Contact Social Security To Sign Up For Medicare
You can either:
Know when to sign up for Part BYou can only sign up for Part B at certain times. If you dont sign up for Part B when you turn 65, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty. Find out when you can sign up. How much is the Part B late enrollment penalty?
How To Replace Your Medicaid Card
As soon as you notice your Medicaid card is missing, you should call your state Medicaid program immediately. You can use an online directory to find the phone number for your states Medicaid program. You may be given a pre-recorded prompt that includes directions to replace a lost or stolen Medicaid card. If not, ask to speak to a representative and be prepared to give your Social Security number.
Because Medicaid is run by individual states, the actual process for obtaining a replacement Medicaid card can vary by state. Most states will send you a new card in the mail that contains a new Medicaid number. Some states will make replacement cards available online that you may download and print, which is handy when you cant afford to wait for a replacement card to come through the mail.
More information about replacement cards may be found on each respective state Medicaid program website, which may also be found in the directory linked to above.
S To An Easy Enrollment
Thank you for considering one of our Dual Eligible health plans. To simplify enrollment, follow these steps:
1. Make sure the health plan meets your needs. For example:
- Is your doctor in the network?
- Are the medications you need covered?
- Is there a nearby hospital in the network?
Use the Enrollment and Lookup Tools/Provider Search and to find answers to these and other important questions. Or simply give us a call.
2. Gather a few documents that you’ll need in order to enroll:
- A list of your prescription medications.
- Your Social Security number.
- Your Medicare card, if you have one:
- Your state Medicaid card, if you have one:
3. You may be able to Enroll Online today.
4. Or call the toll-free number displayed next to the Dual Complete Plan you want. Tell us if you want to:
- Enroll over the phone. A representative can answer your questions and help you enroll over the phone.
- Meet with a local agent who can answer your questions and help you enroll.
Learn more about dual special needs plans
Search and select covered providers
Available in English or Spanish
Email confirmation with next steps when complete
Please have your Medicaid and Medicare information ready
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How To Apply For Medicare
Medicare enrollment is easier than ever. Once you meet eligibility requirements, you are ready to choose from a variety of plans in which to enroll. As we mentioned earlier, some beneficiaries can receive automatic enrollment, and some must apply manually.
There are three ways to apply for Medicare Part A and Part B:
If you have previously been a railroad employee, you can enroll in Medicare by contacting the Railroad Retirement Board, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM 3:30 PM at 1-877-772-5772.
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Find the most affordable Medicare Plan in your area
Medicare applications generally take between 30-60 days to obtain approval.
Prescription Drugs With Medicaid In Pennsylvania
Medicaid in Pennsylvania does not cover all prescription drugs. It does, however, cover some of them, allowing people to pick up the prescriptions they need for free. Adults may have a small copay of $3 to pick up their prescriptions. This price is for brand-name medicines. Generic versions often cost just a dollar.
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Getting Medicare Enrollment Assistance
If you have questions about or need help with Medicare eligibility or enrollment due to disability, you will want to talk with Social Security office. You can also go to your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program office for Medicare counseling.
If you get approved for disability benefits but arent yet eligible for Medicare yet , you can reach out your local state human services agency to see if Medicaid may be an option for you.11
Do I Have To Take Part B
You are not required to take Part B, and some people choose to delay. Deciding to opt out of Part B at this time is a personal choice and depends on your unique situation. about whether or not you should take Part B when you qualify for Medicare with a disability. Some people who qualify for Medicare under age 65 due to disability but are covered under an employers plan or a spouses employer plan, may opt to delay.2
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Pennsylvanias Requirements For Medicaid Qualification
The Medicaid program of Pennsylvania follows certain requirements that enrollees must meet. Using the COMPASS questionnaire, those who wish to apply for benefits can see if they or anyone in their household may get approved. The name, age, and gender of each household member must get added. It is also important to note the approximate total value of resources available to the family.
Once all questions get answered and the form gets submitted through the system, an answer will be given informing the applicant of his or her potential to receive benefits. People who fall below the poverty limit are often among the first to receive assistance.
