MEDICARE MUST WAIT UNTIL 65; DISABILITY, KIDNEY DISEASE EXCEPTIONS

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Even if you start your Social Security earlier you'll have to wait until age 65 to get Medicare. The only exceptions to that rule are for people who are disabled or have chronic kidney disease. Unless you fit in one of those categories you'll have to make other provisions for paying medical bills if you retire before age 65.

Medicare won't pay for all medical expenses. With few exceptions Medicare will not help pay for prescriptions, dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids, nursing homes, chiropractic care and routine physical exams.

Don't confuse Medicare with Medicaid. Medicaid is a medical assistance program administered by each state government. Medicare is a medical insurance program administered by the federal government.

There are two parts to Medicare: Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B).

Part A is funded by Social Security payroll taxes so there is no monthly premium for it. It pay's most of the cost of in- patient hospital care, some skilled home health services, short stays in rehabilitative facilities and hospice care for terminally ill people.

Since there is no premium for Part A there is no reason not to take it. Even if you don't plan to retire you should sign up for Part A a couple of months before age 65.

There is a monthly premium for Part B, $29.90 in 1991 because no Social Security money is used to finance it. One- fourth of the funds come from premiums and the rest comes from a subsidy by the federal government. Part B is optional. But few people refuse it. Most private insurance plans offered to Medicare age retirees are merely necessity.

Part B helps pay for doctor's bills, out-patient hospital care and durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, crutches and oxygen equipment.

Reimbursement is usually 80% of Medicare's approved charges after a yearly deductible is met. (Part B reimbursement has been temporarily reduced to 78% due to budget problems. It is scheduled to return to 80% at the beginning of the year.) The deductible for 1991 is $100.

Once you get on Medicare you'll probably discover that Medicare's approved charges are usually less than the amount billed by your doctor or other health care provider. That's true sixty percent of the time nationwide.