How To Apply For Medicare In Illinois

What Should I Do Next

When youre ready to shop for a Medicare plan, heres what you can do next:

• To sign up for Medicare parts A and B, contact the Social Security Administration. You can call 800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or use Social Securitys online Medicare application.
• If youre interested in Medicare Advantage plans in Illinois, you can compare plans at Medicare.gov. If you see a plan you like, you can enroll online.

Do I Have To Sign Up For Medicare If I Have Private Insurance

No, if you have private insurance or employer coverage, you do not have to sign up for Medicare. The only caveat is that private insurance must be credible coverage in the eyes of Medicare.

This is rarely an issue, but weâve had problems with employer drug plans in the past. Sometimes, employer drug plans donât qualify as credible coverage, and you could face penalties later on in the form of higher premiums.

Most employers have fixed this problem, but it has come up in the past. If you are turning 65 and have insurance through your employer, please meet with us to ensure you have credible coverage and wonât face future penalties.

Should I Sign Up For Multiple Types Of Medicare

There arent really multiple types of Medicare, but there are various Medicare plan options to consider. You can read more about the types of Medicare coverage in this article about budgeting for health insurance.

Do you have more questions? Connect with any of our licensed insurance agents to discuss a Medicare plan that may be right for you.

*The online enrollment figures included in this report are based on submitted applications for MA and Medigap products during the fourth quarter of 2017 and 2018. This includes the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which ran from October 1 through December 7 in both years. Unless otherwise noted, MA and Medicare Advantage are used in this report to refer to all Medicare Advantage products, including those that offer prescription drug coverage .

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Income Requirements For Illinois Medicaid

Income requirements vary depending on household size and outgoing bills. Larger families have a lower threshold to meet than single-family households. An individual can make up to 183 percent of the poverty level, equating to a monthly income total of $1,366. A couple can make $1,845 combined for both to qualify.

Medigap In Illinois: New Limited Birthday Enrollment Period Plus Longstanding Medigap Rights For Beneficiaries Under Age 65

Original Medicare does not limit out-of-pocket costs, so most enrollees maintain some form of supplemental coverage. More than half of Original Medicare beneficiaries nationwide receive their supplemental coverage through an employer-sponsored plan or Medicaid. But for those who dont, Medigap plans are designed to pay some or all of the out-of-pocket costs that Medicare beneficiaries would otherwise have to pay themselves.

Medigap plans are sold by private insurers, but the plans are standardized under federal rules, with ten different plan designs . The benefits offered by a particular plan are the same regardless of which insurer is selling the plan. So plan comparisons are much easier for Medigap policies than for other types of health insurance consumers can base their decision on premiums and less tangible things like customer service, since the benefits themselves are uniform.

As of 2022, there are 41 insurers that offer Medigap plans in Illinois. According to an AHIP analysis, there were 798,778 Illinois Medigap enrollees in 2019, so about half of the states Original Medicare population had Medigap coverage. This is higher than the rate in most states nationwide, about a quarter of Original Medicare beneficiaries have Medigap coverage.

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Learn How To Apply For Medicaid In Illinois

UPDATE: In 2020, Medicaid requirements and application steps remain the same.

There are several ways to apply for Medicaid in Illinois. The process to sign up for Medicaid should only occur after you have confirmed your eligibility. Since the Medicaid application forms take some time to complete, it is in your best interest to ensure you qualify prior to enrolling.

If you are wondering where to apply for Illinois Medicaid or how to apply for Medicaid, continue to the below sections, which provide comprehensive information on the following:

• How to Mail Medicaid Application Forms

When Is The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is a limited annual enrollment period. It goes from January 1 March 31 every year. During this time, you can:

• Switch Medicare Advantage plans, if you already have a Medicare Advantage plan
• Disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.

You cannot use this period to make most other coverage changes. However, if you decide to drop your Medicare Advantage plan, you can also use this period to join a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan, since Original Medicare doesnt include prescription drug coverage.

Outside of the Annual Election Period and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you cannot generally make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan unless you qualify for a Special Election Period.

