Medicare information changes frequently. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to “Your Medicare Coverage” on the official government Website for Medicare. Also, use the Medicare website to find Medicare-approved drug discount cards.

Medicare Watch – according to the latest report of its Board of Trustees, Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) trust funds will remain solvent until 2017. At that time, Medicare payroll-tax revenues will be sufficient to pay only 81% of the Part A expected costs. After 2017, the percentage of benefits payable will decline to about 50 percent in 2035 and 30 percent in 2080. Medicare’s administrative costs represent 1.4% of its total expenditures.

Medicare Part B, which pays doctors’ bills and other outpatient expenses, and Part D, which pays for prescription drug coverage, are both projected to remain adequately financed into the indefinite future because current law automatically sets financing each year to meet next year’s expected costs. "However, expected steep cost increases will result in rapidly growing general revenue financing needs -- projected to rise from 1.3 percent of GDP in 2008 to about 4.7 percent in 2083 -- as well as substantial increases over time in beneficiary premium charges."

Former President Truman was the first person enrolled in the Medicare program.

1. Apply for Medicare at a Social Security Office in Southern Illinois
2. Benefits, Premium, and Co-Pay Information (eligibility guidelines & services covered)
3. Health Care Reform & Medicare - May 2010
4. Health & Mental Health Care Issues
5. Help with Medicare’s Premiums and Co-Pay
6. Hospice
7. Illinois Benefits checkup
8. Medicare Basics for Caregivers
9. Medical Equipment Suppliers in Southern Illinois
10. Medicare Fraud
11. Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage Plans
12. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)
13. Medicare & You handbook
14. Medigap Insurance Q&A
15. Medigap Insurance Comparison of Plans
16. My.Medicare.gov
17. Nursing Home Costs, Who Pays?
18. Prescription Drug Programs - non-Medicare
19. Senior Medicare Patrol
20. Website for Illinois Foundation for Quality Health care (quality issues and appeals in Illinois).
21. Website for Medicare (federal Medicare website).
22. Website for Medicare Part B (for Illinois & Wisconsin).
23. Website for Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP program in Illinois).

The Egyptian Area Agency on Aging is a partner in the Illinois SMP (“Senior Medicare Patrol”) Program. The SMP program empowers consumers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud. We do this by providing outreach and education on health care fraud topics. The Illinois SMP program is funded by the Administration on Aging and is administered by Age Options.