Does Social Security Automatically Sign You Up For Medicare

How Does Automatic Enrolling In Medicare Work

Most people who collect Social Security benefits automatically receive Original Medicare coverage once they’re eligible.

If you receive benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board , youll receive the same Medicare coverage.

Youll become eligible for Medicare when one of the following events occur:

• You turn 65
• You have end-stage renal disease
• You have Lou Gehrig’s Disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• You have been on Social Security disability insurance for 24 months and have a qualifying condition. These include heart and lung issues, neurological disorders, cancer, kidney dysfunction and other severe health problems.

If you live in Puerto Rico and receive Social Security or RRB benefits, youll only become automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A. If you want Medicare Part B, youll need to apply for coverage.

Those receiving Social Security benefits who also qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid will also be awarded Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage automatically. If you don’t qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, you’ll need to compare Part D prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage plans that include Part D coverage and enroll in a plan available where you live.

Who Is Eligible For Medicare

Most people enroll in Medicare when they turn 65. You can enroll as early as three months before your 65th birthday or as late as three months after. Youll need to be a United States citizen or have been a permanent legal resident for at least five years. In order to get full coverage, you or your spouse need to meet a work requirement. Meeting the work requirement verifies that youve paid into the system.

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What does Medicare cover?

There are four parts to Medicare. Part A provides coverage while you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient. Part B includes coverage for medical expenses for things such as a doctors visit, preventative testing, medical equipment and outpatient surgeries and procedures. Part C is known as Medicare Advantage and is another way to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company instead of the federal government. Finally, Part D is your prescription drug plan. Original Medicare includes Parts A and Part B only.

What are the benefits?

It may seem intrusive to get enrolled in healthcare without asking for it, but there is a big benefit to it. The benefit to automatic enrollment of Original Medicare is that you do not have to worry about missing your window to gain access. It can also serve as a reminder to review your health insurance and revise the coverage to be more aligned with your specific healthcare needs. Many beneficiaries tackle this process by working with a qualified Medicare insurance agent. They stay on top of all the ins and outs of Medicare so you dont have to.

What are the drawbacks?

How does enrollment work?

There are so many different conditions that come into play when considering enrolling in Medicare. It is important to understand how to get started, whether this happens automatically or not.

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What Happens If You Dont Sign Up For Medicare At 65

If you wait until the month you turn 65 to enroll, your Part B coverage will be delayed. This could cause a gap in your coverage. In most cases, if you dont sign up for Medicare Part B when youre first eligible, youll have to pay a late enrollment penalty.

Does Social Security Automatically Enroll You In Medicare

David Bolton

If you are receiving Social Security benefits, you may also wonder about medical coverage. Do you have to sign up or are you already enrolled in Medicare?

It is important to know the distinction between Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. In addition, you probably want to know the different circumstances that will enroll you and when you will have to sign up.

If you are receiving Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, then you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. If you do not receive Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65, you will need to sign up.

The information in this article comes from SSA.gov and Medicare.gov. Deciding to receive both Medicare Part A and Part B is an important financial decision so even though the information in this article is accurate, you should always consult with your financial advisor before making the decision.

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Im Working Past 65 But My Health Coverage Is From My Spouses Employer

A pretty common situation to face, if your health care coverage is from a spouses employer, you may be able to delay Medicare or you may need to enroll when you first become eligible. In this case, the employer still needs to have 20 or more employees. However, the big difference is that employers can have rules for covered dependents 65 and older that may require the individual to get Medicare at 65 in order to remain on the employer plan.

Therefore, if you have employer coverage through a spouses employer, you need to ask the employers benefits administrator directly about your Medicare enrollment choices.

In Which Statesis Medicaid Enrollment Automatic

The Social Security Administration handles Medicaid enrollmentfor the many states in which Medicaid eligibility is automatic for SSIrecipients. Your state will contact you with information after you receive yourSSI award letter from Social Security. These states are:

Note that SSI recipients in Indiana will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid starting on June 1, 2014. At that point, Indiana switches from being a 209 state to an automatic enrollment state.

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Who Is Responsible For Your Parentsmedical Bills After They Die

In most cases, only the estate is responsible for your parents medical bills after theyve died. In very rare instances will you need to cover these expenses yourself. If youre the executor of your parents estate, it is up to you to pay these medical expenses with funds from your parents liquid cash and assets.

