Who pays for health care in the United States today? Well, if you're under 65, your health insurance is usually work-based. If you're still working, your employer probably provides health insurance. If you're retired, you might have a retiree plan. Or maybe you've recently left your job and have extended your employer coverage at your own expense under COBRA. Maybe you've purchased your own individual health insurance policy.

 After age 65 Medicare generally pays first. That is, our health insurance system is set up so that once a person becomes eligible for Medicare at 65, most private insurance becomes secondary to Medicare. So when you incur a health care expense, the bill is submitted first to Medicare. After Medicare pays what it's going to pay, any other insurance you have may pay some or all of the rest. The only exception is employer group plans that cover 20 or more employees. So if you're still working and covered by such a plan, or if you're covered as a spouse under such a plan, your employer plan will pay first. This has implications for enrollment.

George F. Vieth

Investment Advisor Representative

8 Patten Parkway

Chattanooga, TN 37402

Tel: 423-267-6858 ext 700

Securities and advisory services are offered through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.