Can You Apply For Medicare Part B Online

What Happens After I Register For Medicare Online

Once you have submitted your application, it will be reviewed by Medicare to ensure all the information is accurate and complete. You should double-check your contact information to make sure it is correct. This is important to ensure prompt delivery of your Identification Card, as well as in the event Medicare needs to contact you about your enrollment.

After your application is received and processed, a letter will be mailed to you with the decision. If you encounter any questions or problems during the process, you can always contact Social Security for assistance.

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To Qualify For Medicare You Need To Get Disability Benefits From:

• Social Security

• Railroad Retirement Board

Youll automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits for 24 months. Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card.

If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.

The Parts Of Medicare

Social Security enrolls you in Original Medicare .

• Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or limited time at a skilled nursing facility . Part A also pays for some home health care and hospice care.
• Medicare Part B helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.

Other parts of Medicare are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

• Supplemental policies help pay Medicare out-of-pocket copayments, coinsurance, and deductible expenses.
• Medicare Advantage Plan includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B prescription drugs and additional benefits such as vision, hearing, and dental bundled together in one plan.
• Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs.

Most people age 65 or older are eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance if they have worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough. You can sign up for Medicare medical insurance by paying a monthly premium. Some beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay a higher monthly Part B premium. To learn more, read .

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I Want To Sign Up For Only Part A Or Both Part A & Part B

Once youre eligible to sign up for Medicare , you have 2 options:

Once you sign up , youll get a welcome package with your Medicare card.

Determine Whether You Need To Sign Up For Medicare

Some people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A hospital insurance and Medicare Part B medical insurance.

You are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B if:

If you already collect Social Security retirement benefits, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. No further action is required.

Your coverage will begin the first day of the month you turn 65.

Even if you are automatically enrolled, you may also decide to:

• Sign up for a Medicare Part D drug plan.
• Buy a Medigap supplement insurance policy.
• Switch to a Medicare Advantage plan.

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How Do I Know If Im Enrolled In Medicare Easy Pay

When processing for Medicare Easy Pay is complete, you will receive what looks like a Medicare Premium Bill, but it will be marked, This is not a bill. This is just a statement notifying you that the premium will be deducted from your bank account.

From that point on, you will see your Medicare premiums deducted from your bank account automatically. These payments will be listed on your bank statement as Automatic Clearing House transactions, and occur around the 20th of each month.

When To Enroll In Medicare

Initial Enrollment Period

You have a seven-month initial enrollment period in which to sign up for Medicare. This period begins three months before you turn age 65, includes the month you turn age 65 and ends three months after the month of your birthday.

For coverage to be effective the month you turn age 65, you must sign up during the first three months of the initial enrollment period . If you wait to sign up during the last four months of the period, your effective date of coverage under Medicare will be delayed.

Begins three months before and ends three months after the month you turn age 65

General Enrollment Period

If you miss the initial enrollment period, you can enroll during a general enrollment period from Jan. 1 through March 31 each year. However, Medicare coverage is not effective until July 1 and a lifetime Medicare late enrollment penalty will apply.

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Medicare Information Packet And Checklist

The Medicare Information Packet is mailed to all health care program enrollees when it is time for them to enroll in Medicare. Enrollees with an email address on file will also receive an electronic notice from STRS Ohio. You can use this Medicare enrollment checklist to help you track key steps in the enrollment process.

Once you enroll in Medicare, you’ll need to submit your Medicare information to STRS Ohio through your Online Personal Account. If you have already enrolled in Medicare, log in to your personal account to submit your Medicare information.

Qualifying For Extra Help With Prescription Drug Costs

Medicare offers a low-income subsidy program to qualified participants in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan. Under the program , participants may pay a lower deductible and lower copayment amounts for covered prescription drugs. Medicare, not STRS Ohio, determines if participants qualify for the subsidy program.

Medicare works directly with Express Scripts to determine if you qualify for assistance. If you qualify, Express Scripts will send you a letter informing you about the program.