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When Can You Get Medicare In Illinois

You may be eligible for Medicare in Illinois if youre a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for more than five years and one or more of the following applies to you:3

• You are age 65 or older.
• You are under 65, disabled, and receive disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You have end-stage renal disease .
• You have ALS , also known as Lou Gehrigs disease.

How Do I Apply For Medigap In Illinois

My Medigap Plans specializes in educating Medicare beneficiaries on their options and guiding them through the process of plan selection. We work closely with top companies. Compare our list of the 10 Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies or take a deeper look at the plans by reviewing our Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart.

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If You Receive Social Security Disability Benefits Or Railroad Retirement Board Disability

theres no need to apply for Medicare. In this scenario, youre automatically signed up for Original Medicare when youve received 24 months of disability benefits in most cases.:

• In some instances, qualifying for Social Security Disability means you re automatically enrolled in Medicare right away, e.g. when end-stage renal disease is present.
• If the recipient has ESRD, ALS , needs kidney dialysis or receives a kidney transplant, he or she is Medicare-eligible when the disability benefits begin.

Although you will automatically get Medicare Part B, you dont have to keep it. You may drop this coverage:

• If Medicare benefits havent started yet and you receive the Medicare card, follow the instructions in the envelope and return the card to CMS.
• If you dont return the card to Medicare, you must pay premiums for Medicare Part B.
• Contact Social Security to drop the Part B coverage.
• If Medicare benefits have started, call Social Security to learn how to send your written request. Your coverage for Part B will end on the first day of the month after which Social Security receives the request.

You may elect to delay applying for Medicare Part B if you already have health insurance from an employer or from a spouses health plan.If you dont enroll in Medicare Part B at this time, you may be charged a late enrollment penalty:

What Can I Enroll In With Il Medicare Eligibility

Once your Medicare eligibility in Illinois is confirmed, you can enroll in a number of Medicare plans, depending on your needs. These include Medicare Parts A, B, C, D, or a Medicare Supplement plan. .

Lets start with the Parts of Medicare offered in Illinois:

• Medicare Part A is inpatient hospitalization insurance.
• Medicare Part B acts as medical insurance, including doctor visits, lab work, and other outpatient care.
• Medicare Parts A and B are known as Original Medicare.3

You can supplement your Original Medicare coverage with a Medicare Supplement plan, which can help cover out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and copays. These plans are also called Medigap plans. You cannot choose a Medigap plan if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, so be sure to carefully evaluate your best options.

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Until Your Membership Ends You Will Keep Getting Your Medical Services And Drugs Through Our Plan

If you leave Humana Gold Plus Integrated, it may take time before your membership ends and your new Medicare and Medicaid coverage begins. During this time, you will keep getting your healthcare and drugs through our plan.

• You should use our network pharmacies to get your prescriptions filled. Usually, your prescription drugs are covered only if they are filled at a network pharmacy including through our mail-order pharmacy services.
• If you are hospitalized on the day that your membership ends, your hospital stay will usually be covered by our plan until you are discharged. This will happen even if your new health coverage begins before you are discharged.

Where To Apply For Medicaid In Person

Where do you sign up for Illinois Medicaid if you do not have a working computer? Fill out your Medicaid application with traditional pen and paper at your nearby Medicaid office. Head on over to the Illinois Family Community Resource Center in your area to complete a traditional IL application for Medicaid. You can find the Family Community Resource Center closest to you by using the Illinois Department of Human Services website. It is also possible to pick up and complete an Illinois Medicaid application at a participating local hospital.

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Applying For Medicare By Phone

Just like applying online, applying for Medicare by phone is easy. You can contact a representative at 1-800-772-1213.

Depending on the volume of calls, there might be a wait time. If the wait time is above average, you can schedule an appointment to have a representative call you.

The only downfall with applying for Medicare by phone is that it can take longer compared to online. If youre ahead of the game and start well before your birthday, then applying by phone shouldnt cause any issues. If you do not wish to apply online or by phone, you can choose to do so in person.

