The BA recently began publishing a new series of articles on the subject of Medicare and health insurance for Christian Scientists in our newsletter, The Window.
The series will include frequently asked questions such as:
- Why would Christian Scientists sign up for Part B of Medicare coverage?
- How can you sign up for Part B after having initially declined it?
- What should I know about Medicare elections?
- Which insurance companies offer Christian Science benefits?
You are invited to submit questions you would like to have answered. Please call us at 800-662-9937 or email inquiry@chbenevolent.org.
First in our series from The Window, Winter 2008:
This newsletter begins our series on Medicare and Health Insurance for Christian Scientists. The series draws on topics from the most frequently asked questions at our workshops and from phone calls and emails we receive from throughout the United States.
The series will include the following topics: Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare Elections, types of health insurance, insurance companies offering policies with Christian Science benefits, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance.
In the newsletter, we mentioned that Medicare and Health Insurance Fact Sheets would be available on our website. Links for these Fact Sheets follow at the end of this series, below.
MEDICARE for Christian Scientists
Parts A & B
One of the best sources for general information about Medicare is the website, www.medicare.gov. Most basic questions about Medicare are covered in the government booklet, Medicare & You 2008, which can be read online or downloaded from the website. Medicare & You defines Medicare Parts A & B.
“Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals,” the booklet says. You have to dig further to learn that Part A also covers “Inpatient care in a Religious Nonmedical Health Care Institution” (RNHCI). RNHCI is the term used to identify Christian Science nursing facilities such as Chestnut Hill Benevolent Association. Until 1997 the Medicare regulations identified Christian Science nursing facilities as Christian Science “sanatoriums.”
“Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover medically-necessary services like doctors’ services and outpatient care.” Medicare Part B does not directly cover any of the services at a RNHCI such as the BA. So, it is easy to understand that “Why would a Christian Scientist enroll in Part B?” is the most frequently asked question we receive.
In speaking to Christian Scientists over the last twenty years, we have found the following to be the most common reasons for enrolling in Part B:
- Part B is required for Medigap Insurance (a type of private health insurance that we will cover later in the series).
- If a Christian Scientist went to the hospital for an x-ray following a fall or to have a bone set by a surgeon, Medicare Part B would help cover those services.
- Christian Scientists may have family members who request they have Part B to give the family members peace of mind.
Another frequent question is “Can I enroll in Part B at a later time?” Yes, you can enroll later. But depending on how much later, and the circumstances delaying enrollment, there may be a penalty. The booklet, Enrolling in Medicare, covers this in detail. This booklet can also be viewed or downloaded from www.medicare.gov.
We are happy to answer any questions that you have regarding Medicare and health insurance for Christian Scientists or to send you a packet of information on Medicare, health insurance, and health care proxies. Please call us at 800-662-9937 or email inquiry@chbenevolent.org.
Medicare and Health Insurance Fact Sheets:
Parts A & B Medicare Benefits 2008
Explanation of Election for Medicare Benefits
