How Can I Find My Medicare Effective Date

When Is My Medicare Effective Date

Summary:

Your Medicare effective date depends on when your Medicare coverage begins. For many people, this date is the first day of the month in which they turn 65. Your Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B effective dates may be different. You know you are eligible for Medicare at age 65 or the 25th month of receiving disability benefits, but when exactly does your Medicare coverage start?

What Is Medicare Part A What Does Part A Cover

As hospital insurance, Medicare Part A generally covers

• Inpatient hospital stays
• Prescription drugs administered to you as part of your inpatient treatment
• Skilled nursing facility stays
• Limited, temporary home health care

This is not a complete list. Please note that a deductible or coinsurance payment may apply to some services/items. Most services are covered only for a certain length of time.

How To Apply Online For Just Medicare

Are you within three months of turning age 65 or older and not ready to start your monthly Social Security benefits yet? You can use our online retirement application to sign up just for Medicare and wait to apply for your retirement or spouses benefits later. It takes less than 10 minutes, and there are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required.

To find out what documents and information you need to apply, go to the .

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I Changed Medicare Plans When Does My New Plan Activate

This depends on what enrollment period you were eligible for to make changes. If you changed your plan during the Annual Enrollment Period in October, then your coverage will begin on Jan. 1 of the following year. If you made changes during a Special Enrollment Period, then your coverage should become effective the first day of the month after you enroll.

Signing Up For Medicare

If you’re collecting Social Security benefits. If you claim Social Security benefits at age 65 or earlier, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65, in both Part A and Part B. You can disenroll from Part B but not from Part A.

To enroll in Part B after age 65 later , you can fill out an Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B and bring it or mail it to a Social Security office.

If you’re not collecting Social Security benefits. If you are 64 years and nine months or older and you have not started collecting Social Security benefits, you can sign up for both Part A and Part B online at .

How Medicare enrollment affects HSAs. Note that, when you’re enrolled in Part A, you are no longer allowed to make pre-tax contributions to your health savings account , though you cancontinue to use the funds already in your HSA account. Since anyone collecting Social Security retirement benefits has to be enrolled in Part A, this means that no one collecting Social Security can contribute to an HSA.

For 2018 premiums and deductibles, see Nolo’s 2018 Medicare cost update.

You could be eligible for up to $3,148 per month in SSDI benefits

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Protect Your Medicare Number Like A Credit Card

Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to health care providers, your insurance companies or health plans , or people you trust that work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program .

Say no to scams

Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information. Learn more about the limited situations in which Medicare can call you.

When Are You Eligible For Medicare

For most people, Medicare enrollment eligibility starts at age 65. If you are under 65, there are instances in which you would be eligible for Medicare. Age is not the only factor in determining Medicare eligibility. To qualify for Medicare, you must also:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident
• Have lived in the U.S. for at least five years

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Important Medicare Dates To Remember

It’s important to be aware of the different enrollment periods for Medicare, which may vary depending on the type of plan you get and your birthday. Enrolling during those periods can help you reduce health care costs. Other important dates include your coverage start dates and your window for switching or updating your plan.

• Lee Williams

  Senior Financial Editor

  Lee Williams is a professional writer, editor and content strategist with 10 years of professional experience working for global and nationally recognized brands. He has contributed to Forbes, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen.com, Electric Literature and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes ghostwriting for Fortune 500 CEOs and published authors.

Our fact-checking process starts with vetting all sources to ensure they are authoritative and relevant. Then we verify the facts with original reports published by those sources, or we confirm the facts with qualified experts. For full transparency, we clearly identify our sources in a list at the bottom of each page.

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Key Principles

Editorial Independence

Timeliness is important when it comes to enrolling in and shopping for Medicare plans.

Signing up for Medicare during enrollment periods allows you to get coverage at the optimal price. Missing certain enrollment dates may mean higher premiums, late penalties and fewer plan options.

Enter The Security Code

You should receive the security code in about 20 seconds to two minutes. Once you get the code from Medicare, enter the 8-digit number into the verification bar. The code is only good for 10 minutes, so make sure to type it into the verification bar right away. After youve typed it in, click Submit.

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When You Can Expect Your Medicare Card

Once you have confirmation that your Medicare application was approved, you should receive your Medicare card in the mail about 2-4 weeks later. Your card will state your Medicare effective dates and number.

Your Medicare number is all you need for other applications, such as Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Part D. Since you can view your Medicare number in your SSA account, you dont necessarily need to wait to receive your card to move forward with the other applications.

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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When Does Your Medicare Coverage Start If You Are Turning 65

Medicare coverage start dates depend on when you enroll. The Initial Enrollment Period is a seven-month period to enroll in Medicare. You first become eligible to enroll in Medicare three months before you turn 65 and it ends three months after you turn 65.

The coverage start date is heavily dependent on when you enroll during this time frame.

Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period

Your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period is not annual. Its a one-time enrollment window that begins the first of the month youre 65 and enrolled in Part B. This enrollment window will last six months long.

During this time, youll have guaranteed issue rights. This means a carrier cannot deny you coverage or charge you a higher premium due to a pre-existing condition. Your coverage will become effective the first of the following month after you enroll.

The only time youll have more than one Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period is if you first became eligible for Medicare due to a disability. In this scenario, your first Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period will begin once you have been collecting SSDI for at least 24 months and enrolled in Part B. Your second Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period will begin when you age in at 65.

