Questions About The Epic Program
What is EPIC?
EPIC stands for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage and is a New York State program for seniors administered by the Department of Health. It helps more than 280,000 income-eligible seniors aged 65 and older to supplement their out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drug plan costs. Seniors can apply for EPIC at any time of the year and must be enrolled or eligible to be enrolled in a Medicare Part D drug plan to receive EPIC benefits and maintain coverage.For more information about EPIC and to apply for the subsidy, please take a look at information on the New York State, Department of Health website.
Why do I keep getting a bill when Im paying my monthly share?
Independent Health must receive the EPIC payment before it can be credited to your account. EPIC is 60-90 days behind, since we cannot credit your account for payments not yet received, you will continue to receive an invoice. If you no longer want to receive an invoice, you would need to submit the number of months EPIC is behind.
Do I have to pay my premium in full if I receive EPIC?
We no longer credit EPIC subsidy to a members account without having first received payment. Until we receive the first EPIC payment, you are responsible to pay your monthly premium in full.
When will I get refunded since Im paying in advance?
Will I be termed if I cant pay the total cost of my monthly premium?
If termed, can I be reinstated upon paying past due balances?
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
Common Medicare Payment Questions
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 months premium bill?
Medicare Invoices are generated on or around the 2nd Tuesday of the month. If your payment was received after the invoice generated its 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 wont be responsible to pay the entire cost of your monthly plan premium.
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Ways To Sign Up For Medicare Easy Pay:
It can take up to 6-8 weeks for your automatic deductions to start. Until your automatic deductions start, you’ll need to pay your premiums another way. If we can’t set up Medicare Easy Pay for you, we’ll send you a letter explaining why. Find other ways to pay premiums.
Medicare Premium Payments By Credit Or Debit Card
- Refer to the bottom portion of your Medicare bill and complete the instructions for paying by credit or debit card.
- Youll need your credit or debit card handy so you can fill in the account number and other information.
- Mail your payment to the address above, unless you receive your retirement benefits from the RRB or Civil Service in these cases, see the information at the end of this article.
Home / FAQs / General Medicare / Medicare Paperless Premium Billing
Medicare has been improving its paperless billing options, and you can now choose to receive your Medicare Summary Notices and the Medicare & You handbook electronically. If you pay your own Part B premiums because you arent yet on Social Security, you can arrange automatic payments. Paperless options for Medicare Advantage, Part D plans, and Medigap plans vary depending on which insurance company issues the policy.
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Which Medicare Plans Work With Medicare Easy Pay
Medicare Easy Pay does not work for all the Medicare-associated plans that you may pay each month. For example, Medicare Easy pay will never pay the monthly premium for insurance company plans, including Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. It also does not cover Medicare thats provided under RRB because those premiums are paid directly to the board.
If youre having trouble with your Medicare Part D payments and need additional assistance, contact your state Department of Human Services or Medicaid plan and ask about the Medicare Savings Plan or Extra Help program.
Can I Pay My Medicare Premium By Credit Card
Yes, you can pay your Part A premium and Part B premium on a credit card or debit card.
To make your monthly payment by credit card, simply login to your Medicare account. You can also mail your payment in. If youre mailing your payment, be sure to complete the payment coupon slip, sign it and return with your payment information.
If the coupon slip is not signed, the payment will not be processed.
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What Can You Pay Using Medicare Easy Pay
Original Medicare Part B premiums are the most common premium paid using Medicare Easy Pay. If you qualify for Medicare under the RRB, youll need to mail your payment directly to them monthly. Any private insurance policy, such as Medicare Supplement Insurance or Medicare Advantage, usually has an autopay feature, but youll need to set it up directly with the insurance company you use.
You can use the table below as a quick reference on what programs can be paid using Medicare Easy Pay.
| Medicare Part A premiums |
To make payments for Medicare under the RRB, you have two options:
Which Parts Of Medicare Can You Pay Online
Youll need to be enrolled in both parts of original Medicare to get any additional parts of Medicare. No matter what other Medicare parts you use, you always pay for original Medicare.
You might be able to pay these parts online, but itll depend on the company and your specific plans. Some companies might not offer online payments. However, you should still be able to use online bill pay from your bank.
- Medicare Part A. Most people get Part A without a premium. However, if you or your spouse didnt work for at least 40 quarters , you may owe a monthly premium.
- Medicare Part B. Part B has a standard premium of $170.10 in 2022. People with a higher income typically pay whats known as an income-related monthly adjustment amount , which is added onto your premium.
- Medicare Part C . Part C is a private plan and youll need to check with your insurance provider about whether they offer online payment options or not.
- Medicare Part D .Part D is also a private plan and payment options will be specific to your insurance provider. Part D is also subject to IRMAA fees if you make a certain level of income.
If you receive an IRMAA for parts B or D, you can pay that using your MyMedicare account. Your owed IRMAA amount will be listed on your Medicare premium bill or electronic Medicare summary notice.
You have two different ways to pay your Medicare premiums online either through your MyMedicare account or your banks bill pay service.
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Paying Medicare Premiums With A Health Savings Account
A health savings account is a savings account reserved for qualified medical expenses. You can put pretax dollars into an HSA to help pay for health care expenses, such as doctor visits, surgical fees, durable medical equipment, and drug prescriptions.
Although you cant pay your Medicare premiums directly with your HSA, you can reimburse yourself with the funds. Medicare premiums are qualified expenses and therefore, tax-deductible.
What Is Medicare Easy Pay
Medicare Easy Pay is a free, digital payment option that allows you to have your monthly Original Medicare premiums transferred directly from your bank account. Once you set it up, the payments are delivered to Medicare on time each month.