If you receive a letter from Express Scripts, you will be enrolled automatically in the subsidy program offered by Medicare. If you do not receive a letter and believe you may qualify for assistance, you can call Medicare directly for more information or to request an application.

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How Medicare Works With Your Strs Ohio Coverage

Medicare Parts A & B do not replace your STRS Ohio coverage. Instead, Medicare works with your STRS Ohio plan to provide maximum hospital and medical coverage. In general, when you enroll in Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare becomes the primary payer of your hospital and medical expenses STRS Ohio becomes the secondary payer. If youre enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, such as the Aetna Medicare Plan, AultCare PrimeTime Health Plan or Paramount Elite, the plan assumes responsibility for paying for covered services and receives payment from Medicare.

After you enroll in Medicare, you will pay two separate monthly premiums a premium for STRS Ohio coverage and a premium for Medicare Part B coverage .

You Automatically Get Medicare When You Turn 65

• Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card 3 months before your Medicare coverage starts.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.You get Part A automatically. If you want Part B, you need to sign up for it. If you dont sign up for Part B within 3 months of turning 65, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

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How Do I Check On My Online Medicare Application

You can check on the status of your Medicare application at any time using your My Social Security account. You can use the confirmation number you received when you submitted your application.

Youll be able to see when your application has been received, is processing, and is approved. You can also call Social Security at 800-722-1213 to check on your status.

Youll receive a decision letter in the mail when Social Security is done processing your application.

Youll also receive your Medicare card in the mail, as long as your application was approved. It generally takes less than a month from the time you apply to the time you receive your card in the mail.

Medicare Special Enrollment Period

You may choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B when you are first eligible because you are already covered by group medical insurance through an employer or union. If you lose your group insurance, or if you decide you want to switch from your group coverage to Medicare, you can sign up at any time that you are still covered by the group plan or during a Special Enrollment Period.

Your eight-month special enrollment period begins either the month that your employment ends or when your group health coverage ends, whichever occurs first. If you enroll during an SEP, you generally do not have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

The Special Enrollment Period does not apply if youre eligible for Medicare because you have ESRD. Please also keep in mind that COBRA and retiree health coverage are not considered current employer coverage and would not qualify you for a special enrollment period.

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Paying Your Medicare Part B Premiums

Your Medicare Part B premium is not included in your monthly STRS Ohio health care premium. It is a separate premium that must be paid to Medicare, not to STRS Ohio.

If you receive a monthly Social Security, Railroad Retirement or Civil Service Retirement payment, your Medicare Part B premium will be deducted automatically from this payment. Otherwise, Medicare will send you a bill for your Part B premium every three months.

Another payment option, which STRS Ohio recommends, is to have your Part B premium automatically deducted through Medicare Easy Pay. This is a free, electronic payment option offered by Medicare. Through Medicare Easy Pay, Medicare automatically deducts the premium payment from your savings or checking account. To sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, call Medicare toll-free at 8006334227.

Pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium before the due date to avoid cancellation of your Medicare Part B coverage. If your Part B coverage is canceled, you will not be eligible for STRS Ohio health care coverage.

Medicare Part B Enrollment: Theres Still Time To Sign Up

Most people get Medicare Part B when they turn 65. If you didnt sign up for Part B then, nows the time to decide if you want to enroll.

During Medicares General Enrollment Period , you can enroll in Part B and your coverage will start July 1.

Deciding to enroll in Part B is an important decision. It depends on the type of coverage you have now. Its also important to think about the Part B late enrollment penaltythis lifetime penalty gets added to your monthly Part B premium, and it goes up the longer you wait to sign up. Find out if you should get Part B based on your situation.

