAQs:

Do pensioners get cheaper health insurance?

No, pensioners don’t get cheaper health insurance. But you are entitled to a rebate on your premium.

Can an 80-year-old get health insurance?

Yes, anyone over 60 years can get health insurance following senior citizen health insurance plans. There is no upper age limit, and a policy can cover medical treatment expenses such as ICU charges, surgeon’s fees, pre, and post-hospitalization, etc. 

Is health insurance more expensive for older people?

Yes, health insurance rates will go up as the policyholder grows older. The largest increments occur after 55. The premium set for this age limit is over three times more than the cost per month for a 21-year old. 

What is the maximum age limit for health insurance?

Over 80% of the health insurance providers have set an age limit of 60 to 65. It means that you cannot purchase a policy from them if you are older than 65. In addition, many policy providers have set various other terms and conditions for people over 50. 

But that doesn’t mean that you cannot purchase a health insurance policy after this age. Various policy providers do have policies for people over 65 with no up limit. However, you will have to pay heftier premiums on your policy as you grow older. 

Conclusion

There are many health insurance policy providers out there. But not all of them have the same terms and conditions. So, you need to make sure that you choose the right policy that covers all the benefits. And this should be according to your requirements and current health and social state. 

When you know and understand these terms and conditions, you should only go for a particular plan. It will allow you to avoid any hassles later on.