Which Statesuse Their Own Criteria For Granting Medicaid

Theremaining states do not automatically grant Medicaid to persons withdisabilities who qualify for SSI because they use their own criteria fordetermining whether someone is eligible for Medicaid. These states may haveincome limits that are higher or lower than SSI’s, different asset limits, ordifferent requirements for what makes someone disabled.

Inmost of these states, however, the income limitsfor Medicaid aren’t too different from the income limit for SSI . And many of them use thesame resource limit as SSI program, although several have a lower assetlimit than SSI , and a couple states have a higher asset limit .

These states are called “209 states,” named after a sectionof the legislation that created the SSI program in 1972. This legislationprohibited states from making their Medicaid eligibility criteria stricter thanthe criteria the states were using in 1972. In these states, you must apply forMedicaid with your state’s Medicaid agency or health and human services department.

The 209 states are:

Note that Indiana ceased being a 209 state in 2014.

Even though some 209 states have lower income limits than theSSI program, these states have to let Medicaid applicants deduct their medicalexpenses from their income when their eligibility for Medicaid is beingdetermined. This is called “spending-down.” This means that SSIrecipients with high medical bills will qualify for Medicaid in these states.

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Dont Register For Medicare Alone

If youre uncomfortable with applying for Medicare alone, we can help! Our services are completely free for you. If you would like an agent by your side when applying, contact us. We can walk you through setting up all your coverage, including Medicare, Medigap, Part D, and more.

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Your Options: Working Applying For Retirement Benefits Or Both

Choosing when to start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits is an important decision. Theres no one choice that works for everyone because your lifestyle, finances, and goals are not the same as others.

Do you want to retire early, stay on the job, or work beyond retirement age?

Should you start receiving retirement benefits now, or wait until you can receive a higher benefit amount?

These are important questions youll need to answer as you plan for your retirement. Consider the four options below to help you make the best decision.

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At What Age Do I Qualify For Social Security

You can begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. Doing so, however, is often not advisable, since it means lowering your monthly benefits potentially for life.

To collect the full monthly benefit your earnings record entitles you to, you must wait until full retirement age to sign up for Social Security. Depending on your year of birth, that age will fall out somewhere between 66 and 67. For each month you file for Social Security ahead of full retirement age, youll face a reduction in your monthly benefits that will likely remain in effect indefinitely, unless you manage to go through the motions of withdrawing your application soon after filing it.

How Does A Funeral Director Report A Death To Social Security

director will report the persons death to Social Security. Youll need to give the deceaseds Social Security number to the funeral director so they can make the report. Some of the deceaseds family members may be able to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough in jobs insured under Social

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How To Sign Up For Medicare

You sign up for Original Medicare Part A and Part B through the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board .

• If you arent yet getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you need to apply for Medicare.
• If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, the SSA or RRB will automatically sign you up for Medicare Part A and B so its effective the month of your 65th birthday.

What Is The Monthly Premium For Medicare Part B

The standard Medicare Part B premium for medical insurance in 2021 is $148.50.Some people who collect Social Security benefits and have their Part B premiums deducted from their payment will pay less. This is because their Part B premium increased more than the cost-of-living increase for 2021 Social Security benefits. Social Security will send a letter to all people who collect Social Security benefits that states each persons exact Part B premium amount for 2021. Since 2007, higher-income beneficiaries have paid a larger percentage of their Medicare Part B premium than most. Depending on their income, these higher-income beneficiaries will pay premiums that amount to 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost of coverage. You can get details at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE .

More Information

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When To Sign Up For Medicare Part B

If youre retiring, the best time to enroll in Part B is during your Initial Enrollment Period. For those still working past 65, check with your health administrators whether your employer coverage is creditable.

If it is, you can enroll in Part B when you retire or leave your group health plan. Youll be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period when you can enroll without any penalties. If your group health plan is not considered creditable coverage, then you should register for Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period.

If you missed your Initial Enrollment Period, the next enrollment window you can enroll in Part A and Part B is the General Enrollment Period.

B Automatically Deducted From Social Security

By Shauneen Sullivan

Does Social Security deduct Medicare Part B premiums from your benefit check? The answer is yes.

If you receive benefits from Social Security, Railroad Retirement Board , or Office of Personnel Management , then your Part B premium will be deducted from your benefit payment. It will come out of your check every month starting with your Part B effective month.