If you only have Medicare Part A , adding Part B can help you get the most out of your Medicare coverage. Part B helps cover:

• Services from doctors and other health care providers
• Outpatient care

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When Are You Eligible For Each Part Or Plan In Medicare

Here is an at-a-glance overview of when youll be eligible for each part of Medicare:

• Part A. Youre eligible to enroll for Medicare Part A during the initial enrollment period. Youll automatically be enrolled at age 65 for Medicare Part A if youre currently receiving Social Security disability benefits or railroad retirement board disability benefits.
• Part B. As with Medicare Part A, youre eligible to enroll for Medicare Part B during initial enrollment, and youll be automatically enrolled if you receive disability or retirement benefits.
• Part C . To enroll in Medicare Part C, you must first have parts A and B. You sign up for Medicare Part C during initial enrollment or other enrollment periods.
• Part D. You can enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan when you first get Medicare during initial enrollment. If you dont sign up for Medicare Part D within 63 days of your IEP, you may incur a late enrollment penalty.
• Medicare supplement . The initial enrollment period for Medigap is triggered by the start of the month when you turn 65 years old and sign up for Part B. Initial enrollment for Medigap lasts for 6 months from that date.

How Much Does Medicare Cost

Original Medicare

Original Medicare is divided into Part A and Part B .

• Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital care, some skilled nursing care, home health care and hospice care.
• Part B helps pay for doctor services, outpatient hospital care, durable medical equipment, home health care not covered by Part A, and other services. Medicare was never intended to pay 100% of medical bills. Its purpose is to help pay a portion of medical expenses. Medicare beneficiaries also pay a portion of their medical expenses, which includes deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by Medicare. The amounts of deductibles and copayments change at the beginning of each year.

Part A – Monthly Premium

If you are eligible, Part A is free because you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were working. You earn Social Security “credits” as you work and pay taxes. For each year that you work, you earn 4 credits.

You are 65 or older, and you receive or are eligible to receive full benefits fr om Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board

You are under 65, and you have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months You are under 65, and you have received Railroad Retirement disability benefits and you meet Social Security disability requirements You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment You are under 65 and have End-Stage Renal Disease

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The Steps To Apply For Medicare Online If You Dont Have Part A And Part B

• The first step to apply online for Medicare is to go to ssa.gov or socialsecurity.govSocial security handles all the sign ups for Medicare, so dont worry that you are not enrolling in Medicare.
• Youll need to create a MySocialSecurity Account is you dont already have one. Just go to the top right and click Sign In/Sign Up. If you dont have an account already then just follow the steps to create a username and password.
• The next step is to apply for your Medicare. From the home page of ssa.gov, youll want to click on the box that says Medicare Enrollment. On the next page, scroll about three quarters of the way down and look for the Blue button that says Apply for Medicare Only.Here is where you can also come back and request a replacement Medicare card, check your application status, or return to a saved application if you havent finished it yet.
• This is where you can apply online for Retirement and/or Medicare benefits.Click on start a new application. Or you can return to a saved application.You will type in all the requested information about you.

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Facts About Medicare Part A

Before we talk about the Application Tutorial on Medicare Part B, it is necessary we briefly talk about Part A of Medicare. More specifically why we generally dont need to sign up for it. Medicare Part A is active on the first of the month we turn 65. The reason is we dont have to pay anything for Medicare Part A is because we paid into social security for 10 years or more or for 40 individual quarters. Even if you currently have coverage through your employer, your part A of Medicare will go into effect. Be looking for your Medicare card in the mail three months before your Medicare goes into effect. Generally the first of the month when you turn 65.

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I Am Receiving Social Security Retirement Or Railroad Retirement Board Benefits

You will be enrolled in Original Medicare automatically when you turn 65. Youll get your Medicare card in the mail. Coverage usually starts the first day of your 65th birthday month.

If you have other , you can delay Part B and postpone paying the premium. You can sign up later without penalty, as long as you do it within eight months after your other coverage ends. If you dont qualify to delay Part B, youll need to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period to avoid paying the penalty. You may refuse Part B without penalty if you have creditable coverage, but you have to do it before your coverage start date. Follow the directions on the back of your Medicare card if you want to refuse Part B.

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