What Date Does Medicare Start

How Do You Enroll In Medicare

Enrollment in Original Medicare A and B is a straightforward process. It is handled by SSA and can be done automatically, over the phone, online, or in person.

• Automatic enrollment: If you are receiving SSA or RRB benefits for at least four months before you turn 65 you will be automatically enrolled in Parts A and B. You should receive communication from SSA approximately three months before turning 65. If you wish to delay either Parts A and/or B, be sure to contact SSA during the three months before your 65th birthday.
• You can enroll in Original Medicare by calling SSA at 772-1213. Normally your enrollment can be completed in one call.
• In person: You can also go to your local SSA office to complete the enrollment process. It is best to call and make an appointment before appearing at the local office.
• Online: Signing up online is the preferred way. The simple process can be completed in a few minutes here. Click on the SIGN IN/UP link in the upper right portion of the page. You will then be able to track your SSA business and sign up for Medicare. There is the option to sign up for Medicare whether you wish to receive SSA benefits or not.

Here is more in-depth coverage of this subject.

You Dont Qualify For Premium

In order to qualify for premium-free Part A of Medicare , you must work and pay Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters . If you have not paid at least 40 quarters-worth of Medicare taxes by age 65, you will have to pay a monthly premium for your Part A benefits.

Some beneficiaries who do not qualify for premium-free Part A may choose to continue working past 65 in order to reach their required 40 quarters of Medicare taxes and therefore avoid paying the Part A premium once they do enroll in Medicare.

What Date Am I Eligible For Medicare

Generally, you’re first eligible starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. If you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you might have to wait to sign up and go months without coverage. You might also pay a monthly penalty for as long as you have Part B.

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Should I Sign Up For Medicare If Im Still Working

Regardless of if youre still working and have a group health plan, you should still enroll in Medicare Part A coverage. Premium-free Part A will give you extra hospital benefits. However, with Medicare Part B enrollment, if you have group employer coverage then you can delay enrolling until you leave your group coverage insurance.

Is Medicare Retroactive To The Application Date

If a Medicare beneficiary is eligible for premium-free Part A Medicare coverage, they are able for Medicare open enrollment as soon as they become eligible. The Part A coverage will backdate to 6 months from when they signed up, but it will not allow for any earlier than the first month they became eligible for Medicare).

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Can You Get Medicare Before Turning 65

You may qualify for Medicare before you turn 65 if you collect Railroad Retirement Board or Social Security disability benefits or have certain health conditions.

• If you have a disability and collect Social Security or RRB benefits for 24 months, you will be automatically enrolled in Parts A and B in your 25th month.
• People who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare in their first month of collecting disability benefits.
• If you qualify for Medicare due to end-stage renal disease , signing up for Medicare is optional.

Please note that, if you have ESRD, you must enroll in both Parts A and B to get full dialysis and kidney transplant benefits.

Does Medicare Backdate Credentialing

There are certain situations where you can sign up for Medicare Part B without having to pay a late penalty, even if your sign up occurs during a Special Enrollment Period. These situations include:

• You are still employed and under your employerâs coverage. You can sign up for Part A and Part B any time as long as you have a group health plan coverage OR you/your spouse is working for the employer that provides the coverage
• You have 8 months to sign up after you/your spouse stops working or if you lose group health plan coverage
• Your 8-month Special Enrollment Period starts when you stop working even if you have COBRA or non-Medicare coverage
• Volunteers who are serving in a foreign country â Contact Social Security for details
• Some individuals with TRICARE â Contact TRICARE for details.

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Initial Medicare Enrollment Period

When it is the year, you will turn 65 you will want to keep in mind some important time frames. You will have a 7-month period around your 65th birthday that is known as your Initial Enrollment Period. 3-months before your 65th birthday you can start your Medicare enrollment journey. During this 3-month period you can submit your application to Social Security to get your Medicare applied for. If, you do not get a chance to work on everything before your 65th birthday, you will still have 4 months to get everything applied for. However, you start to have some delays in the effective date of Medicare.

