Medicare in New Hampshire
Key Takeaways
Medicare in New Hampshire is health insurance for all legal U.S. residents aged 65 and older. The federal government partially funds it through taxes.
Medicare (Parts A and B) helps cover medical and hospital costs.
You’ll pay for Medicare in New Hampshire based on standard costs adjusted based on details like your work history and income.
Are you or a loved one looking to sign up for Medicare in New Hampshire? You probably know you need to be a legal U.S. citizen or resident and at least 65 years old. But do you know how much it costs, or the different types of Medicare plans in New Hampshire you can enroll in?
To help you with details like these, we’ve put together a guide to Medicare in NH. We’ve explained what it is, how much it costs and how to enroll. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Concord or Conway. Our goal is to help you get the most out of Medicare in the Granite State.
Find a local Medicare plan that fits your needs
How Do I Apply for Medicare in NH?
There are several ways to apply for and enroll in Medicare in New Hampshire. They include:
- Online through the Social Security Administration website.
- In-person at a local Social Security office.
- Over the phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).
- Did you work for a railroad? You may need to enroll in Medicare in NH through the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Call the RRB at 1-800-772-5772.
- Contact GoHealth. Our team of licensed insurance agents has the know-how to find Medicare plans in New Hampshire that will work for you.
Am I eligible for Medicare in NH?
As we mentioned, eligibility is usually for Americans and legal residents aged 65 and older. However, there are times when you may be eligible before 65, including:
- You’ve drawn disability-based Social Security benefits for 24 months
- You’ve received Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits for 24 months
- You’re living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
When can I enroll in Medicare plans in New Hampshire?
If your first chance to sign up is at 65, you’ll need to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). This is the first of several Medicare enrollment periods you’ll want to keep track of.
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This seven-month window includes the three months before and after your birth month. So if your birthday is June 15, your IEP opens on Mar. 1 and closes on Sept. 30. Missing your IEP can result in pricey enrollment penalties when you do enroll.
- Medicare Part C & D Open Enrollment Period: You can swap drug plans or change between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire (annually from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7).
- Medicare General Enrollment Period: Did you miss your IEP and not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period? This is your first chance to enroll (Jan. 1 to Mar. 31).
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: If you have Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire, this is when you can swap Part C plans or switch back to Original Medicare ( Jan. 1 to March. 31).
Can I Use My Medicare in a Different State?
Yes. Because Original Medicare is a federal program, you’re free to visit any doctor or hospital in the nation, as long as they accept Medicare. This can be a selling point for seniors that travel around the country often. If this is you, it can pay to research which providers near your destination accept Medicare before you leave home.
Can I use my Medicare Advantage plan in another state?
The answer is maybe. Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire typically comes with a provider network that your insurance company has agreed to cover. Seeing a doctor outside of these local networks can be allowed, prohibited, or permitted — but pricey. It all depends on what type of Medicare Advantage plan you have. Here’s a quick explanation of the four most common types of Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire:
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) use a primary care physician (PCP) to manage care and refer you to other in-network providers with few exceptions.
- Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) use PCPs but allow more freedom to visit out-of-network doctors and providers.
- Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) pays your providers for each service they provide you.
- Special Needs Plans (SNP) help enrollees living with specific health conditions. D-SNP assists dual-eligible individuals, and C-SNP is for people with chronic diseases.
Are you eligible for cost-saving Medicare subsidies?
What State Has the Best Medicare?
The answer depends on what you need out of your coverage. Since it’s a federal program, Original Medicare in New Hampshire must provide the same care level as what you would get in any other state. And although private companies sell it, Medicare Advantage must provide at least the same level of coverage as Original Medicare. In other words, finding the plan that’s right for you means looking at your needs, options and the details of each.
A great starting point is to understand that Medicare plans in New Hampshire are provided in one of two ways: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Here’s a quick breakdown of each:
Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
Parts A and B provide some hospital, preventive and medically necessary services. Out-of-pocket costs can be high, and you’ll need separate coverage for prescription drugs, hearing, vision and dental. The tradeoff is that you can see any doctor in the nation that accepts Medicare.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces Original Medicare (Part & B) but offers the same Part A and B benefits or coverage as Original Medicare. Along with receiving Part A and B benefits, Medicare Part C often bundles additional services like dental, hearing, vision and prescription drug coverage.
Depending on which of the above you want (or already have), there may be even more types of Medicare in New Hampshire to explore. More on that below.
Does New Hampshire Have Free Health Insurance?
Yes, it’s called Medicaid. Medicaid provides affordable health care to children, adults and families with low incomes. It’s partially run by the state and is separate from Medicare.
Who qualifies for Medicaid in NH?
To qualify for Medicaid in New Hampshire, you’ll need to meet specific income and resource requirements. While Medicaid and Medicare are separate programs, there are cases during which you may be eligible to receive both at the same time (this is known as being dual eligible).
What extra benefits and savings do you qualify for?
What Are the Different Medicare Plans Available?
You’ve already learned that you can receive Medicare in New Hampshire as either Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or Medicare Advantage (Part C). But how do they work, and what other options are available? To help explain, here’s an overview of not just Parts A, B and C, but the other two pieces of Medicare in New Hampshire: Medigap and Part D.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
Original Medicare plans in New Hampshire have two main parts: A and B. Here’s what they cover:
- Part A: covers a portion of your hospital stays. These can also include inpatient stays at skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and hospice care, and home health care.