New Medicare Id Numbers And Cards
In an ongoing effort to fight medical identity theft and fraud, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has been mandated to remove Social Security Numbers from all Medicare cards by April 2019.
New Medicare cards will be mailed to all Medicare enrollees beginning in April 2018. Your new card will have a unique ID called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier that will replace the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim number on new Medicare cards.
This will help protect your private health care and financial information, and will be coordinated with the Social Security Administration and with providers. Additionally, the Employee Benefits Division is looking at any impact the new MBI will have for NYSHIP enrollees and will communicate any new information in future Empire Plan Reports.
For more information on the new cards, please visit .
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What To Do If You Think Your Medicaid Card Has Been Compromised
A lost or stolen Medicaid card that falls into the wrong hands can lead to fraud against the Medicaid program or even against you. Thats why its so important to report a lost or stolen card immediately.
Medicaid employs its own fraud investigators, and filing a report with this team can establish proof that you reported the missing card at a particular time and date, which can help protect you from identity theft.
Its important to not allow anyone else to use your Medicaid card. Not only could the person using the card encounter legal trouble for using the card, but you could be held liable for fraud as well.
If you are enrolled in a Medicaid-Medicare plan such as a Dual-eligible Special Needs Plan, you may have a separate card, and you may need to contact your insurance carrier directly to report a lost card and request a new one.
These plans are designed for people on both Medicare and Medicaid and feature a set of benefits that cater to those specific needs. Plan members do not pay a monthly premium and most plans include dental benefits that may include coverage for dentures.
If you are eligible for Medicare, speak to a licensed insurance agent to find out if Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans are available in your area.
Medigap In Pennsylvania For Disability Enrollees
Federal law does not require Medicare Supplement Insurance companies to provide coverage to beneficiaries under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability. However, many states have implemented protections that allow these individuals to enroll in a Medigap plan, Pennsylvania included.
Pennsylvania law states that beneficiaries under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability are guaranteed the right to enroll in any Medicare Supplement plan they would like during their six month Open Enrollment Period.
People who qualify for Medicare before they turn 65 can sign up for Medigap insurance during the first six months that they are enrolled in Medicare Part B. Plus, insurance companies may not charge these individuals higher premiums than they would charge beneficiaries aged 65 and older. This is a protection that is not offered in many other states.
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Be Aware Of Other Enrollment Periods
Most people sign up for Medicare during the seven-month initial enrollment period around their 65th birthday.
But what if you missed your initial enrollment period and want to make changes or add additional coverage?
There are specific times each year when you can do this.
Alternate Medicare Enrollment Periods
Medicare Part D Information
Medicare-primary Empire Plan enrollees and dependents will automatically be enrolled in Empire Plan Medicare Rx, a Medicare Part D prescription drug program with expanded coverage designed especially for Empire Plan members. The Employee Benefits Division is required to send an annual notice of Creditable Coverage for the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program to all active and retired NYSHIP enrollees and dependents who are 65 or older, or are eligible for Medicare due to disability. The notice attests to the creditable coverage status of the NYSHIP prescription drug program.
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Medigap Enrollment In Pennsylvania
If you are interested in enrolling in Medigap insurance in Pennsylvania, the best time to do so is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period .
This occurs when you first become eligible for Medicare and enroll in Part B, and it lasts for 6 months. During this time, you can enroll in any Medigap plan offered in your area regardless of your health history.
Unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right, you may have to undergo medical underwriting if you want to sign up for a Medigap plan after your OEP finalizes. In this case, insurance companies reserve the right to deny you coverage and/or charge you higher rates.
Examples of guaranteed issue rights in Pennsylvania include moving out of your Medicare Advantage plans coverage area, a change in retiree benefits, and losing your employer coverage.
You should be aware that Medigap insurers in Pennsylvania can implement pre-existing condition waiting periods. This means that your insurance company can delay coverage for your condition for up to six months when you first enroll in your Medigap plan.
These waiting periods apply to conditions that are diagnosed or treated during the six months before your policy comes into effect. Having prior creditable coverage can shorten these waiting periods.
