Soc. Security Notes

Soc. Security Notes

What is Voluntary Supplementary Medical Insurance under Social Security? Mrs. Hazel F. Daly, District Manager, of the Winchester Social Security Office, said today many people 9re asking this question. The hospital insurance program under social security, Mrs. Daly said, will help persons age 65 and older to pay their hospital bills, but it does not pay doctor's bills and a number of other medical items and services. The Supplementary Medical Insurance Program is a way whereby these people may provide in advance to help pay doctors’ bills and other medical bills. To quality for Voluntary Supplementary Medical Insurance, the individual must enroll for the medical insurance and agree to pay $3 monthly. The Federal Government matches this amount from general tax revenue. Covered services are deter mined on a calendar year basis. The enrolled person pays the first $50 for covered services in the calendar year and the Supplementary Health Insurance pays 80% of the balance of reasonable charge. A non-governmental Administrative Agent will be selected from among those organizations asking to be considered to handle payment of these non-hospital medical charges land to determine if they are reasonable. Neither the enrolled person nor his doctor will be dealing with the Government.

The services included under Supplementary Medical Insurance are: 1. Physicians’and Surgeons’ Services. These may be rendered in the doctor’s office, in a clinic, in a hospital, or at home. 2. Home Health Visits. Up to 100 visits during each calendar year with no requirement of prior hospitalization. 3. Other Medical and Health ! Services regardless of where rendered. These include such things as diagnostic x-rayand laboratory tests, and other disgnostic tests; x-ray, radium, and other therapy; ambulance services under certain conditions; surgical dres& ings, splints, and casts; braces; artificial legs, arms, and eyes, and rental of medical equipment, such as iron lungs. The medical insurance program will not pay for any goods or services received before July 1, 1966, the effective d£te of this coverage. Mrs. Daly urged persons tp file applications for coverage immediately. The deadline for filing is March 31, 1966 and it is advisable to file an application as soon as possible. A representative from this office is at the courthouse in Washington, Va. the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m.