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When Do You Collect Medicare

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Youll get Medicare automatically if youre already receiving Social Security retirement or SSDI benefits. For example, if you took retirement benefits starting at age 62, youll be enrolled in Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. Youll also be automatically enrolled once youve been receiving SSDI for 24 months.

Youll need to enroll in Medicare if you turn 65 but havent taken your Social Security benefits yet. The Social Security Administration and Medicare will send you a Welcome to Medicare packet when youre eligible to enroll. The packet will walk you through your Medicare choices and help you enroll.

SSA will also determine the amount you need to pay for Medicare coverage. You wont pay premiums for Part A unless you dont meet the coverage rules discussed above, but most people will pay a premium for Part B.

In 2020, the standard premium amount is $144.60. This amount will be higher if you have a large income. Social Security uses your tax records to determine the rates you need to pay.

If you make more than $87,000 a year, SSA will send you an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount . Your IRMAA notification will tell you the amount above the standard premium you need to pay. Youll also be responsible for an IRMAA if you choose to buy a separate Part D plan and you make over $87,000.

What Are Cases When Medicare Automatically Starts

Medicare will automatically start when you turn 65 if youve received Social Security Benefits or Railroad Retirement Benefits for at least 4 months prior to your 65th birthday.

Youll automatically be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B at 65 if you get benefit checks. According to the Social Security Administration, more than 30% of seniors claim Social Security benefits early.1 For those seniors, Medicare Part A and Part B will automatically start when they reach the age of 65.

When do You Get Your Medicare Card?

You can expect to receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your birthday. Your Medicare card will come with a complete enrollment package that includes basic information about your coverage. Your card wont be usable until you turn 65, even though youll receive the card before that time.

What Are Your Costs?

Keep in mind that youll still have to pay the usual costs of Medicare, even though youre automatically enrolled. Once your Medicare is active, the cost of your Part B premium will be deducted from your Social Security or RRB benefits.

What If You Already Enrolled in Medicare?

What about Medicare Supplement ?

What If I Switch to Medicare Advantage?

And if you want to switch to Medicare Advantage , youll have a one-time Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65 and lasts for 7 months.

What I Have Part A?

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:

  • Fill out an online application at SSA.gov
  • Visit a local Social Security office in person
  • 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 Is The Earliest Age You Can Get Medicare

    Due to there being circumstances where someone can enroll in Medicare due to a disability, there is no minimum age to enrolling in Medicare with a disability. However, you must have been receiving Social Security Disability Benefits for at least two years.

    The only circumstance where this two-year limit can be waived is if you are diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. However, if you do not receive Social Security disability or are not diagnosed with one of the qualifying illnesses, you will need to wait until you are 65 to enroll in Original Medicare.

    Medicare Faqs And Information To Consider

    When Can You Collect Medicare Benefits

    Automatic Enrollment:

    If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, or Federal Retiree benefits, your enrollment in Medicare is automatic. Your Medicare card should arrive in the mail shortly before your 65th birthday. Check the card when you receive it to verify that you are entitled to both Medicare Parts A and B.

    Initial Enrollment Period:

    If you are not eligible for Automatic Enrollment, contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or enroll online at www.socialsecurity.gov, or visit the nearest Social Security office to enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. You have a seven month window in which to enroll in Medicare without incurring a penalty. If youre not automatically enrolled in premium-free Part A, you can sign up for it once your Initial Enrollment Period starts. Your Part A coverage will start six months back from the date you apply for Medicare, but no earlier than the first month you were eligible for Medicare. However, you can only sign up for Part B during the times listed below.

    General Enrollment Period:

    • General Enrollment Period for Medicare Parts A & B

    If you have coverage through a current employer, you are not required to enroll in Medicare Part A and B. Below are some things to keep in mind about each part of Medicare.

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    Born In 1955 Or Later You May Have To Work Until Youre 67

    Once upon a time, turning 65 years old meant you could get your full Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare coverage at the same time. But over the last couple of years, the Social Security Administration changed the full retirement age twice first to age 66 for people born from 1948 to 1954, then again to age 67 for people born in 1955 or later.

