When Is My Initial Enrollment Period For Medicare Part D:
You can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan during your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D. You are eligible for prescription drug coverage if:
- You live in a service area covered by the health plan, and
- You have Medicare Part A AND/OR Medicare Part B.
Generally, your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D will occur at the same time as your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B .
Once you are eligible for Medicare Part D, you must either enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, or have creditable prescription drug coverage. Some people may choose to delay Medicare Part D enrollment if they already have creditable prescription drug coverage through an employer group plan.
However, if you do not sign up for prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible for Part D, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for signing up later if you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 or more consecutive days.
Can I Sign Up For Medicare Plans Online
Enrolling in Medicare coverage options online is generally easy and quick. More and more people are signing up online, according to an eHealth study. During 2018, about 16% of people in the study enrolled in Medicare coverage options online. Thats up from only 10% in 2017. In other words, about 60% more people in the study used eHealths online enrollment tool to sign up in 2018 than in 2017.
Its interesting to note that online enrollment was even higher during Q4. Q4 means the 4th quarter of the year, October through December. Thats when Medicares Fall Open Enrollment happens for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans. Fall Open Enrollment goes from October 15 December 7 every year.
Medicare Part D Comes In Two Flavors
There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage. Both are available from private, Medicare-approved insurance companies.
- You can sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to work beside your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.
- You can get your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits through a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. Not every Medicare Advantage plan includes prescription drug benefits, but most do.
Both types of plans have mainly similar enrollment periods.
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If You Already Receive Benefits From Social Security:
If you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. You will not need to do anything to enroll. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If your 65th birthday is February 20, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be February 1, 2010.
How To Enroll In Medicare Part D
Once you decide if you want to enroll into a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, you can apply directly through the insurance company.
Generally, you should be able to enroll by submitting a paper application, calling the plan, or enrolling online. You may also enroll through a licensed insurance agent such as eHealth. Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans arent allowed to call and ask you to enroll into their plan.
When you enroll in prescription drug coverage, you will have to provide your Medicare number and the date your Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B coverage started. You can find this information on your Medicare card.
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Medicare Part A Retroactive Coverage And Hsas
Medicare Part A is a government administered health insurance plan generally for people aged 65 and older. It is a form of hospital insurance that covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facilities, and other types of health care services. The general assumption is that Health Savings Account holders can maintain their HSA until they begin Medicare, and then easily hop onto Medicare Part A. As you will see, this may not be so, as there are some catches with Medicare Part A that affect your HSA eligibility based on your age and enrollment date.
People over the age of 65 do not have to sign up for Medicare they can remain on a personal insurance plan as long as they want. However, once you elect to being coverage, or begin receiving Social Security, you are enrolled in Medicare Part A. While this not only ends your HSA eligibility , it may affect your HSA eligibility in previous months. For those who begin Part A coverage after they have turned 65, there is a clause that retroactively applies Medicare coverage. It states that your coverage start date actually begins up to 6 months prior to your actual enrollment date. From the Medicare.gov website:
If you sign up within 6 months of your 65th birthday, your coverage will start at one of these times:
1) The first day of the month you turn 65
2) The month before you turn 65 .
After turning 65, youre coverage will be in effect the lessor of 1) 6 months or 2) your 65th birthday.
When Is My Medicare Initial Enrollment Period
For most people, enrolling in Medicare Part A is automatic. However, there are several instances where you may have to manually enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period , the seven-month period that begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your 65th birthday, and ends three months later.
Some situations where you would enroll in Medicare during your initial enrollment include:
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Signing Up For A Medicare Advantage Plan
If you prefer to get your health coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, you must first enroll in Original Medicare Part A and Part B and then switch to a separate Medicare Advantage plan.
All Medicare Advantage plans must offer the same Medicare Part A and Part B benefits as Original Medicare, but some plans include other benefits, such as prescription drug coverage, dental and vision.
Medicare Advantage Plans do not all offer the same benefits.
Use the Medicare Plan Finder or call your local SHIP representative to compare plans in your area.
Four Ways to Sign Up for a Medicare Advantage Plan
To join a Medicare Advantage plan, you will need your Medicare number and the date your Part A and Part B coverage began.
Free Medicare Help
If Your Income Has Gone Down
If your income has gone down due to any of the following situations, and the change makes a difference in the income level we consider, contact us to explain that you have new information and may need a new decision about your income-related monthly adjustment amount:
- You married, divorced, or became widowed.
- You or your spouse stopped working or reduced your work hours.
- You or your spouse lost income-producing property because of a disaster or other event beyond your control.
- You or your spouse experienced a scheduled cessation, termination, or reorganization of an employers pension plan.
- You or your spouse received a settlement from an employer or former employer because of the employers closure, bankruptcy, or reorganization.
If any of the above applies to you, we need to see documentation verifying the event and the reduction in your income. The documentation you provide should relate to the event and may include a death certificate, a letter from your employer about your retirement, or something similar. If you filed a federal income tax return for the year in question, you need to show us your signed copy of the return. Use Form Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event to report a major life-changing event. If your income has gone down, you may also use Form SSA-44 to request a reduction in your income-related monthly adjustment amount.
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How Do I Enroll In Medicare
Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to enroll in Medicare or to ask questions about whether you are eligible. You can also visit their web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.
The Medicare.gov Web site also has a tool to help you determine if you are eligibile for Medicare and when you can enroll. It is called the Medicare Eligibility Tool.
Be Aware Of Other Enrollment Periods
Most people sign up for Medicare during the seven-month initial enrollment period around their 65th birthday.
But what if you missed your initial enrollment period and want to make changes or add additional coverage?