If you apply for Medicare the month you turn 65, Medicare will become effective the next month. If you apply for Medicare the month after you turn 65, Medicare will become effective 2 months later. Finally, if you apply for Medicare 2 or 3 months after you turn 65, Medicare will become effective 3 months later.

Is Medicare Free At Age 65

You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if: You are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period, also known as the Annual Election Period or the Annual Enrollment Period, is the time each year when individuals who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans or Stand Alone Part D plans can make changes to their coverage.

This period runs from October 15 to December 7, and it gives you a chance to switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa, change Medicare Advantage Plans or Part D prescription drug plans. You will be able to see the changes in plans for the next calendar year and choose the one that is right for you. If you make changes during this period, your new Medicare Advantage coverage starts the following January 01.

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• Your current coverage might not pay for health services if you dont have both Part A and Part B .
• If you have Medicare due to a disability or ALS , youll already have Part A coverage.

Avoid the penalty & gap in coverageIf you miss this 8-month Special Enrollment Period, youll have to wait to sign up and go months without coverage. You might also pay a monthly penalty until you turn 65. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. How much is the Part B late enrollment penalty?

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Take Advantage Of Open Enrollment

Medicare holds its open enrollment period from October 15 through December 7 of each calendar year. This period is the ideal time to review current enrollment coverage and consider ways to improve coverage and reduce costs. Beneficiaries can perform many tasks during open enrollment including the below-listed changes.

• Change from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage
• Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare
• Switch Medicare Advantage Plans

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What Month Does Medicare Part B Start

The dates and scenarios above apply to Medicare Part A. The other half of Original Medicare is Part B, which covers outpatient health care services, durable medical equipment and doctors office services. Part B can start at the same time as Medicare Part A if you sign up for it prior to the month you turn 65.

If youre automatically enrolled in Medicare at 65, you will typically be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. Since Part B is optional, you can choose to disenroll from Medicare Part B after age 65 if you desire, though it isnt typically recommended.

If you do not enroll in Part B before the month you turn 65 and you arent automatically enrolled, you typically must sign up during the Medicare General Enrollment Period at the start of the new year, and your Part B coverage will not begin until July 1.

You may potentially qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B if you arent automatically enrolled at age 65.

If you plan on keeping your employer-provided health insurance coverage when you turn 65, you should make sure you carefully review your Medicare enrollment options so that you dont potentially face a Part B late enrollment penalty or any lapse in coverage.

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What Age Does Medicare Start

For most, Original Medicare coverage starts when you turn 65. However, some delay enrollment to remain on an employer plan or become eligible before age 65 due to disability. Others may take zero-premium Medicare Part A at 65 and delay Part B until a future date due to creditable coverage.

Hence, there are several possibilities for when one starts Medicare. Therefore, knowing which route works best in your situation is vital.

In some cases, you may qualify for Medicare before age 65. If someone receives Social Security Disability Income benefits for at least 24 months, they are eligible for Medicare. Additionally, those with end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are eligible for Medicare with no need to meet the 24-month benchmark.

No matter when or how you become eligible for Original Medicare, you must ensure you understand how the benefits work and when your coverage begins.

Can Medicare Part B Be Backdated

Although Part A coverage can be backdated by 6 months , the same is rarely true of Medicare Part B.

However, you may be able to appeal the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty IF you can prove that a federal employee supplied incorrect information and that this misinformation is why you delayed enrolling in Part B when you were first eligible. If you can prove this, you will be granted retroactive enrollment in Medicare Part B .

You do not qualify for equitable relief if the reason you did not sign up for Part B on time was due to misinformation received from an employer or group health plan.

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When To Enroll In Medicare

7 months

3 months before you turn 65

You can start enrolling in Medicare 3 months before your 65th birthday. Youll need to be eligible for Part A and Part B before you can get Part C . Youll need Part A, Part B, or both before you can get Part D.

Step 1 Learn about your Medicare benefits

As soon as possible, visit SocialSecurity.gov or call Social Security at , 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to learn about your Part A and Part B benefits. The answers to these questions will help you enroll.

