Please help me understand my grandmother's medicare cards?

Question

Tell me what each does and how do I know which card to use:

State of California Benefits Identification Card (light blue color)
Well Care Prescriptioin drug plan Card
Cal Optima Health network Card
Medicare Card (blue and red color)

For example, which one does she bring to see her primary doctor? Which one she needs to bring if there was an emergency at any hospital? Which one does she use to get dentures? Which one she needs to use to pick up ointment or medicated lotion?

The reason why I ask is because we recently receive some bills from the hospital for some treatment. I thought if a person has no financial earnings and also is disable, he or she doesn't have to pay for anything.

Thank you for your help with grandma!

Answer 1

It really is too complicated to explain each and every one of those cards on a site like this, but here are some general things.



Take each card with you any time you visit the Dr. or ER.



Medicare does not pay 100 percent of medical bills. Medicaid does pay full amounts. To see if your grandma qualifies for Medicaid go to your local Department of Human Services office, it is a state program not federal so Social Security does not deal with it.



If she is getting Medicare she has some income from Social Security, the levels for Medicaid are very low but they vary from state to state. In Arkansas where I live I am sure it is lower than California, where I used to live, but it is only about 600 dollars for a single person here.



There are other programs available from DHS also though that may help her such as the one I get that pays for my Medicare monthy amount and qualifies me for 5 dollar co pays on my medicines.



You may want to look into obtaining an insurance that will pay what medicare does not, Blue Cross is the largest company that does that sort of thing.They are called Medi-Gap coverage. They generally cost quite a bit, so you will have to decide after getting the info.



When you get a bill, call the dr. or hospital and work with them, don't just let it go. Sometimes they have programs themselves for low income but if the bill gets old they will not help you.



Ask your local pharmacy about helping you with the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program. Most of them, Walgreen's especially will help you get her into the right program. Depending on income and what meds she takes it will vary greatly. The program is from SS but private companies do it so there are many, very many to choose from.



Also, if she does not qualify for any government services and buys a lot of medicine I highly suggest you contact the maker of each drug to see what programs they have for the low income people using their drug. The income levels they set are much higher in general that the government.



Good luck.

Answer 2

To add to all of what was said, the Medicare number is 1-800-medicare, be sure you are with her or have her info because they will not give out any info without her permission.



Also, find out if the hospital has a "patient advocate" or someone in billing you can sit down with and go over the bills and help guide you through some resources that may be available...(I hope you asked for an "itemized bill" and got a copy of all her medical records to help you decipher some of the bills...I have learned all about this and more in a book called "Healthcare for Less" by Michelle Katz. It is worth picking up a copy at your local Barnes and Noble, Borders etc or even ordering it online at www.amazon.com. It not only helped me understand healthcare and help my grandmother, but it has heped me save $$$$ on my own health insurance!

Answer 3

take all and call each agency when you get the bills to have a person help you with all the details. let the secretary and the doctors pick the right ones. they know best. make sure they give em back after they copy them.



medicare is to cover what the others don't. some states help out too. I am not a California resident, just a person that did take care of her grandparents till they passed.



there should be telephone numbers on the back of each card. call and have a pad and pen handy to take down notes. don't expect to remember or completely understand unless you are in the insurance industry. Ask for written guides, if they are provided. read what they send you. getting familiar now will make it so much easier when you do have problems.



nice to hear of someone caring for their grandma. that is very sweet of you. Lord Bless.

Answer 4

solid question from the U ok. the comparable reason they gained't burn their social risk-free practices card, their V A enjoying cards, federal interstates, federal infrastructure, public colleges & universities, national parks, national monuments, libraries, museums, NASA, positioned up workplaces etc. A healthful society is a sturdy one. With potential issues get achieved and existence has greater which skill. It makes greater experience to preserve ones wellbeing to make it nicely worth protecting. The tea social gathering is ninety% warm air and little substance. If purely a pair lumps of sugar, some cream and a biscuit to bypass with their tea could close them up.

Answer 5

I`m in the state of Texas, but lived in Calif. for over 37 years, now about Granny, I`m pretty sure you will need to call the Medicare hot line, look for the phone no.# on the medicaid or Well Care forms, Have all of her medical bills at hand, Granny will need to give them permission to speak to you or whomever is helping her solve the problem, because they should not be billing Granny if she has all of these coverages, We have those issues here in Tex. but I always call the Medicare hot line, So be patient, because they will probably transfer you from one dept. to another, just remember, it will be worth it to get those medical bills taken care of. I do wish you and Granny Godspeed in your endeavors to resolve this problem. and be well advised that if anyone pays these medical bills they will not be reimbursed. so call them and let them handle their business.