Medicare Plan Options In Illinois

Residents of Illinois have multiple Medicare plans to choose from. Many are tiered to help Illinois residents find the plan that is best suited to your lifestyle and medical needs. For example, seniors and individuals with disabilities who dont need much coverage can apply for Original Medicare. Illinois Medicare Advantage programs might be a better option if you need more comprehensive insurance. Some Medicare policies offer additional prescription drug add-ons or supplementary coverage.

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Do You Automatically Get Medicare With Social Security

No, you donât automatically get Medicare with Social Security. Medicare and Social Security are separate programs, though they do work together in some ways.

For example, Social Security notifies Medicare if you die, and your Medicare premiums can be automatically deducted from your Social Security check.

While enrolling in Social Security doesnât automatically enroll you in Medicare, many individuals enroll in both at the same time. Usually, youâre transitioning at the same time, so youâll start drawing Social Security when youâre ready to enroll in Medicare.

Keep in mind if youâre still working, you probably donât need to sign up for Part B of Medicare yet. You can call our office to set up an appointment and go over those fine details.

Medicare Supplement Plans In Illinois

Which Medigap plans are available to you in Illinois will depend on a number of factors, such as which insurance company you enroll with and where you reside.

There were798,778 Illinois residents enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance plans in 2019. This figure representedover a third of all Medicare enrollees in the state that year.

The most popular Medigap plans in Illinois include Plans F, G, and N. These plans offer some of the most comprehensive coverage around.

However, beneficiaries who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 will no longer be allowed to enroll in Plan F. Plans G and N are good alternatives.

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Before You Apply For Medicare: What Youll Need

Before applying by any of these methods, its handy to have personal information and identifying documents ready.1 Which documents you need depends on your situation, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. You may be asked to physically provide any of the following documents:

• Your original birth certificate or certified copy: This provides proof of your age.
• Proof of US citizenship or lawful alien status : You can do this with a US passport, Certificate of Citizenship, Green Card, etc.
• Copy of your US military service papers : The most commonly used is the DD Form 214.
• Copy of your W-2 form: A copy from the previous year is sufficient. This verifies the wages you received from your employer.

Where Can Medicare Beneficiaries Get Help In Illinois

State Health Insurance Assistance Program

You can receive free volunteer Medicare counseling is available by contacting Illinoiss State Health Insurance Assistance Program at 800-252-8966.

SHIPs can help beneficiaries enroll in Medicare, compare and change Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, and answer questions about state Medigap protections. SHIP counselors may also be able to offer referrals to local agencies for services like home care and long-term care. This website contains more information about the Illinois SHIP.

Elder Law Attorneys

Elder law attorneys can help individuals plan for Medicaid long-term care benefits. You can use the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys search feature to find an elder attorney locally.

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Applying For Medicare With Employer Coverage

Can you still enroll in Medicare coverage, even if youre not yet seeking retirement? The answer is yes! Medicare coverage can coincide with your group coverage through your employer. If your employer has more than 20 employees, your group coverage will work as your primary insurance, and Medicare will be your secondary insurance.

You can choose to apply for Part B, or you can wait until leaving your employer group coverage. For more information on the benefits of obtaining Medicare while receiving group coverage through work, give our team a call, and we can review the pros and cons.

Sometimes beneficiaries dont want to apply for Part B when they initially become eligible because of employer health coverage. Should you lose your health insurance through your employer, or if you prefer to switch over to Medicare, you can apply any time while receiving coverage through your employer.

How Do I Enroll For Medicare In Illinois

If you are unsure of whether you are enrolled in Medicare or wish to alter your coverage, you can do so easily by visiting medicare.gov. Simply follow the instructions on the webpage and you can enroll electronically. You will not be able to enroll in a Medigap plan through the Medicare site and will need to do so with a private insurer that offers these plans.

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How To Apply For Medicaid In Illinois

Applying for Medicaid in Illinois can be accomplished in several ways. Those who prefer to handle the task in person can visit their local Department of Human Services office and fill out a paper application. You may also fill out an online application if that suits you better. Go to the Application for Benefits Eligibility website to fill out the necessary forms. You can also continue to monitor and manage your case through this site if you do get approved.

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