    No matter what full retirement age is required for you to get full Social Security benefits , Medicare eligibility still begins at age 65.1

    Retirement age by year of birth

    Year of birth

    66 years and 2 months

    1956

    66 years and 4 months

    1957

    66 years and 6 months

    1958

    66 years and 8 months

    1959

    66 years and 10 months

    1960

    67 years

    Do You Automatically Get Medicare With Social Security

    Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare coverage often go hand in hand. Many people might think that Medicare is the only option for health insurance coverage once you start receiving Social Security benefits. Others wonder whether you are automatically enrolled in Medicare if you receive Social Security. Enrollment in Medicare will happen automatically for some people, while others will need to sign up independently. If you are getting close to the eligibility age for Medicare, you should keep reading! We will tell you everything you need to know about getting Medicare benefits while on Social Security, as well as give you information on who qualifies for Medicare and how you can receive Social Security without enrolling in Medicare.

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    Get Started With Medicare

    Medicare is health insurance for people 65 or older. Youre first eligible to sign up for Medicare 3 months before you turn 65. You may be eligible to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease , or ALS .

    Follow these steps to learn about Medicare, how to sign up, and your coverage options. Learn about it at your own pace.

    Will I Get My Spouses Medicare If I Retire At Age 62

    What is social prescribing?

    No. Even if your spouse has Medicare when you retire at 62, you arenât eligible for Medicare until you turn 65 .

    If you retire before age 65, you may be able to continue to get health insurance through your employer, or you can purchase coverage from a private insurance company in the meantime.

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    Signing Up For Medicare Advantage Plans

    If you choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, it is best to do so during your initial enrollment period. This same timeframe applies to Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment. Read more about Initial Enrollment period.

    You can enroll in any Medicare Advantage plan available in your service area during this window. If you miss this enrollment period, you must wait until the Annual Enrollment Period to enroll in a plan. Read more about Annual Enrollment Period.

    Keep in mind, when enrolling in a plan, it is essential to note that you cannot enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement plan simultaneously. So, before you enroll, it is necessary to compare all Medicare plan options available.

    Your Medicare Special Enrollment Period

    If your employer has at least 20 employees and youre still working and covered under that plan when you turn 65, you can delay your enrollment in Medicare . In that case, youll get an eight-month special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare if and when you leave your job or your employer stops offering coverage. It will start the month after you separate from your employer, or the month after your group health coverage ends whichever happens sooner.

    Sign up during those eight months, and you wont have to worry about premium surcharges for being late. And the eight-month special enrollment period is also available if youre delaying Part B enrollment because youre covered under your spouses employer-sponsored plan, assuming their employer has at least 20 employees.

    But note that in either case, it has to be a current employer. If youre covered under COBRA or a retiree plan, you wont avoid the Part B late enrollment penalty when you eventually enroll, and you wont have access to a special enrollment period to sign up for Part B youll have to wait for the general enrollment period instead.

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    Applying For Medicare Part A And Part B By Phone

    Just like applying online, applying for Medicare by phone is easy. You can contact a Medicare representative at your local Social Security office by calling 1-800-772-1213. This number will automatically connect you to a Medicare representative who can help you in the process of applying for Original Medicare.

    Depending on call volume, there might be a wait time. If the wait time is above average, you can schedule an appointment to have a representative call you.

    The only downfall with applying for Medicare by phone is that it can take longer than online. If youre ahead of the game and start well before your birthday, applying by phone shouldnt cause any issues.

    Health Insurance Options When You Don’t Qualify For Medicare

    What Is Medicare?

    When you decide to retire early, your primary focus is on income. However, its important to consider your options for health insurance as well. In most cases, this will be your first time being on your own to figure out your insurance options.

    Traditionally, you have a few options:

    In most cases, when you retire at age 62, you will not be eligible for Medicare. However, there are several options for you to consider when deciding to retire early. Health insurance tends to be put on the back burner until it becomes a problem. Plan for early retirement appropriately with support from a professional.

