RR medicare and its Benfits

What Does Railroad Medicare Cover?


It basically covers the same as traditional government services, except that beneficiaries are RR retirees. The plan contains Part A benefits, covering hospitalization costs similar to those found in traditional Medicare Part A. Part B is paid for by monthly premiums from Federal government funding revenues or by individuals, determined by employment history.

As with traditional services, Part B coverage offers help in paying for services provided by physicians and physician-based medical services not covered in Part A, which includes doctors services, laboratory services, outpatient hospital services, preventive services, and Home Health Care Services, and many other benefits.
Part A medical benefits include hospital insurance, which helps to pay for skilled nursing facilities following a hospital stay, and inpatient care in a hospital, as well as some hospice care and Home Health Care Services.
RR Medicare offers coverage to railroad workers in a similar format as those covered under Social Security benefits, and railroad retirement payroll taxes also include hospital insurance tax for Medicare, just like Social Security taxes do.

For those retiring from railroad service, the Railroad Retirement Board enrolls employees into the program, and premiums are generally deducted from monthly benefit payments.


Benefits of Railroad Medicare

Individuals submit claims to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or a designated CMS contractor, through its agents, or employers.

Individuals working in the railroad industry should contact Medicare regarding Railroad Retirement Benefits at Railroad Benefits to read RB-20 January 2010 - Medicare for Railroad Workers and their Families to access the information booklet in its entirety. Additional questions may be broached to Palmetto GBA for clarification regarding eligibility, enrollment periods, claims processing, or answers to general questions and facts regarding benefits and services.