• Will I get Part A at no cost? Typically, you can get Part A at no cost if you or your spouse paid into Medicare for at least 10 years. If not, you can buy it.
• Do I need to enroll in Part A and Part B? Find out if youll be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B, or if you should sign up.
• How will Social Security bill me for my Medicare premiums? The monthly premium is automatically deducted from your Social Security check each month. If youre not collecting Social Security, youll get a bill from the federal government every 3 months.
• When will I get my Medicare card? The federal government will mail your red, white, and blue Medicare card after youre enrolled. You should get it 3 months before your 65th birthday if you’re automatically enrolled. If you need to enroll in Part A and Part B, it can take up to 2 months to get your Medicare card.

Note: You need the information on your Medicare card to sign up for Part C or Part D.

Step 2 Enroll in Part A and Part B

I Am Turning 65 Next Year When Can I Sign Up For Medicare

If you are eligible for Medicare, your initial enrollment period for Part A and Part B begins three months before the month of your 65th birthday and ends three months after it. For example, if your 65th birthday is in June, your enrollment period will extend from March 1 through September 30. If you join during one of the 3 months before you turn 65, coverage will begin the first day of the month you turn 65. If you join during the month you turn 65 or during one of the 3 months after your turn 65, coverage will begin the first day of the month following the month you enroll.

Once you have Part A and Part B, you are then also eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and/or a Part D plan. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled in Part A and Part B. If you are not already receiving Social Security benefits and you want to enroll in Medicare, you should contact Social Security.

Part B is voluntary, but you may face a penalty for late enrollment if you do not sign up it when you turn 65, unless you or your spouse are still working and have a group health plan from the employer. Similarly, Part D is voluntary, but you may face a penalty for late enrollment if you sign up for a Part D plan after your initial enrollment period ends and you go for more than 63 days without a source of drug coverage at least as good as what Medicare Part D offers.

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Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment

When youre eligible to enroll in Original Medicare, you also become eligible to enroll in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

If you want Medicare prescription drug coverage, you typically have two options:

• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D prescription drug coverage, Medicare Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance combined into a single plan
• Enroll in a Medicare Part D standalone prescription drug plan that can be paired with other insurance such as Original Medicare , Medicare Supplement plans or Medicare Advantage plans that don’t include drug coverage

In 2022, 23.1 million Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in a standalone Part D Medicare drug plan.3

Learn more about Part D drug coverage. You can also enroll in a prescription drug plan online when you visit MyRxPlans.com.

Medicare Start Dates By Plan

It is always best to enroll in Original Medicare Parts A and B when you are first eligible. If you do not have a Special Enrollment Period , you may encounter penalties and delayed coverage when enrolling later.

If youre eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, you can sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period . This seven-month period begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after the month in which you turn 65.

Learn more on Medicare Advantage enrollment periods.

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When Does Medicare Start

When your Medicare coverage starts depends on when you sign up. You may be automatically signed up if you are already receiving Social Security benefits.

Notice that signing up after your 65th birthday month creates a delay in when your Medicare coverage starts.

When Do I Use My Medicare Cards

Everyone who enrolls in Medicare receives a red, white, and blue Medicare card. This card lists your name and the dates that your Original Medicare hospital insurance and medical insurance began. It will also show your Medicare number, which serves as an identification number in the Medicare system.

If you have Original Medicare, make sure you always bring this card with you when you visit doctors and hospitals so that they can submit bills to Medicare for payment. If you have a supplemental insurance plan, like a Medicare Supplement Plan, retiree, or union plan, make sure to show that plans card to your doctor or hospital, too, so that they can bill the plan for your out-of-pocket costs.

Note: Medicare has finished mailing new Medicare cards to all beneficiaries. You can still use your old card to get your care covered until January 1, 2020. However, if you have not received your new card, you should call 1-800-MEDICARE and speak to a representative.

If you are enrolled in a Part D plan , you will use the Part D plans card at the pharmacy.

Remember: Do not give your Medicare or Social Security numbers or personal data to strangers. Medicare will never ask for this information over the phone. If you believe you have been the target of Medicare marketing or billing fraud, contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol.

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