- Part B: helps cover medically necessary and preventive medical care.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
As we mentioned above, Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire is an alternative to Original Medicare. It can include extra coverage benefits like vision, dental and prescription drugs, and often with lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)
Commonly called Part D, this is stand-alone coverage that needs to be added to Original Medicare separately. This means it’ll also have its own monthly premium. Some Medicare Advantage plans in New Hampshire include prescription drug coverage in their costs.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Many Original Medicare beneficiaries enroll in Medigap plans to help cover the high out-of-pocket costs that can come with Parts A and B. There are 10 Medigap plans to choose from in New Hampshire. Like Part D, you’ll need to enroll in and pay for Medigap separately from Original Medicare.
Do Seniors Have to Pay for Medicare?
Probably. This Medicare myth comes from the fact that most people don’t have to pay for their Part A coverage if they’ve worked long enough. The honest answer is that most seniors will have to pay something for their Medicare. If you’re approaching 65 or older and looking to enroll for the first time, there are several standard costs to know about. These include premiums, copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. Your final amount will come down to these and some personal details. Here are the standard Medicare costs for 2022:
Medicare in NH: Part A
Premium:
- Typically $0 if you or your spouse worked 10 or more years
Deductible:
- $1,556 each plan period
Copayments & coinsurance:
- Hospital stays: $0 copay for Days 1-60 following deductible payment; Days 61 and after: daily charges
- Skilled Nursing Facility: $0 Days 1-20 each plan period; daily charges for Days 21 and after
Medicare in NH: Part B
Premium:
- $170.10 monthly and up (income-based)
Deductible:
- $233 for each plan period
Copayments & coinsurance:
- Most preventative services: $0
- Medicare-approved services: 20% coinsurance
Medicare in NH: Part D
Premium:
- Varies by plan and can be Income-based
Deductible:
- Not top exceed $480 in 2022
Copayments & coinsurance:
- Based on specific plans and drugs
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What Are the New Rules for Medicare?
Every year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) changes Medicare based on information gathered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These can include a host of annual revisions, including rate adjustments and coverage expansions. Here are some of the changes to Medicare for 2022 you should know about:
- The Part B premium increased to $170.10 per month.
- Part B deductible increased to $233.
- Medicare included new screenings for opioid abuse, colorectal cancer and cognitive decline.
What Is the Best Medicare Plan for 2022?
The only answer here is the plan that fits your needs and budget. Whether you’re mixing and matching Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D, or comparing your options for Medicare Advantage in New Hampshire, you’ll need to weigh your options.
To help you do so, here are some resources from GoHealth to help you make sense of the different Medicare plans in New Hampshire:
- Pros and Cons: See how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage compare for you
- Enrollment Checklist: What you’ll need handy to make your decision
- Medicare Star Ratings System: See what others think of their plans
- Pro Tips: Check here for little-known pointers to make your choice smoother.
- Call GoHealth: Have other questions about Medicare in New Hampshire? Our licensed insurance agents will find the accurate, impartial answers you’re looking for. Plus, we can shop your options and make sure you have everything you need for a stress-free Medicare experience. Give us a call today at 1-855-792-0088 TTY: 771.
Get the health benefits and savings you’re entitled to.
Medicare in New Hampshire by the Numbers
Thousands of older adults enroll in Medicare every day across the United States. The latest CMS data shows that 282,069 people are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B in New Hampshire. The total number of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage Increased from 58,626 to 71,056 year over year. Medicare Advantage participation in New Hampshire went from 21.43% to 25.19% year over year. If you’d like to dive deeper into how Medicare in New Hampshire breaks down across the state, we provide a glance at who is using Medicare and how.
Medicare
New Hampshire
282,069 Beneficiaries with Part A & Part B
71,056 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
25.19% Meducare Advantage Participation Rate
54.54% Female
45.46% Male
94.04% Non-Hispanic White
0.51% African American
1.17% Hispanic
4.28% Other/Unknown
13.64% Eligible for Medicaid
0.86 Average HCC Score
$9,192.27 Actual Per Capita Costs
17.13% Hospital Readmission Rate
26.75% of Beneficiaries with an Emergency Department Visit
58,626 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries, Previous Year
Increased Medicare Advantage, Year over year
21.43% Meducare Advantage Participation Rate, Previous Year
See more +
Table reflects the latest Beneficiary Demographics Data: Medicare Geographic Variation – by National, State & County
Average HCC Score: The Hierarchical Condition Category score gauges a population’s overall health. The score is based on a value of 1.0. Populations with an HCC score of less than 1.0 are considered relatively healthy. The score can be used to estimate health costs.
New Hampshire Medicare Resources & Contacts
Beneficiaries spend an average of $10,041.60 each year on Medicare in New Hampshire. To be certain you are not leaving anything on the table, let us help. A GoHealth licensed insurance agent can assess your coverage or explain which New Hampshire-based resources, like these, may be able to help:
Nationwide Resources
Medicare Learning Guides
Healthcare is personal. So is choosing insurance. If you are new to Medicare, a beneficiary researching options, or a caregiver, we have tailored Medicare Guides for you.
Medicare guide
Before 65 Guide
Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement
Medicare guide
Medicare Plans Guide
Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan
Medicare guide
Medicare Beneficiary Guide
For those currently enrolled in Medicare
Medicare guide
Low Income and Medicare Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
Medicare guide
A Caregiver’s Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
