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How To Check Medicare Premium Payments

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Medicare Processing Time For Medicare Easy Pay

How Income Affects Your Medicare Premium

It can take 6-8 weeks for Medicare to process the Easy Pay form. If you get a Medicare Premium Bill in the mail, then that means the form hasnt been processed yet. You can send in a check or other form of payment until your automatic deductions begin.

Once you get a Medicare statement in the mail that says this is not a bill, then youll know your Medicare Easy Pay account has been processed.

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Medicare Part A Premiums

Most people will pay nothing for Medicare Part A. Your Part A coverage is free as long as youre eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits.

You can also get premium-free Part A coverage even if youre not ready to receive Social Security retirement benefits yet. So, if youre 65 years old and not ready to retire, you can still take advantage of Medicare coverage.

Part A does have a yearly deductible. In 2022, the deductible is $1,556. Youll need to spend this amount before your Part A coverage takes over.

What About Part C And Part D

Youll pay your Part C or Part D bill directly to the insurance company. Each company has their own preferred methods, and not all companies accept all payment types.

Generally, you should be able to:

  • pay online with a debit or credit card
  • set up automatic payments
  • mail a check
  • use your banks automatic bill pay feature

You might also be able to set up a direct deduction for your retirement or disability payments.

You can contact your plan provider to find out what payment options are available. They can also let you know if theres anything you should be aware of with each payment type, such as added fees or time delays.

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Can I Delay Enrolling In Medicare Part B

Some people may get Medicare Part A premium-free, but most people have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part B. Because Medicare Part B comes with a monthly premium, some people may choose not to sign up during their initial enrollment period if they are currently covered under an employer group plan .

If you are still working, you should check with your health benefits administrator to see how your insurance would work with Medicare. If you delay enrollment in Medicare Part B because you already have current employer health coverage, you can sign up later during a Special Enrollment Period without paying a late penalty. You can enroll in Medicare Part B at any time that you are still covered by a group plan based on current employment. After your employer health coverage ends or your employment ends , you have an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Part B without a late penalty.

Keep in mind that retiree coverage and COBRA are not considered health coverage based on current employment and would not qualify you for a special enrollment period. If you have COBRA after your employer coverage ends, you should not wait until your COBRA coverage ends to sign up for Medicare Part B. Your eight-month Part B special enrollment period begins immediately after your current employment or group plan ends . This is regardless of whether you get COBRA.

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Learn how to create an online Medicare account. You can use your online MyMedicare account to view your Medicare premium bills, check your payment history and set up Medicare Easy Pay for auto payments.

by Zia Sherrell | Published March 22, 2021 | Reviewed by John Krahnert

Senior Americans are embracing technology at a rapid rate. In 2000, just 14% of Americans aged 65 and older used the internet. A Pew Research Center report released in 2019 found that the number had grown to 73%.1

If youre one of these digitally-savvy people, youre probably interested in the ways technology can simplify your life. Signing up for Medicares MyMedicare online portal is a great way to save time and help you make and track your payments.

Also Check: Which Is Better Original Medicare Or Medicare Advantage Plan

When To Pay For Original Medicare

If you have original Medicare and arent yet collecting Social Security, youll receive a bill from Medicare either monthly or once every 3 months in these cases:

These bills are paid in advance of coverage. For example, if you applied for Medicare to start in August, youll receive a bill in July for your August, September, and October Part B premiums.

If you also pay for Part A or a Part D IRMAA surcharge, the bill you receive in July will be for Augusts premium.

If youre already collecting Social Security or RRB benefits, your monthly Medicare premium will be automatically deducted from your benefit amount.

Ways To Pay Your Medicare Part B Premium

If youre like most people, you dont pay a monthly premium for your Medicare Part A. However, if you have Medicare Part B and you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, your Medicare Part B premium is usually deducted from your monthly benefit payment.

If you have Medicare Part B but you are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits yet, you will get a bill called a Notice of Medicare Premium Payment Due . You will need to make arrangements to pay this bill every month.

If you are required to pay a Part D income-related monthly adjustment amount , you will also need a way to make your payment.

Read Also: How To Sign Up For Medicare Online

Medicare Premium Payments Medicare Easy Pay

Alternatively, you can also sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, an electronic payment method that automatically deducts your premium payments from your bank account each month. To sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, visit Medicare.gov and fill out an authorization form to sign up. If you are wondering âHow do I set up Medicare Easy Payâ or need help or have questions about Medicare Easy Pay, call 1-800-MEDICARE , available 24/7.

