If you live in Iowa, you may be eligible for Medicare. This federal program provides health insurance for Iowans who are age 65 or older, as well as some younger people with disabilities.

If you’re new to Medicare, it’s not always easy to figure out your coverage options. This article offers an introduction to Medicare Iowa, includingMedicare Advantage optionsand how to choose a plan that’s right for you.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported the following information on Medicare trends in Iowa for the 2022 plan year:

  • A total of 644,796 residents of Iowa are enrolled in Medicare.
  • The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium decreased in Iowa compared to last year — from $9.73 in 2021 to $8.99 in 2022.
  • 爱荷华州2022年有61个Medicare Advantage计划，而2021年有55个计划。
  • 大约97％的爱荷华州居民拥有Medicare的居民可以购买Medicare Advantage计划，而97％的人可以使用$ 0保费的计划。
  • There are 12 different Medigap plans offered in Iowa for 2022.

There are a few Medicare coverage options in Iowa. You can choose either original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or other supplemental plans.

Original Medicare

Original Medicareis also called traditional Medicare. It’s offered through the federal government and includes:

  • Part A (hospital insurance).Part Acovers various hospital-related services, including inpatient hospital stays and limited熟练的护理设施care.
  • B部分（医疗保险）。Part Bincludes coverage for many medically necessary andpreventive services, such as doctor’s visits, physical exams, and flu shots.

爱荷华州的医疗保险优势

In Iowa, your other option is aMedicare Advantage (Part C)计划。这些计划都由私营公司提供and are regulated by the government. They cover all the same hospital and medical services as original Medicare, but they often include extra benefits, such as:

For 2022, the following carriers sell Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa:

These companies offer plans in many counties in Iowa. However, Medicare Advantage plan offerings vary by county, so enter your specific ZIP code when searching for plans where you live.

Medicare supplement plans in Iowa

Original Medicare doesn’t cover everything, but insurance companies offer plans that can help fill the gaps. If you need help paying for Medicare copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles, you can sign up forMedicare supplement insurance (Medigap)。

Many companies offer Medigap plans in Iowa. In 2021, some of the companies offering Medigap plans throughout the state include:

If you’reyounger than age 65, you’re eligible for Medicare Iowa if:

For Iowans who are turning age 65, meeting one of the following criteria makes you eligible for Medicare:

  • 您要么是美国公民，要么是在该国至少5年的永久居民
  • you currently receive Social Security retirement benefits or qualify for these benefits

There are additional eligibility rules for Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa. To be eligible, you must live in the plan’s service area and have Medicare parts A and B.

When can I enroll in Medicare Iowa plans?

If you’re eligible for Medicare, you can sign up at某些钛mes在这一年。这些时间包括：

  • Initial enrollment period.If you’re first eligible when you turn age 65, you can sign up during this 7-month period. It starts 3 months before the month you turn age 65 and ends 3 months after the month of your 65th birthday.
  • Medicare open enrollment period.The annual open enrollment period happens between October 15 and December 7. At this time, you can join a Medicare Advantage plan or switch to a new plan.
  • Medicare Advantage open enrollment period.If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another one between January 1 and March 31 every year.

Certain life events, such as losing a job that provides you with health coverage, will trigger aspecial enrollment period。这使您有机会在标准入学期之外注册Medicare。

In some cases, you may be signed up for Medicare automatically. If you’re eligible because of a disability, you’ll get Medicare after you’ve received 24 months of Social Security Disability Insurance. You’ll also be signed up automatically when you turn age 65 if you’re already getting Social Security retirement benefits.

Tips for enrolling in Medicare in Iowa

When you’reshopping for Medicare Advantage plans, narrowing down your options can be overwhelming. To make the process easier, keep these things in mind as you shop around.

  • Your budget.Before choosing a plan, decide how much you can afford to spend. Consider not only monthly premiums, but othercoverage costs, such as coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles.
  • 你的医生。When you join a Medicare Advantage plan, you typically get care from doctors in the plan’s network. If you want to keep seeing your current doctors, make sure they’re in the network.
  • Your coverage needs.Medicare Advantage plans maycover servicesthat original Medicare doesn’t, and these extra benefits vary from plan to plan. If you need specific benefits, such as dental care or vision care, make sure your plan offers them.
  • Your health needs.If you have a chronic health condition, such as cancer or an autoimmune disease, you may want to join aSpecial Needs Plan。These plans tailor their services and provider networks to better suit the needs of people with specific conditions.

There are many helpful resources that can help you understand Medicare Iowa, including:

  • More than 640,000 Iowa residents are enrolled in Medicare.
  • There are several private insurance companies offering various types of Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans throughout the state.
  • Overall, monthly premium costs have decreased for 2022 Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa.
  • There are also several Medigap plan options if you live in Iowa and are looking for additional coverage.