How To Sign Up For Medicare Part A

How Do I Sign Up For Medicare Part A Only

To enroll in Medicare Part A, you can visit the Social Security website or do so during the general enrollment period each year. You can also wait until you sign up for Medicare Part B and enroll in Part A at that time. Note that most people eligible for Medicare Part A and B are enrolled automatically. When you apply for retirement or disability benefits from Social Security , it also serves as your application for Medicare.

Costs Of Medicare Part A

Most people get premium-free Part A coverage. But if you worked less than 10 years in the U.S. before turning 65, Part A may cost you.

If you paid Medicare payroll taxes for less than 30 quarters about 7.5 years the standard Part A premium is $499. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30 to 39 quarters, the premium is .

Part A includes a $1,556 deductible for everyone. This is the cost you pay before Medicare covers anything.

Inpatient Hospital Care

• Days 1 to 60: You pay nothing after reaching your deductible.
• Days 61 to 90: $389 coinsurance each day per benefit period.
• Days 91 and Beyond: $778 coinsurance per each lifetime reserve day.
• After Lifetime Reserve Days: You pay all costs.

Skilled Nursing Facility Stay

• Days 1 to 20: You pay nothing after reaching your deductible.
• Days 21 to 100: $194.50 coinsurance each day per benefit period.
• Days 101 and Beyond: You pay all costs.

Home Health Care

• 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment.

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.

If you choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B and then decide to do so later, your coverage could be delayed and you may have to pay a higher monthly premium for as long as you have Part B. Your monthly premium will go up 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but didnt sign up for it, unless you qualify for a “” .

If you dont enroll in Medicare Part B during your initial enrollment period, you have another chance each year to sign up during a general enrollment period from January 1 through March 31. Your coverage begins on July 1 of the year you enroll. Read our publication for more information.

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If You Dont Sign Up For A Part D Prescription

Lisa F. Young

Question: In your article about Medicare, you mentioned the penalty for Part B if you dont sign up when youre first eligible. Isnt there also a penalty if you dont sign up for Part D prescription-drug coverage?

Answer: Youre right. You generally must sign up for Medicare Part D prescription-drug coverage when you first become eligible for Medicare at age 65 . You can sign up for Part D through a stand-alone plan or through a Medicare Advantage plan. But you arent required to sign up if you have creditable coverage from another source, such as drug coverage from an employer or retiree health insurance plan or from Tricare.

If you go for more than 63 days without creditable coverage, youll have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for every month you delay. The penalty equals 1% of the national base beneficiary premium times the number of months you didnt have Part D or creditable coverage. This penalty is added to your monthly Part D premium for as long as you have a Medicare drug plan. For example, if you didnt have Part D or creditable coverage for two years, your penalty would be $8.55 every month in 2017 . The national base premium changes every year, so your penalty can increase over time.

How Do You Apply For Medicare

There are different ways to apply for Medicare, and they vary depending on the plan you want to enroll in. Medicare has four parts as well as supplement plans, otherwise known as Medigap.

Here are the different ways, steps to take, and important information to keep in mind when applying for Medicare.

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Dont Register For Medicare Alone

If youre uncomfortable with applying for Medicare alone, we can help! Our services are completely free for you. If you would like an agent by your side when applying, contact us. We can walk you through setting up all your coverage, including Medicare, Medigap, Part D, and more.

Plus, when you use us to apply, you get unlimited support from our Client Service Team. That means if you have any issues with claims or appeals, we can help at no additional cost. You can compare rates online or give us a call today at the number above.

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What Other Important Information Do You Need To Know About Medicare Enrollment In Parts A And B

• You can sign up for both Medicare Parts A and B but you dont have to sign up for Part B.
• If you want to enroll in Part B later on, you may sign up during the SEP if your circumstances qualify as an eligible life event. If not, you can wait for the General or Open Enrollment Period and receive delayed benefits, pay a late enrollment fee or be charged a higher premium.
• If you live in Puerto Rico, theres no automatic enrollment for Part B. You will have to sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period or you will be charged a penalty.

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How Do You Sign Up For A Medicare Advantage Or Medicare Supplement And Prescription Drug Plan

You can sign-up for a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, or Prescription Drug plan with us. We offer plans in most areas of the country.

Our secure online store lets you shop for plans. You enter information from your red, white, and blue Medicare ID card, add any prescriptions, add your preferred doctors and facilities, and answer a few questions. Well show you plans that are a match for you. You can also find answers to your questions, receive a quote, and apply online.

When Is My Initial Enrollment Period For Medicare Part D:

You can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan during your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D. You are eligible for prescription drug coverage if:

• You live in a service area covered by the health plan, and
• You have Medicare Part A AND/OR Medicare Part B.

Generally, your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D will occur at the same time as your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B .

Once you are eligible for Medicare Part D, you must either enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, or have creditable prescription drug coverage. Some people may choose to delay Medicare Part D enrollment if they already have creditable prescription drug coverage through an employer group plan.

However, if you do not sign up for prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible for Part D, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for signing up later if you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 or more consecutive days.

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Enrolling In Original Medicare

When it comes to Original Medicare, enrollment could be a piece of cake. If youre already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits and youre a U.S. resident, the government automatically enrolls you in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B at age 65. Three months prior to your 65th birthday, your Medicare card will arrive in the mail with instructions.

At this point, youll have the option to turn down Medicare Part B . But you probably wont want to do that unless you have coverage from your own or your spouses current employer, and the employer has at least 20 employees. Thats a valid reason for delaying your enrollment in Medicare Part B.