How Do I Get A New Medicare Card If My Card Is Lost Stolen Or Damaged How Do I Change My Contact Information
If your Medicare card was lost, stolen, or destroyed, you can ask for a replacement by using your online my Social Security account, even if you don’t yet receive Social Security benefits. If dont already have a Social Security on-line account, you can create one online. Go to .
Once you are logged in to your account, select the “Replacement Documents” tab. Then select Mail my replacement Medicare Card.Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days at the address on file with Social Security.If you cant or prefer not to use the online service:
- Call us at 1-800-772-1213 , Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or
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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.
Enrolling In Medicare With A Disability
Just like when you become eligible for Medicare at age 65, when you are eligible with disability, you have an Initial Enrollment Period of 7 months.
Your Initial Enrollment Period will begin after you have received either disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months or certain disability benefits from the Rail Road Retirement Board for 24 months.1 In other words, your IEP starts on the 25th month of disability benefits.
You will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, but if you decide you want to get a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan, you will need to enroll yourself directly with the private plan provider. You will need to enroll during your IEP to avoid late enrollment penalties.
NOTE: If you become eligible for Medicare because of ALS or ESRD, your situation is different. See the below special sections for eligibility and enrollment for ALS and ESRD.
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A Note Aboutmedicare Replacement Cards And The New Medicare Card
Have you received a new Medicare card in the mail? You should have received it by now. The new Medicare cards no longer have your Social Security number as part of your Medicare number. Instead, to protect your personal information, you have a personal Medicare number thats unique to you.
If you havent received your new Medicare card, follow any of the steps outlined above.
Interested in comparing your Medicare coverage options right away? Simply type your zip code into the box on this page. Wed be glad to help you with questions. The links below can help you get information from a licensed eHealth insurance agent.
New To Medicare?
Becoming eligible for Medicare can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand Medicare in 15 minutes or less.
Signing Up For Medicare Online Step
Signing up for Medicare online through the Social Security Administration is the fastest way to apply.
Enrollment takes less than 10 minutes online, according to the Social Security Administration.
How to Apply for Medicare Online
You will be asked to provide your current health insurance information or, if you receive Medicaid benefits, your Medicaid number.
You may be required to provide additional documentation if you are:
- Not a U.S. citizen
- Applying under your spouses work record
- Over age 65 and transitioning from your employers health coverage
After youre enrolled, CMS will send you a welcome packet in the mail along with your Medicare card.
If you sign up for Medicare on your own, the packet should arrive about two weeks after you sign up.
You will also receive a Medicare & You handbook, which includes important information about your coverage.
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Delaying Part B Coverage And Late Enrollment Penalties
You should enroll in Part A when youre first eligible near your 65th birthday, but some people may choose to delay Part B.
If you receive group health insurance at work or through your spouses employer you may be able to delay enrollment in Part B.
But once you stop working or that coverage ends, you must sign up for Part B within eight months. Otherwise, youll face a late enrollment penalty.
If you enroll in Part B after your group health insurance ends, you have options for how to apply.
You can do so online through an application on the Social Security website or by mail.
How to Sign Up for Part B by Mail After Employer Health Insurance Ends
How To Enroll In Medicare Part B
You can manually enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B in the following ways: 1 Online through the Social Security website. 2 By calling Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 , Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM. If you worked at a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 , Monday through Friday, from 8AM to 3:30PM. 3 By visiting your local Social Security office.
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Disability & Medicare Eligibility And Enrollment What You Need To Know In 2022
Some people can qualify for Medicare due to disability. In this case, if you have a qualifying disability, you are eligible for Medicare even if you are not yet age 65. To find out if your disability qualifies for disability benefits or for Medicare, youll need to speak with Social Security directly, but in general, you become eligible the 25th month of receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits .
If you have a qualifying disability, you must first file for disability benefits through Social Security before you can even be considered eligible for Medicare due to disability. Approval of the request by Social Security is an important first step. It is also important to note that these benefits are different from Supplemental Security Income benefits, and that SSI benefits do not qualify you for Medicare.
