What Is The Deadline For Signing Up For Medicare

Signing Up For Medicare Part A And Part B

If you are collecting Social Security benefits, you will automatically enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B upon turning 65. However, if you are not automatically enrolled, the best time to enroll in Medicare Part A is during your Initial Enrollment Period.

If you worked a minimum of ten years while paying Medicare taxes in the United States, you can receive Medicare Part A premium-free. So, regardless of whether you are still working when you become eligible for Medicare, it makes sense to enroll in Medicare Part A as soon as possible. This will help keep your out-of-pocket hospital inpatient costs to a minimum.

With Medicare Part B, you have different enrollment options. Medicare Part B medical insurance requires every beneficiary to pay a monthly premium. Therefore, if you have health coverage at age 65 through an active employer, union, or other creditable source, you may delay Medicare Part B without penalties unless you lose creditable coverage before getting Medicare Part B.

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Common reasons beneficiaries delay Medicare Part B include:

• Health insurance through a previous employer
• To remain with spousal coverage, if available, as Medicare Part B premiums are based on income reported two years prior
• Employer coverage

If I Delay Taking Medicare Part B When Can I Enroll

You can sign up for Medicare Part B at any time that you have coverage through current or active employment. Or you can sign up for Medicare during the eight-month Special Enrollment Period that starts when your employer or union group coverage ends or you stop working . If you get COBRA insurance or retiree benefits after you stop working, keep in mind that this doesnât count as coverage based on current employment make sure you donât wait until your COBRA benefits end to enroll in Medicare Part B.

When Does Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Start

Medicare Part D Open Enrollment 2022 starts on October 15. This date began Medicares Annual Election Period or Annual Enrollment Period . To access Part D benefits during this time, you can:

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When To Sign Up And Apply For Medicare

Home / FAQs / General Medicare / When to Sign Up and Apply for Medicare

When you are new to Medicare, you probably have questions regarding when and how to apply for Medicare. Understanding when to sign up for Medicare and knowing the right way to enroll in Medicare coverage is important. Below, we tell you how and when to apply for Medicare.

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Us Expected To Hit Debt Ceiling Limit This Week

Republicans are on a collision course with the White House, which is demanding that Congress raise the debt limit without conditions.

If they fail to resolve their differences and cause a default, the range of consequences includes a stock market crash, a recession, higher interest rates for consumers, a weaker dollar, a U.S. credit downgrade and a government unable to meet all its obligations, from funding the military to providing Social Security benefits.

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When Is The Medicare Special Enrollment Period

You can qualify for Medicare special enrollment if you didnât enroll in Medicare when you became eligible at age 65 because you had health insurance through your job or your spouse’s job.

If you meet the qualifying circumstances, signing up for Medicare through a special enrollment period can help you avoid a Medicare Part B late penalty.

There are limits and specifics when navigating between Medicare and employer health coverage, and we recommend you talk to someone at Medicare or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program to discuss the timing and documentation needed for you to qualify for a special enrollment period.

Note that special enrollment will only help you avoid the Medicare Part B penalty. Thereâs no way to avoid the Medicare Part A penalty.

Medicare Advantage Plan Enrollment

When youre eligible to enroll in Original Medicare, you also become eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. You need to enroll in Original Medicare before you enroll in Medicare Advantage. Before enrolling in a plan, it may be a good idea to compare Medicare Advantage quotes.

• In 2022, 99% of Medicare Advantage plans included additional benefits including coverage for eye exams and eyeglasses/contacts, while 98% of plans also offered hearing exams and hearing aids, fitness benefits and telehealth. 96% of 2022 Medicare Advantage plans offer dental benefits.1
• Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services , the average star rating for a Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan in 2023 will be 4.15.2
• Nearly three out of four MA-PD plan beneficiaries are currently enrolled in a plan that will be rated 4 or more stars in 2023.2

To be eligible for Medicare Part C, you must already be enrolled in Part A and Part B.

If you are interested in joining a Medicare Advantage plan, you typically can only do so during specific times of the year.

The first time you may be able to enroll is during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period, as outlined above.

If you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage plan or switch back to Original Medicare within the first 3 months that you have Medicare.

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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.

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.

Note: Important Upcoming Change Rules for 2023 and later: If you accept the automatic enrollment in Medicare Part B or if you sign up during the first three months of your IEP, your coverage will start the month youre first eligible. Beginning January 1, 2023, if you sign up during the month you turn 65 or during the last three months of your IEP, your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

The following chart shows when your Medicare Part B becomes effective in 2022:

The following chart shows when your Medicare Part B becomes effective in 2023:

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Medicare Part B Late Enrollment Penalty

If you didn’t get Part B when you’re first eligible, your monthly premium may go up 10% for each 12-month period you could’ve had Part B, but didn’t sign up. In most cases, you’ll have to pay this penalty each time you pay your Part B premiums, for as long as you have Part B.

Usually, you don’t pay a late enrollment penalty if you meet certain conditions that allow you to sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period.

When Would My Medicare Coverage Start

If you enroll during the first three months of your IEP, your Medicare coverage begins on the first day of the month you turn 65 or the first day of the previous month if your birthday falls on the first day of a month.

If you sign up for Part B during the fourth month your birthday month coverage begins the first day of the following month.

If you dont enroll in Part B until later, in the fifth, sixth or seventh month of the IEP, coverage will be delayed by two or three months. However, those rules change in 2023, when the coverage will take effect the next month when you enroll after your birthday month.