If you decide to not enroll in Part B, but plan to enroll at a later date, know that you could end up having to pay a higher premium 10% higher for each year you could have enrolled, but didnt. The penalty doesnt apply, however, if the reason you didnt initially enroll in Part B coverage was that you had employer-sponsored health insurance from your current employer, including TRICARE from current military employment.

If you havent yet enrolled in Social Security but are eligible and want to begin receiving benefits, you can enroll online, or at a local Social Security office. Be sure you understand how your benefits depend on the age at which you start receiving them, and theres no right or wrong answer in terms of when you should activate your benefits.

Can You Delay Signing Up For Medicare Part B

You may pay a penalty later on if you dont sign up for Medicare when you are first eligible when you turn 65. You can delay signing up for Medicare Part B without penalty, however, if you have health insurance through an employer with more than 20 employees. If you have health insurance from an employer with fewer than 20 employees, you need to sign up for Medicare when you are first eligible because the employer has no legal obligation to offer health insurance to an employee or spouse who is eligible for Medicare.11 Check here to see whether or not you need to sign up for Part B as soon as youre eligible.

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When Can I Enroll In Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

Medicare prescription drug coverage is optional and does not occur automatically. You can receive coverage for prescription drugs by either signing up for a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage, also known as a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans are available through private insurers. Please note that you cannot have both a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan and a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.

Reasons To Delay Medicare

If youre thinking about deferring Medicare, discuss the pros and cons with your current insurer, union representative, or employer. Its important to know how or if your current plan will work with Medicare, so you can choose the most comprehensive overage possible.

Some of the common reasons you may want to consider deferring Medicare include:

• You have a plan through an employer that you want to keep.

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How To Apply For Medicare Through Social Security

Apply online: The easiest way to complete the Medicare enrollment application is online at ssa.gov. Its convenient to sign up from home. You can start and stop the application and save your information. After you submit your application, youll get a receipt to print and keep. You can also check the status of your application.

Apply in person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the nearest office with the Social Security office locator. They recommend that you make an appointment.

Apply by phone: Call Social Security at 800-772-1213 .

How Employer Coverage And Medicare Part B Work Together

Enrolling in Part B alongside your employers health plan is also an option. If you choose to obtain both health plans, Part B would be the primary payer for your coverage. Your secondary payer would be your employer.

If your employer still offers your insurance plan past the age of 65 and they have good coverage for your needs and lifestyle, putting them as your secondary payer may turn out to be more costly for you.

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Medicare Late Enrollment Penalties

If youre not automatically enrolled in Medicare and you dont apply on time, you may face late enrollment fees:

• Medicare Part A: If you must buy Part A and you dont purchase it during your initial enrollment period, you may owe 10% more than the monthly premium for twice the time period you didnt sign up.

• Medicare Part B: If you dont sign up for Part B during your initial enrollment period, your monthly premium may see a 10% bump for each 12-month period that you went without Part B coverage. Youll usually pay this penalty as long as you have Part B.

• Medicare Part D: If you go without Medicare drug coverage or other creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 or more days once your initial enrollment period ends, you may pay a penalty for as long as you have Medicare drug coverage. The penalty is calculated as 1% of the national base beneficiary premium multiplied by the number of full months you werent covered. This is rounded to the nearest 10 cents, and its recalculated each year.

To Qualify For Medicare You Need To Get Disability Benefits From:

• Social Security

• Railroad Retirement Board

Youll automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits for 24 months. Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card.

If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.

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How Long Does It Take To Get Medicare Part B After Applying

To get Medicare part B would vary for different people. Some people may get it in 21 days while others may have to wait for 30 days. It depends on the application processing. The Medicare part B would take some time to give the benefits to you or the provider. Original Medicare comes up as both Medicare parts A and B.

Many people are getting the original Medicare as it has many benefits. Major medical outpatient services are covered and benefited under Medicare part B. The service would be provided if the situation comes under necessary medical requirements. Part B of mediocre is more vital as it covers some preventative services as well.

There will be some services that mediocre part B will not cover, and you have to spend your own money. There are some criteria for people to be eligible under Medicare part B. The settlement of claims for Medicare takes time as there are many approvals to be processed. The time to get approval is lengthy, just like many other health care insurances.

Medicare gives many medical services along with various other preventative services to the applicants. This makes the process quite long as there are so many things to get approved for. The person is eligible completely for Medicare part B, then the claim may get approved in 30 days.

Already Enrolled In Medicare

If you have Medicare, you can get information and services online. Find out how to .

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and you want to enroll in Part B, please complete form CMS-40B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B . If you are applying for Medicare Part B due to a loss of employment or group health coverage, you will also need to complete form CMS-L564, Request for Employment Information.

You can use one of the following options to submit your enrollment request under the Special Enrollment Period:

Note: When completing the forms CMS-40B and CMS-L564

• State I want Part B coverage to begin in the remarks section of the CMS-40B form or online application.
• If possible, your employer should complete Section B.
• If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion as best as you can on behalf of your employer without your employers signature and submit one of the following forms of secondary evidence:
• Income tax form that shows health insurance premiums paid.
• W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions.
• Pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions.
• Health insurance cards with a policy effective date.
• Explanations of benefits paid by the GHP or LGHP.
• Statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.

Some people with limited resources and income may also be able to get .

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How To Apply For Medicare Part A

You can apply during the following times:

• Your initial enrollment period

• A special enrollment period

• Medicareâs general enrollment period â January 1 to March 31 each year

Medicare Part A might be free if youâre eligible for or receiving federal retirement benefits. If you must pay for Part A and don’t sign up when you’re first eligible , youâll face a late enrollment penalty. You can avoid the late enrollment penalty if you meet the conditions for a special enrollment period.

Part A includes hospice care and inpatient care at a skilled nursing facility. Learn more about Medicare Part A.