However, there are some states with different policies for MediGap plans. Some states like New York, have year-round Medicare Supplement open enrollment.

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When Will My Medicare Benefits Start

If youre automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, your Medicare benefits will start on the first day of the month that youre eligible for coverage. For example: If your 65th birthday is October 20, 2019 and you automatically qualify for Medicare, your Medicare effective date would be October 1, 2019.

How Do I Change My Medicare Effective Date

As long as your age and enrollment period allows you to select September as your month to begin Part B coverage then you should be able to change your month of enrollment either by amending your application or by submitting a new Part B application form (https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/Downloads/CMS40B …Jun 16, 2018

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When Are You Eligible For Medicare Before The Age Of 65

If you are collecting Social Security Administration Disability, you are eligible for Medicare 25 months after you qualify for benefits.

Other conditions have shorter time frames. For example, for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis you are immediately eligible for Medicare when approved for SSA. For end-stage renal disease the time period is three months after receiving dialysis or having a kidney transplant.

Tell Ors Your Medicare Number And Effective Dates For Parts A And B

When your new 11-digit Medicare card arrives, tell ORS your Medicare number as soon as you receive your card.

• Log in to miAccount and send a secure message on Message Board, using the Submit My Medicare Number category. Include the name, Medicare number, and effective dates for parts A and B in your message for the individual going on Medicare.
• Use miAccount to update your Medicare information and complete a plan change to enroll in the Medicare health and prescription drug plan. Print the confirmation page and mail or fax it to ORS.
• Make a copy of your Medicare card. Write your name, member ID, address, and date of birth on the copy and mail or fax the copy of your card.
• Mail or fax a completed Insurance Enrollment/Change Request form to ORS with your Medicare information.

Do not enroll yourself or your eligible dependents in an individual Part D plan . All prescription drug plans offered by the retirement system for Medicare members are Part D plans, including those offered by our HMO options.

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What Is An Annual Review Of Medicare

An annual review of your Medicare coverage can help you determine if your plan combination is right for your needs. For example, if youre spending a considerable amount of money on prescription drugs, a Medicare Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage may be something to consider.

Should I Sign Up For Medicare If Im Still Working

Regardless of if youre still working and have a group health plan, you should still enroll in Medicare Part A coverage. Premium-free Part A will give you extra hospital benefits. However, with Medicare Part B enrollment, if you have group employer coverage then you can delay enrolling until you leave your group coverage insurance.

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Medicare How Do I Find Out My Effective Date

You can to ask about your coverage status and effective dates. If youre enrolled in Original Medicare, you also might have signed up for an optional Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. As with Medicare Advantage, you should have a card from the plan that shows the phone number you can call.

If you enroll in Medicare the month before your 65th birthday, your Medicare coverage will usually start the first day of your birthday month

Medicare Coverage And End Stage Renal Disease

You may get Medicare benefits at any age if you have ESRD and one of the following applies:

• You are eligible for Medicare based on your work record.
• You are already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, or you are eligible for benefits.
• Your spouse or parent meets one of the above requirements.

Medicare coverage starts the fourth month you receive dialysis treatments. For example, your Medicare coverage would start on October 1 if you start getting your dialysis treatments in July.

Medicare coverage could start the first month you receive treatments if all of these apply:

• You attend a home dialysis training program provided by a Medicare-certified training facility.
• Your doctor expects you to complete the training and be able to do your own dialysis treatments.
• You maintain regular dialysis treatments throughout the usual required waiting period.

You must enroll in Original Medicare yourself. Once you have both Part A and Part B, you may make other Medicare coverage choices, such as adding Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you are 65 or older, or disabled, and are already enrolled in Part A, you may enroll in Part B without penalty if you are approved for Medicare based on ESRD. You may also have an existing Part B late enrollment penalty removed.

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Do You Have To Pay Medicare Part A Premium

Many beneficiaries dont pay a Medicare Part A premium you dont have to pay this premium if you worked at least 10 years while paying Medicare taxes. However, most beneficiaries must pay a monthly Medicare Part B premium, even if theyre enrolled in Medicare Advantage or another Medicare plan option

When Does Medicare Start

When your Medicare coverage starts depends on when you sign up. You may be automatically signed up if you are already receiving Social Security benefits.

Notice that signing up after your 65 birthday month creates a delay in when your Medicare coverage starts.

To look for a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Supplement insurance plan in your area, enter your zip code on this page.

Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealthâs Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youâre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage.Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.

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Employer Or Military Retiree Coverage

If you or your spouse has an Employer Group Health Plan as retiree health coverage from an employer or the military , you may not need additional insurance. Review the EGHPs costs and benefits and contact your employer benefits representative or SHIIP to learn how your coverage works with Medicare.

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What Happens If I Miss My Initial Enrollment Window For Medicare

If you miss your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period for any reason, you may still enroll in Original Medicare during the General Enrollment Period. Remember, if you sign up during the annual General Enrollment Period, your Medicare will not start until July 1.

Therefore, you may have a coverage gap. If you do not maintain creditable coverage meaning at least as good as Medicare until this start date, you may be responsible for paying the Medicare Part B penalty.

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Im Enrolled In Medicare Part A And Part B What About Parts C And Part D

Once youâre enrolled in Part A and Part B, you can decide to change your Medicare coverage. For example, Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Thatâs not included in Original Medicare except in limited situations. You can decide to get your Medicare Part A & Part B benefits through Medicare Part C, the Medicare Advantage program. Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.