How To Make Premium Payments

Would Medicare for All Increase Your Wages?

Your Part B Medicare premiums are billed directly through Medicare, while your Part C premiums are billed through the private insurance company associated with your Medicare Advantage plan. Heres how you pay Medicare and your private insurance company.

  • Premium Payments to Medicare: If you receive Social Security, Office of Personnel Management, or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, Medicare will automatically deduct your Part B premiums from your benefits check. If you dont receive these benefits, you will receive a bill called Notice of Medicare Premium Payment Due. You can then pay by mailing a check, use your banks online billing to make payments every month, or sign-up for Medicares bill pay to have the premium come out of your bank account automatically.
  • Part C Premium Payments to Private Insurance Companies: If your insurance company charges a premium for your Medicare Part C plan, you can set your payments to come from your Social Security benefits. But this is not an automatic action. You must submit a request to Social Security, and they have to approve your request before your Part C premium payments will be deducted. If you dont get Social Security, you can mail in a check or have your premium automatically drafted from your bank account.

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Check The Status Of A Claim

To check the status of

claims:

  • Log into your secure Medicare account. Youll usually be able to see a claim within 24 hours after Medicare processes it.
  • Check your Medicare Summary Notice . The MSN is a notice that people with Original Medicare get in the mail every 3 months. It shows:
  • All your Part A and Part B-covered services or supplies billed to Medicare during a 3-month period
  • What Medicare paid

Paying Your Medicare Premium Bill Online

People receiving Social Security and Railroad Retirement Board benefits do not typically get Medicare premium bills. Instead, their premiums are deducted from their benefit payments.

If you dont receive these benefits, youll need to decide how to pay your Medicare premium bill .

There are several payment options, including sending a check or money order, mailing your credit card information or using your banks payment service. However, paying online via the MyMedicare.gov website is one of the best options because its free and secure. Its also fast, with payments usually processed in five business days.

To make a payment, take the following steps:

  • Type your username and password into the MyMedicare.gov account page.
  • Select Pay my premium, shown under the What do you want to do? heading.
  • Enter your insurance premium amount and payment method .
  • Select pay my premium.
  • MyMedicare will then redirect you to Pay.gov, the U.S. Treasurys secure payment site, to complete the process.
  • Note the confirmation number on the screen for your records.
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    What To Do With The Notice

    • If you have other insurance, check to see if it covers anything that Medicare didnt.
    • Keep your receipts and bills, and compare them to your MSN to be sure you got all the services, supplies, or equipment listed.
    • If you paid a bill before you got your notice, compare your MSN with the bill to make sure you paid the right amount for your services.
    • If an item or service is denied, call your medical provider’s office to make sure they submitted the correct information. If not, the office may resubmit.
    • If you disagree with any decision made, you can file an appeal. On the last page of the MSN there are step-by-step directions on when and how to file an appeal.

    So How Are The Medicare Premiums You Pay For Calculated

    Medicare Blog: Moorestown, Cranford NJ

    These additional Medicare premiums are all calculated through something called IRMAA, which stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an additional amount that you may have to pay along with your Medicare premium if your modified adjusted gross income is higher than a certain threshold.

    Your MAGI is calculated by taking your adjusted gross income plus any of the following that apply to you: untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, tax-exempt interest, and income from within the US territories that was not already included in AGI. For most people, your MAGI will be the same as your AGI but read this report by the Congressional Research Service here for further details.

    In 2022, the IRMAA surcharges only apply if your MAGI is more than $91,000 for an individual or more than $182,000 for a couple. Most people have income below these levels, so the majority of enrollees will pay the standard premium, $170.10 per month.

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    Two Ways To Sign Up For Medicare Easy Pay

    You can sign up two ways.

    The first way is to create an account on medicare.gov. Once you create the account, log in and select my Premiums. Then click Sign Up to complete a short online form.

    The second way is an easy form that you fill out and mail back to Medicare. Heres a link to the Easy Pay form.

    Individual And Family Members

    Pay by mail

    Mail a check or money order to the billing address on your invoice along with the payment coupon. Be sure to write your billing ID on your payment. Your billing ID can be found on your invoice.

    Pay in person

    Some members have the option to pay their bill in person. If you see a barcode on your invoice with instructions to pay in person, take your paper invoice to any CVS or Dollar General store in your area. You can pay at the register with cash, credit card or debit card at no extra charge.

