How Do I Know If I Have Medicare

Link Medicare To Your Mygov Account

After you sign in to myGov, select View and link services and the Medicare link button.

Well ask you some questions to make sure its you. Itll take about 10 minutes and youll need your Medicare card.

We may ask questions about your last visit to your doctor such as the:

• date of your visit
• location of the medical practice
• name of your doctor.

Youll know youre set up when you can see Medicare as a linked service on your myGov homepage.

If you need help you can do any of the following:

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.

How Do You Sign Up For Medicare

Most people are automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B if they:

• Get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board. You are enrolled the first day of the month you turn 65.
• Are younger than 65 and have been getting disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months.

If you qualify for automatic enrollment, you will be sent your Medicare card 3 months before you turn 65 or your 25th month of disability.

You need to apply to get Part A and Part B benefits if you aren’t getting Social Security or railroad benefits.

You also need to sign up if you have end-stage renal disease. Medicare covers dialysis treatment for people who have permanent kidney failure.

You can get more information and sign up for Medicare by calling the Social Security office at 1-800-772-1213 or by applying online at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.

Penalty for late enrollment

If you don’t sign up for Parts A and B when you are first eligibleâby the first day of the month you turn 65âyou may pay a higher premium than if you had signed up then. A penalty also may apply for late enrollment in Part D, depending on how long you went without drug coverage.

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How Can I Check To See If I Have Medicare

There are several ways to check the status of your Medicare coverage:

• Log in to your Medicare account online
• Log in to your Social Security account online

Lastly, you can check your status on the Medicare enrollment page, by logging in with the following information at hand:

• Medicare Part A effective date

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.

Enter your ZIP Code and in a flash see your plan options.

eHealth’s Medicare website is operated by eHealthInsurance Services, Inc., a licensed health insurance agency doing business as eHealth. The purpose of this site is the solicitation of insurance. Contact may be made by an insurance agent/producer or insurance company. eHealth and Medicare supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We offer plans from a number of insurance companies.

Learn More About Medicare

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• Visit the Check Your Enrollment page on Medicare.gov, the official website for Medicare.
• Fill out the requested information, including your zip code, Medicare number, name, date of birth and your effective date for Medicare Part A coverage or Part B coverage.

If you just recently enrolled, it may not be immediately reflected online. You may contact the plan provider directly to confirm your enrollment or check online again at a later date to see if your enrollment status has been updated.

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B, your Medicare card should detail what Medicare coverage you have, as seen below.

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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 .

When Should I Enroll In Medicare

The best time to enroll in Medicare is during your Initial Enrollment Period . This seven-month period starts three months before the month you turn 65, and ends three months after your birth month. If you enroll before your birthday, your Medicare coverage starts on the first day of the month you turn 65.

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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.

Have Questions About Medicare Supplements Medigap Or Medicare Advantage

I am an independent insurance agent. I work with many different companies, but I work for you. Not an insurance company. You dont pay me. You dont pay anything extra for working with me.

I earn a compensation from the insurance company for connecting you. But also for being here to provide extra service afterward. So you dont have to call an insurance company to try to figure things out on your own.

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What Is The Texas Health Information Counseling And Advocacy Program

If you are eligible for Medicare, the Texas’ Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program can help you enroll, find information and provide counseling about your options. This partnership between the Texas Health and Human Services system, Texas Legal Services Center and the Area Agencies on Aging trains and oversees certified benefits counselors across the state.

Should I Sign Up For Medical Insurance

With our online application, you can sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B. Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down.

If youre eligible at age 65, your Initial Enrollment Period begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends three months after that birthday.

Note: Important Upcoming Change Rules for 2023 and later: If you accept the automatic enrollment in Medicare Part B or if you sign up during the first three months of your IEP, your coverage will start the month youre first eligible. Beginning January 1, 2023, if you sign up during the month you turn 65 or during the last three months of your IEP, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

The following chart shows when your Medicare Part B becomes effective in 2022:

The following chart shows when your Medicare Part B becomes effective in 2023:

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Medicare Costs Terms Explained

Whether youre new to Medicare or could use a refresher, here are some common Medicare terms explained:

Coinsurance is a percentage of your medical and drug costs you may be required to pay as your share of costs for medical services or supplies .