There are specific times each year when you can do this.
Alternate Medicare Enrollment Periods
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Retirement Insurance And Medicare
Sometimes when employees retire, they are provided group health coverage from the employer.These opportunities are not as widespread as they used to be because most companies no longer offer pensions. However, a news release prompted by Willis Towers Watsons 2017 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey reports that a majority of people surveyed would pay for this benefit if it was brought back.
Specifically, out of 5,000 U.S. employees questioned, Willis Towers Watson found that 66 percent said they would have no problem paying more per month for their benefits in return for a better retirement package. Sixty-one percent said theyd even give up a portion of their pay if they were to receive a guaranteed retirement benefit.
If your company offers health insurance benefits for retirees, Medicare.gov says that Medicare will typically be the primary payer and the retirement plan the secondary. It all depends on the rules created by this other plan as this has an impact on which plan pays first.
Medicare.gov also warns that your former employer or union has have the right to change the benefits of that coverage or increase its premiums because they have control over it. They can even cancel the coverage if they wish.
Signing Up Late: General Enrollment Period
Part A. If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part A when you were first eligible, you can sign up for Part A anytime, without penalty.
When coverage begins. Your Part A coverage will go back to six months before the date you signed up .
Part B, C and D. If you didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you were first eligible, you can sign up for Part B during a General Enrollment Period, which happens between January 1 through March 31 each year. You will also have from April 1 through June 30 of that year to add a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Part D plan.
When coverage begins. When you sign up for Part B, C, or D during a General Enrollment Period, your coverage will start July 1.
Late sign-up penalty. Individuals who did not sign up for Medicare Part B when they turned 65 might face a penalty of higher lifetime premiums when they do sign up. However, most individuals who were covered by a group health plan through an employer are not subject to the penalty. If you didn’t sign up for Part B because you had group health benefits through work, you should be able to sign up during your Special Enrollment Period.
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If You Delayed Medicare Because You Were Still Working
If you delayed enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B because you were still working, then you can enroll online for both Part A and Part B.
There are also two forms you need to fill out and send in to Social Security. This shows that you were covered under employer or other creditable insurance. As long as you can provide proof of coverage then you wont have any penalty for not signing up when you were first eligible at 65.
When Can You Enroll In Medicare
You can apply for Medicare during three distinct enrollment periods: your Initial Enrollment Period, the General Enrollment Period and a Special Enrollment Period when youre getting off your employers health coverage.
Medicare Enrollment Dates
| Change to a 5-star Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. |
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What Happens After I Apply For Medicare Online
Once you complete your online application, Medicare will review it to ensure all information is complete. Make sure you have accurate contact information in case Medicare needs to contact you about your application information and so that you receive your Medicare enrollment information and ID cards.
Once your application is processed, you will receive a decision letter in the mail. If you have any questions during the application process or after you have submitted your application, you can always call the number above for assistance.
Do you have questions about when to apply for Medicare or what plans and options are best for you? Id like to help you understand your options. If youd prefer, you can get information via email or schedule a telephone call by clicking one of the links at the bottom of the page. To see a list of plans in your area you may be eligible for, click the Compare Plans button.
New To Medicare?
Becoming eligible for Medicare can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand Medicare in 15 minutes or less.
Signing Up For Medicare Online Step
Signing up for Medicare online through the Social Security Administration is the fastest way to apply.
Enrollment takes less than 10 minutes online, according to the Social Security Administration.
How to Apply for Medicare Online
You will be asked to provide your current health insurance information or, if you receive Medicaid benefits, your Medicaid number.
You may be required to provide additional documentation if you are:
- Not a U.S. citizen
- Applying under your spouses work record
- Over age 65 and transitioning from your employers health coverage
After youre enrolled, CMS will send you a welcome packet in the mail along with your Medicare card.
If you sign up for Medicare on your own, the packet should arrive about two weeks after you sign up.
You will also receive a Medicare & You handbook, which includes important information about your coverage.
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Signing Up For Original Medicare
There are a few different ways to sign up for Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B if you are not automatically enrolled.
Medicare Part A and Part B are also called Original Medicare.
3 Ways to Sign Up for Medicare Part A and Part B
If you worked at a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 to sign up.
If you are not automatically enrolled, the best time to sign up for Medicare is during your initial enrollment period.
This is a seven-month window that begins three months before the first day of the month of your 65th birthday, includes your birth month and ends three months after your birthday.
Prepare for Medicare Open Enrollment
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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When Can I Join A Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan
En español | You can get Medicare prescription drug coverage in one of two ways: through a stand-alone Part D drug plan or through a Medicare Advantage managed care plan which includes Part D drug coverage in its benefits package. Both types of plan are offered by private insurance companies that are regulated by Medicare.
Whether you choose a stand-alone Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, you must enroll during a designated enrollment period:
- Your initial enrollment period , which runs for seven months, of which the fourth is the month of your 65th birthday.
- A special enrollment period , which youre entitled to in certain circumstances:
If you qualify for Extra Help or enter or leave a nursing home, you can join a Part D drug plan or switch to another at any time of the year.
If you lose creditable drug coverage from elsewhere such as an employer, union, retiree benefits, COBRA, Medicaid, or the Veterans Affairs health care program you can sign up with a drug plan within two months of this coverage ending.
If you move outside of your current drug plans service area , you can sign up with a new plan, either before or within two months of the move.
If your current Part D plan withdraws service from your area, you can switch to another plan before or when your current coverage ends.
If a plan violates its contract with you, you can ask Medicare to investigate if Medicare agrees, you can switch to another plan at that time.
