Medicare information changes frequently. Please refer to 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 2024. After this date, Medicare payroll-tax revenues will be sufficient to pay only about three-fourths of the Part A expected costs, declining slowly even more with time. Medicare's administrative costs represent slightly more than 1% 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. "Medicare costs (including both HI and SMI expenditures) are projected to grow substantially from approximately 3.6 percent of GDP in 2010 to 5.5 percent of GDP by 2035, and to increase gradually thereafter to about 6.2 percent of GDP by 2085." Beneficiary premium and out-of-pocket charges are expected to increase over time, as well.

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. Extra Help application
4. Health & Mental Health Care Issues
5. Help with Medicare's Premiums and Co-Pay
6. Hospice
7. Illinois Benefits checkup
8. Medicare & You handbook
9. Medicare Basics for Caregivers
10. Medical Equipment Suppliers in Southern Illinois
11. Medicare Fraud
12. Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage Plans
13. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)
14. Medicare Savings Programs application (QMB, SLMB, & QI)
15. Medigap Insurance Q&A
16. Medigap Insurance Comparison of Plans
17. My.Medicare.gov
18. Nursing Home Costs, Who Pays?
19. Prescription Drug Programs - non-Medicare
20. Senior Medicare Patrol
21. Website for Illinois Foundation for Quality Health care (quality issues and appeals in Illinois).
22. Website for Medicare (federal Medicare website).
23. Website for Medicare Part B (for Illinois & Wisconsin).
24. 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.