Copayment is a specific dollar amount you may be required to pay as your share of the cost for medical services or supplies .

Deductible is the amount you pay for medical services or prescription drugs in a plan year before your plan begins to pay for benefits.

Premium is the amount you are required to pay each month to Medicare or your private insurer for your healthcare coverage.

To learn more, check out our list of

Are You Automatically Enrolled In Medicare

You may be enrolled automatically in Original Medicare if you qualify under these two scenarios:

Contact Medicare by phone three months before your scheduled start date to make sure the correct enrollment options are in process.

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Status Of Medicare Advantage And Part D

A Medicare Advantage, or Part C, plan is administered by a private health insurance company that contracts with Medicare.

You can check the status of a Medicare Advantage plan application by contacting the private insurer who administers your plan.

A Medicare Part D plan provides prescription drug coverage. Like Medicare Advantage, Part D plans are administered by private insurance companies.

To check your application status, contact the member services department of your Part D plan for more information.

You can also ask your pharmacy to check the status of your Part D enrollment by sending a test claim to the company.

What To Do Next When You Become Eligible For Medicare

If you currently have a health plan through Covered California:

If you dont currently have a health plan through Covered California:

If youre currently enrolled in Medicare Part A, or eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A, you cant enroll in new coverage through Covered California. This is because Medicare Part A is considered minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. But depending on your income and assets, you may be eligible for additional coverage through Medi-Cal. Once youre enrolled in Medicare, you can contact your local county office or complete the Covered California application to see if you also qualify for Medi-Cal.

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Sign Up: Within 8 Months After You Or Your Spouse Stopped Working

Your current coverage might not pay for health services if you dont have both Part A and Part B .

Avoid the penalty & gap in coverageIf you miss this 8-month Special Enrollment Period, youll have to wait to sign up and go months without coverage. You might also pay a monthly penalty for as long as you have Part B. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. How much is the Part B late enrollment penalty?

Am I Eligible For Medicare Part A

Generally, youre eligible for Medicare Part A if youre 65 years old and have been a legal resident of the U.S. for at least five years. In fact, the government will automatically enroll you in Medicare Part A at no cost when you reach 65 as long as youre already collecting Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

If youre already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, all you need to do is check your mail for your Medicare card, which should automatically arrive in the mail about three months prior to your 65th birthday . The card will arrive with the option to opt-out of Part B , but opting out of Part B is only a good idea if youre still working and have employer-sponsored coverage that provides the same or better coverage, or if your spouse is still working and you have coverage under their plan.

If youre not already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, youll need to enroll in Medicare during a seven-month open enrollment window that includes the three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and the three following months. If you enroll before the month you turn 65, your benefits will start the month you turn 65 . If you enroll in the three months after you turn 65, your coverage could have a delayed effective date.

In addition to turning 65, people can become eligible for Medicare due to a disability , or due to end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis .

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Get Started With Medicare

Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. Youre first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease , or ALS .

Follow these steps to learn about Medicare, how to sign up, and your coverage options. Learn about it at your own pace.

Do You Have To Enroll In Medicare At 65 How It Works

All Americans are eligible for Medicare at age 65, but can face penalties when joining at an older age.

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Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Only

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary Only is a Medicaid-funded program that provides financial assistance to cover Medicare Part A and Part B premiums. It also covers Medicare deductibles, coinsurances, and copays.

This program does not cover medical supplies. For example, someone with QMB cannot use it to receive incontinence products.

Who Is Eligible For Medicare

Generally, Medicare is available for people age 65 or older, younger people with disabilities and people with End Stage Renal Disease . Medicare has two parts, Part A and Part B . You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

• You are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You are eligible to receive Social Security or Railroad benefits but you have not yet filed for them.
• You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

To find out if you are eligible and your expected premium, go the Medicare.gov eligibility tool.

If you did not pay Medicare taxes while you worked, and you are age 65 or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you may be able to buy Part A. If you are under age 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:

• You have been entitled to Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
• You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.

While most people do not have to pay a premium for Part A, everyone must pay for Part B if they want it. This monthly premium is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you do not get any of these payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.

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