    Pay by phone

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    Creating A Mymedicaregov Account

    Youll need a MyMedicare.gov online account to start using all the digital services. If you dont already have an account, follow these steps to make one:

  • Visit the MyMedicare.gov account registration page. You can do this by typing MyMedicare.gov into your browsers address bar. Alternatively, you can click the Log in/Create account link at the top-right of the official Medicare.gov homepage or click on the link we provided above.
  • Complete the online account form using your personal data and your Medicare details. Entering an email address is optional. If you dont have an email address, click the checkbox to show this. If you do not have Medicare Part A, click the link to enter your Part B start date instead.
  • Check the boxes to show your information is accurate and that you accept the sites rules.
  • Read the security notice, then click the OK button to continue your registration.
  • Choose a username that doesnt contain your Medicare or Social Security number. It must be 8-30 characters in length, with no spaces. It can include special characters , and at least four characters of your username must be letters.
  • Choose a password. It must be 8-16 characters, with at least one letter, one number and one of the approved special characters. It should not contain your username, Medicare, or Social Security number. Type your password in the two separate fields to confirm it.
  • Thats it. You now have a MyMedicare account and can log in using your chosen username and password.

    Common Medicare Payment Questions

    Does Your Income Affect Your Medicare Premium?

    Can a family member pay my premium bill on my behalf / for me?

    Yes, as long as the family member is using their own credit / debit card or they are an authorized representative on your credit / debit card they can make payment on your behalf.

    What types of payment options do I have?

    Independent Health accepts cash, check/money order, Mastercard, Visa, Discover & American Express. We also allow for auto deduction from a bank account or Social Security withhold. To enroll in these options, please call Customer Service at 716-635-4900 or 1-800-958-4405 .

    Why is my bill showing I owe for 2 months, when I paid last month’s premium bill?

    Medicare Invoices are generated on or around the 2nd Tuesday of the month. If your payment was received after the invoice generated it’s possible the payment and bill crossed in the mail. Please refer to the statement date, and compare that to the date the payment processed through your banking institution.

    Is there a late charge if the premium bill is not paid on time?

    Independent Health does not charge a late fee if the bill is not paid exactly on time however, please be aware of our delinquency process.

    Do I have to pay my premium in full if I receive Low Income Subsidy ?

    If you receive Low Income Subsidy for your Medicare Part D prescription coverage, that subsidy will be applied to your invoice on a monthly basis. Therefore, you won’t be responsible to pay the entire cost of your monthly plan premium.

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    Using Medicare Easy Pay

    Medicare Easy Pay is another payment option available to MyMedicare members. This program costs nothing to use, and it automatically deducts premiums from your checking or savings account when theyre due, ensuring you maintain continuous coverage. Youre also able to view your premium payment history online with Easy Pay.

    Sign up for Medicare Easy Pay with the following steps:

  • Type your username and password into the MyMedicare account page.
  • Select My Premiums from the navigation menu at the top of the screen, then choose Sign Up.
  • Complete the online form with your details and submit it.
  • It will take between 6-8 weeks before Easy Pay starts deducting your payments, so remember to make manual payments until you receive confirmation youre signed up to Easy Pay.

    How Else Can You Pay Medicare Premiums

    Having your Medicare premiums deducted from your Social Security benefits is one easy way to make your payments, but its far from the only way of taking care of your Medicare costs.

    You may also pay your premiums online using your MyMedicare account. When logged into your account, you may use a credit or debit card or a bank account number to facilitate a premium payment.

    Another way to pay your Medicare premiums online is through your bank. If your bank offers an online payment portal for bills, you may be able to pay your Medicare premiums this way.

    Medicare Easy Pay is a service that allows you to set up automatic withdrawals from your bank account or a credit or debit card to pay your Medicare premiums.

    Lastly, you may pay your Medicare premiums by mail using the paper bill you receive in the mail along with a check, money order or credit or debit card number.

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    What If Your Financial Situation Has Significantly Changed Since Filing Your Tax Return From Two Years Ago

    As mentioned earlier, most people pay the standard rate for 2022 Part B or Part D premiums. Few pay IRMAA surcharges. But if you are one of the seniors that have had a life-altering event that drastically affects your income level since you first enrolled, such as the death of a spouse or retirement, you can go to Social Securitys website to fill out the Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount life-changing event form. You dont have to pay an amount that no longer makes sense.

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