Anyone who gets a monthly bill from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can sign up anytime for Medicare Easy Pay.
Medicare Easy Pay is only available for Original Medicare Medicare Part A and Part B.
Medicare Plans That Do Not Work with Medicare Easy Pay
- Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
- Original Medicare premiums billed by the Railroad Retirement Board
You will need to talk with your plan administrator to see if your Medicare Advantage plan, Part D prescription drug plan or Medigap policy has its own form of automatic payment option.
If you receive a bill from the Railroad Retirement Board, you will need to mail in your payment.
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Understanding Medicare Part A Premiums
Most people will be eligible for something known as premium-free Part A. This is just what it sounds like: you will pay no monthly premium.
You can receive premium-free Part A under a few conditions. First, if you receive retirement benefits through Social Security, or the Railroad Retirement Board, or are eligible for these benefits but dont receive them, then you can receive premium-free Part A.
If you or your spouse worked and paid the Medicare tax for more than 40 quarters then youll receive premium-free Part A. If you or they worked for 30-39 quarters, then youll pay $274 per month for Part A in 2022. Finally, if you or your spouse paid the Medicare tax for under 30 quarters, you will pay $499 per month in Medicare premiums for Part A.
Medicare Supplement Plans Can Help You Save On Medicare Costs
Medicare Supplement Insurance plans don’t pay for your Medicare premiums, but they can help cover some of your other out-of-pocket Medicare costs such as deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and more.
Speak with a licensed insurance agent to learn more about Medigap plans in your area, and find a plan that can help you save on out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
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If Your Medicare Easy Pay Automatic Payment Doesnt Go Through
If theres a problem with your bank account: We cant deduct your premium. Why didnt my payment go through?
- Well send you a letter explaining why.
- Youll get a Medicare bill the next month, and youll need to pay your premium another way. Find other ways to pay premiums.
- Once you pay the full amount due listed on your bill, Medicare Easy Pay will start back up again.
If Medicare Easy Pay doesnt start: Call us at 1-800-MEDICARE . TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Premiums For Medicare Plans
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Medicare Advantage plan, or Medicare Supplement plan, you may have a separate monthly premium for your Medicare plan. In these situations, youâll send premiums payments directly to your Medicare plan, not the federal Medicare program, Medicare.gov, or the Railroad Retirement Board. Many Medicare plans give you the option to make premium payments online or by mail. If you have questions about billing or where to send the payment for your plan premium, contact your Medicare plan for more information.
If you have Medicare Part D, youâll pay the premium for your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan directly to your Medicare plan. However, in some situations, you may have to pay an extra amount if your income falls above a certain threshold this extra cost is known as a Part D income-related monthly adjustment amount . Medicare will notify you if you need to pay the Part D-IRMAA.
Important note: If you need to pay the Part D-IRMAA, youâll pay this directly to Medicare, not your Medicare plan.
Remember, regardless of the type of Medicare plan youâre enrolled in, youâll need to continue to paying your Medicare Part B premium, in addition to any premium required by your Medicare plan.
To take a look at some of the Medicare plans available in your area, just enter your zip code in the box on this page.
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How To Pay My Medicare Bill Online
You can easily make pay Medicare online by signing into or creating your Medicare account.
Pay by credit card, debit card or a personal checking or savings account.
Once youre logged in, select My Premiums from the drop down menu and then click Pay Now.
Then, choose your payment method and make complete your Medicare premium payment. You will receive a confirmation notice and the deduction can take up to 5 days to show in your account.
How Often Do You Need To Make Payments
The frequency of bill due dates will depend on the type of Medicare you have. When premium payments are required, Medicare Parts A and D require monthly payments. If you only have Medicare Part B and get bills, youll only receive them once every three months. All Medicare bills are due by the 25th of the month.
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How To Change Bank Accounts Or Stop Medicare Easy Pay
There are 2 ways:
- Log into your Medicare account Select “My Premiums” and then “See or change my Medicare Easy Pay” to complete a short, online form.
- Fill out and mail a paper form Print and fill out the authorization form. Fill out, print and mail a paper form
If you change your bank account: It can take up to 6-8 weeks before automatic deductions start from your new account. Until then, you may get a bill to pay your premium or your payment may still be automatically deducted from your old bank account.
If you stop Medicare Easy Pay: It can take up to 4 weeks for your automatic deductions to stop.
Can You Pay Medicare Online With A Credit Card
If you are looking for ways to pay Medicare online, credit cards and debit cards are accepted. Currently, there is no option for setting those up as recurring payments. After selecting Pay my premium in your online Medicare account, the U.S. Treasurys Pay.gov site will direct you to complete your one-time payment.
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Viewing Your Bills Online
You can also select billing & payments from the blue bar at the top of your screen, then select view bill details.
- To view prior bills, select the Past Bills icon at the bottom of the screen.
- To download a bill, click the download icon
Paying Premiums Through Social Security
Although the focus of this article is to discuss online payment methods, it is also useful to discuss the most common way that Medicare premiums are paid. For most people, it will be easiest to have the cost of their Medicare premiums deducted automatically from their Social Security check that they receive each month. This way, you dont have to take any specific action to get your premiums paid. There are also automatic payment methods that are electronic, which will be discussed later.
If you are eligible for this payment method, it will begin as soon as your enrollment begins.
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Medicare Premium Payments By Mail
- Mail your check or money order to Medicare at Medicare Premium Collection Center, P.O. Box 790355, St. Louis, MO 63179-0355. Follow the instructions in your Medicare premium bill and mail your payment to the address listed in the form.
Note: If your Medicare premium bill comes from the Railroad Retirement Board, or if you receive Civil Service benefits, see the information at the end of this article.
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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:
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.
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