Medicare in New Hampshire
Key Takeaways
- Original Medicare 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)Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health insurance program available to Americans aged 65 and older and some individuals with disabilities. Original Medicare is provided by the federal government and is made up of two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). 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. Our goal is to help you get the most out of Medicare in the Granite State.
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).
Looking for dental, vision and hearing coverage?
Can I Use My Medicare in a Different State?
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 flexibility can be valuable for seniors that travel around the country often. 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?
Medicare Advantage plans typically come 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.
What’s the Best Medicare Plan for Me?
The answer depends on what you need out of your coverage. Since it’s a federal program, Original Medicare in New Hampshire provides the same coverage as 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.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage:
Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
Parts A and B provide 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) substitutes for Original Medicare (Part & B). Along with Part A and B benefits, Medicare Part C usually 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 Medicare options in New Hampshire to explore. More on that below.
Ready for a new Medicare Advantage plan?
Does New Hampshire Have Free Health Insurance?
Medicaid provides affordable healthcare 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, in certain cases you may be eligible to receive both at the same time (this is known as dual eligibility).
What Medicare Plans Are Available?
You’ve already learned that you can enroll in 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 Parts A, B, and C, as well 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 in New Hampshire is an alternative to Original Medicare. It can include benefits like vision, dental, and prescription drug coverage, often with lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)
Commonly called Part D, this is standalone coverage that needs to be added to Original Medicare separately. This means it’ll also have its own monthly premium. Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
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?
Most people don’t have to pay monthly premiums for their Part A coverage if they’ve worked long enough, but there are various standard costs you should know about. These include premiums, copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Here are the standard Medicare costs for 2024:
Medicare Part A
Premium:
- Typically $0 if you or your spouse worked 10 or more years
- $1,632 each plan period
- 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 Part B
Premium:
- $174.70 monthly and up (income-based)
- $240 for each plan period
- Most preventative services: $0
- Medicare-approved services: 20% coinsurance
Medicare Part D
Premium:
- Varies by plan and can be Income-based
- Not to exceed $545 in 2024
- Based on specific plans and drugs
Can I bundle multiple benefits into one plan?
What Is the Best Medicare Plan for Me?
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 Medicare Advantage plans, you’ll need to weigh your options.
To help you do so, here are some resources from GoHealth:
- 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.
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.
282,069 Beneficiaries with Part A & Part B
71,056 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
25.19% Medicare 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% Medicare Advantage Participation Rate, Previous Year
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 Insurance Department
https://www.nh.gov/insurance/
What should I know about the New Hampshire Insurance Department?
Research long-term care options in NH or report fraud.
New Hampshire Medicaid
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/medicaid
What should I know about New Hampshire Medicaid?
Health insurance for adults, children, families, and seniors with low incomes and limited resources.
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/
What should I know about the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services?
Connect with NH DHHS to apply for Medicare Savings Programs and other services.
New Hampshire ServiceLink Aging & Disability Resource Center
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/adult-aging-care/servicelink
What should I know about ServiceLink?
This state resource has events and programs for New Hampshire seniors and their caregivers.
Nationwide Resources
Speak with a GoHealth insurance agent that is licensed in New Hampshire about your Medicare questions.
Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. CT
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
You can reach the Social Security Administration by phone for general questions. Not all questions can be answered over the phone.
Also, SSA.gov provides online resources for the following: Review information, apply for benefits, or manage your account online
1-800-722-1213
TTY 1-800-325-0778
Speak to SSA Representative, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 7 PM ET
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.
Before 65 Guide
Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement
Medicare Plans Guide
Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan
Medicare Beneficiary Guide
For those currently enrolled in Medicare
Low Income and Medicare Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
A Caregiver's Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
Sources
- Medicare Benefits. SSA.gov.
- Social Security Office Locator. SSA.gov.
- Special Needs Plans (SNP). Medicare.gov.
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. NHeasy.gov.
- NH Medicaid (Medical Assistance) Eligibility for Adults. DHHS.NH.gov.
- Yearly deductible for drug plans. Medicare.gov.
This website is operated by GoHealth, LLC., a licensed health insurance company. The website and its contents are for informational and educational purposes; helping people understand Medicare in a simple way. The purpose of this website is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by a licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Our mission is to help every American get better health insurance and save money.
Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.