You can sign up for premium-free Part A any time after your IEP starts. Your coverage will take effect six months retroactively, but no earlier than the month you turn age 65.

The best way to sign up for Medicare during your initial enrollment period is online at the Social Security website.

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Where Do The White House And Democrats Stand

The White House had laid down a marker: no negotiations, no policy strings attached to raising the debt ceiling.

Were not going to do any negotiations. And it should be, again, done without conditions, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday.

Legislative action requires GOP cooperation. Republicans control the House, meaning McCarthy gets to decide what bills get a vote on the floor. In the Senate, Democrats have a 51-seat majority, but most legislation requires 60 votes to break a filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., issued a joint statement Friday warning that a default forced by extreme MAGA Republicans could plunge the country into a deep recession. They added: Democrats want to move quickly to pass legislation addressing the debt limit so there is no chance of risking a catastrophic default.

When Should I Sign Up For Medicare

Generally, we advise people to file for Medicare benefits 3 months before age 65. Remember, Medicare benefits can begin no earlier than age 65. If you are already receiving Social Security, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B without an additional application. However, because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you have the option of turning it down. You will receive a Medicare card about two months before age 65. If you would like to file for Medicare only, you can apply by calling 1-800-772-1213. Our representatives there can make an appointment for you at any convenient Social Security office and advise you what to bring with you. When you apply for Medicare, we often also take an application for monthly benefits. You can apply for retirement benefits online.

If you didnt sign up when you were first eligible for Medicare, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period between January 1 and March 31 each year, unless you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period.

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I Didnt Sign Up For Part B When I First Became Eligible But Want To Sign Up Now I Know There Is A Penalty For Late Enrollment Is There Any Way To Avoid The Penalty

Generally, no. In most cases, if you missed your Part B enrollment window, which runs from the three months before the month of your 65th birthday through the three months after the month of your 65th birthday, you will face a late enrollment penalty once you do enroll, which will be added to your premium costs for the remainder of your enrollment. The penalty equals 10% of the standard monthly premium for each 12-month period that you delayed enrollment.

If you did not enroll for Part B during your initial enrollment period, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B anytime as long as you or a spouse is working and youre covered by a group health plan through that employment. For people age 65 or over who have coverage through a group health plan, there is also an 8-month SEP which starts the month after the employment ends or the group health plan coverage ends. If you sign up during an SEP, the late enrollment penalty will not apply.

What About Part C And Part D

Signing up for Medicare Part A and Part B is the first step, but it isnt the only step. Many people discover that relying on Original Medicare doesnt provide enough coverage. For example, Original Medicare only covers 80% of Part B expenses after the annual Part B deductible is met. The remaining 20% is your responsibility and could add up to thousands of dollars each year. Plus, Original Medicare doesnt include Part D Prescription Drug Coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans offer additional coverage not included with Original Medicare such as prescription drug coverage, vision and hearing exams, preventive dental coverage, and discounts on fitness programs. Plus, many Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage.

In addition, Medicare Advantage plans can help save you money with monthly premiums as low as $0 and an out-of-pocket maximum that limits what you pay for medical services in a year.

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Who Is Eligible For Medicare

You are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B at age 65 if:

• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for five continuous years
• You or your spouse have worked long enough to be eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits
• You or your spouse are government employees or retirees who have not paid into Social Security but have paid Medicare payroll taxes

You can meet Medicare eligibility under 65 if you:

• Have been receiving Social Security disability benefits or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least 24 months
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease and you or your spouse have paid Social Security taxes for a certain length of time

Moving To Another State

While Parts A and B remain the same no matter where you live in the U.S., other coverage Part D plans, Medigap and Advantage Plans differ in certain ways from state to state. This means you need to switch to plans in your new state, even if they are with the same carrier.

If you have an Advantage Plan, you can tell your insurer during the month before you move in which case you get two months after you move to make a change. Same goes for Part D plans.

Otherwise, if you tell your plan after your move, your chance to switch begins the month you alert your insurer, plus two more full months.

Meanwhile, Medigap plans are standardized across most states. However, the costs may differ, so you might pay a different amount for your plan after you move. You could look for a different Medigap policy at any point, although you could face medical underwriting unless the state has different enrollment rules.

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What If You Miss Your Medicare Enrollment Deadline

If you miss your Medicare Enrollment Deadline, you may have a long nervous time without proper coverage. If you miss your window of opportunity, you will have to wait for the next Medicare open enrollment period to enroll.

A hospital stay at the wrong time could mercilessly destroy your savings, ruin your credit or worse. You might not be told no when you need an important or even lifesaving medical procedure during a time when you are without coverage.

Since the General Enrollment Period for Medicare Part A and Part B is not the same as the Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans, you might not be able to get the coverage you want for well over a year. You will probably also pay lifetime penalties for late Medicare Part B and Part D enrollment.

How To Apply For Medicare Part A And Part B

Applying for Medicare Part A and Part B is easier than ever. Once you meet eligibility requirements, you are ready to choose from a variety of Medicare Part A and Part B plans in which to enroll. As we mentioned, 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.

Medicare applications generally take between 30-60 days to obtain approval.

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What Plan Changes Can I Make During The Medicare Open Enrollment Period

During the Medicare open enrollment period if youre already enrolled in Medicare coverage you can:

• Switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage .
• Switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare .
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
• Switch from one Medicare Part D prescription drug plan to another.
• Enroll in a Medicare Part D plan if you didnt enroll when you were first eligible for Medicare. If you havent maintained other , a late-enrollment penalty may apply.