Medicare is the federal health insurance program that covers people that are 65 and people living with disabilities.

The Insurance Marketplace, a key part of the Affordable Care Act, is now open. Basically it’s a place to shop for an insurance plan if you don’t have one – or a place to explore your options if you’re already insured. But what if you have Medicare?

The answer is simple: you don’t have to do anything.

If you have Medicare, you’re considered covered. The Marketplace will not affect your Medicare choices and your benefits will not change. No matter how you get Medicare, whether through original Medicare or Medicare advantage, you’ll still have the same security you have now.

The only thing Medicare beneficiaries need to think about right now is open enrollment, as usual. Medicare Open Enrollment is the time to review your current health and prescription coverage.

If you need to make changes, you should go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. If you’re happy with your existing Medicare coverage – you’re done!

Related:
In this video, Laval Miller-Wilson, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, provides an overview of Medicare, the federal health insurance program. Medicare covers people that are 65. It also covers people that have permanent disabilities.
Before Medicare began in 1965, half of seniors didn’t have health insurance. Today, virtually all seniors 65 and older have Medicare.

Next Avenue shares tips to help Boomers make the best coverage decisions in the health insurance marketplace.

From NPR- FAQ: What Retirees And Seniors Need To Know About The Affordable Care Act

From Kaiser Health News:  FAQ: Seniors On Medicare Don’t Need To Apply To The Health Law Marketplaces