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When Doesmedicare Or Medicaid Start

SSDI recipients aren’t eligible to receive Medicare benefitsuntil two years after their date of entitlement to SSDI . Because it oftentakes a year or two to be approved for disability benefits, however, SSDIrecipients often become eligible for Medicare soon after they get their awardletter from Social Security.

In the states where Medicaid eligibility is automatic for SSIrecipients, there is no waiting period for SSI recipients to receive Medicaid.In other states, you need to apply separately for Medicaid, but there is nowaiting period.

How To Pay Your Medicare Premiums

There are a few ways to make payments.

• You can sign up for a My Medicare.gov account and pay online by credit or debit card.
• You can sign up for Medicare Easy Pay. They will deduct premium payments from your checking or savings account every month.
• You can pay from your checking or savings account by using your banks online bill pay service.

If your first payment is late, then youll get another bill. If you miss the second bill payment due date then you get a delinquent bill. And if you miss that delinquent due date then youll lose your Medicare coverage.

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How Do I Know Im Enrolled In Medicare

After you apply for Medicare, Social Security will review and process your application. Theyll contact you if they need more information.

When youre approved for Medicare Part A and/or Part B, Social Security will send you a welcome packet that includes the following:

• Your confirmation letter
• Your red, white and blue Medicare ID card
• A Welcome to Medicare booklet that walks you through decisions you may have to make with your Medicare coverage
• The Medicare & You handbook

If youve applied for a private Medicare plan such as a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost, Medigap or Medicare Prescription Drug plan, when your enrollment is accepted youll get a separate confirmation letter and ID card.

Medicare helps pay for your health care costs and covers preventive care including a visit with your doctor each year. So once you get Medicare Part B, schedule your initial Welcome to Medicare visit with your doctor. And each year you get an Annual Wellness Visit with your doctor.

For more helpful tips, review this checklist, how to use Medicare your first year.

Do You Have To Pay Medicare And Social Security

All income earners are required to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes. Avoiding these taxes is impossible, especially as an income earner. All employees and self-employed taxpayers are required to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. However, you are exempted from paying Social Security taxes in some situations.

People are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65. Youll sign up for coverage at that time. Social Security becomes available when you turn 62, but its usually not wise to get Social Security benefits at 62. Instead, you should wait until your retirement age, so you can receive full Social Security benefits.

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When Does Medicare Not Automatically Start

Medicare will NOT automatically start when you turn 65 if youre not receiving Social Security Benefits or Railroad Retirement Benefits for at least 4 months prior to your 65th birthday. Youll need to apply for Medicare coverage.

Theres no such thing as a Medicare office enrollment in the program is handled by the Social Security Administration . If you have to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or B on your own, you can visit your local Social Security office.

You can also online by following the instructions at the Social Security Administration Medicare Benefits web page. In most cases, signing up online will take ten minutes.

How To Apply For Medicare Through Social Security

Apply online: The easiest way to complete the Medicare enrollment application is online at ssa.gov. Its convenient to sign up from home. You can start and stop the application and save your information. After you submit your application, youll get a receipt to print and keep. You can also check the status of your application.

Apply in person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the nearest office with the Social Security office locator. They recommend that you make an appointment.

Apply by phone: Call Social Security at 800-772-1213 .

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How Did You Automatically Get Enrolled In Medicare

President/CEO at Healthcare Solutions Direct, LLC, a nationwide insurance agency focused primarily on the retiree health market.

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Medicare is a unique type of health insurance because you do not always have to sign up to get it. Once you turn 65, you will become eligible. If you are already collecting social security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled into what is known as Original Medicare. There is nothing you need to do.

The coverage will begin on the first day of the month in which you turn 65 unless you were born on the first of the month. If that is the case, your coverage will begin on the first day of the previous month. You will get alerted to your coverage automatically in the mail by envelope with your Medicare card enclosed. It is mailed out around three months before your 65th birthday.

For many, Original Medicare is far from complete coverage. It is up to you to decide what changes or additions to your healthcare coverage are necessary. If you are still working, it is also up to you to decide whether you would like to continue using the health insurance offered through your employer or not.

With a decade of experience in the healthcare insurance space, I have talked to thousands of Medicare-eligible individuals. In order to make the best decision on what is right for you, you will need a lot of information. This includes an understanding of what each part within Medicare actually covers.