Understanding Medicare & Medicaid

Navigating the health care system can be challenging, but for more than 9 million people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, it can be especially difficult.

Medicare and Medicaid have similar names but they are very different programs. People who are eligible for both — known as dual eligible — must understand the requirements and coverage details of each program in order to access the health care services that are available to them. This is especially important for the 60 percent of dual eligibles who suffer from multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Getting the health care coverage they need to manage their conditions is critical to their well-being.

Here are a few resources to help dual eligible beneficiaries and their caregivers learn about health care options:

For more Medicare information, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or visit Medicare.gov

For simple, easy-to-understand Medicare information, visit UnitedHealthcare’s site at MedicareMadeClear.com

For more information about Hawai‘i’s Medicaid program, call 1-800-316-8005

For free counseling and support on both Medicaid and Medicare, contact Hawai‘i’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-888-875-9229.

_______________________________

Gary Asato, UnitedHealthcare Medicare Sales Director; David Heywood, Vice President.

UnitedHealthcare (Hawai‘i) Medicare Advantage and QUEST (Medicaid) main office: 808-536-8531