    Travis Price is a licensed independent health insurance agent specializing in Medicare private insurance programs, including Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans. Price has been in the Medicare industry since 2004, first in South Carolina and now in the Traverse City, Michigan, area.

    He earned a bachelors degree in business management and accounting from Baker College. Price has worked with hundreds of Medicare-eligible beneficiaries to ensure they get the best plan to fit their medical needs without forcing them to pay for coverage that is unnecessary, saving them hundreds of dollars per year in health insurance costs.

    Price supports his clients as an advocate, informing Medicare beneficiaries of their options and answering questions. Hes an active Medicare and insurance contributor on LinkedIn, Quora, and YouTube.

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    Reaching Age 62 Can Affect Your Spouse’s Medicare Premiums

    Although reaching age 62 does not qualify you for Medicare, it can carry some significance for your spouse if they receive Medicare benefits.

    When one spouse in a couple turns 62 years old, the other spouse who is at least 65 years old may now qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A if they havent yet qualified based on their own work history.

    • For example, Gerald is 65 years old, but he doesnt qualify for premium-free Part A because he did not work the minimum number of years required for eligibility. He can still receive Medicare Part A, but he will have to pay a monthly premium for it. In 2023, the Medicare Part A premium can be as high as $499 per month.
    • Lets say Geralds wife, Jessica, reaches age 62 and has worked for the required number of years to qualify for premium-free Part A once she turns 65. Because Jessica is now 62 years old and has met the working requirement, Gerald may now receive premium-free Part A.

    In the above example, Jessica has not become eligible for Medicare by turning 62. Her husband Gerald, however, is now eligible to receive his Medicare Part A benefits without paying a monthly premium any longer.

    Can I Get Medicare At Age 55

    Like those who retire at 62, those who retire at age 55 are not eligible for Medicare. While you may be eligible for Social Security benefits, this is not the same as Medicare healthcare coverage.

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    The only time you qualify for Medicare before age 65 is if you have been diagnosed with specific conditions or have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for 24 months.

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    The Proposal For Medicare At 60

    Besides a proposal to offer a public health insurance option similar to Medicare, President Biden hopes to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. During the presidential race, this was part of his health care platform. Currently, the age at which one becomes Medicare-eligible is 65. Individuals under 65 can obtain Medicare if they collect SSDI for 24 months or are diagnosed with ALS or ESRD.

    Lowering the eligibility age five years aims to provide health care to those who retired early, are unemployed, or lack health benefits through their employer. Additionally, qualifying U.S. citizens over 60 would have an extra health care option. As the market is more difficult for older job seekers, the President says its necessary to provide this safety net.

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    Social Security recipients will soon receive their biggest benefit hike since 1981, with the pension program set to deliver an 8.7% cost-of-living increase in 2023.

    The annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, takes effect with the December benefits, but those payments will reach most recipients in January 2023, according to the Social Security Administration. With the increase, the average benefit check will rise more than $140 to $1,827 a month, compared with the typical benefit of $1,681 in 2022.

    The Social Security Administration adjusts payments annually based on the inflation rate, which this year has spiked to its highest levels in four decades. Seniors lost purchasing power during this year since the 5.9% they received in 2022 is well below this year’s rise in prices overall, the average Social Security benefit fell short of inflation by more than $500 this year, according to a calculation by the advocacy group the Senior Citizens League.

    As a result, 4 in 10 seniors said they drained their emergency savings to stay afloat this year, the group said.

    She added, “We have just been through a period where retirees are trying to cope and manage, and they have never been through anything like this before.”

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    Your First Chance To Sign Up

    Generally, when you turn 65. This is called your Initial Enrollment Period. It lasts for 7 months, starting 3 months before you turn 65, and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65.

    Avoid the penaltyIf you miss your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, you may have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. The penalty goes up the longer you wait. You may also have to pay a penalty if you have to pay a Part A premium, also called Premium-Part A.

    Your Medicare Card When To Expect It

    If you are already receiving retirement benefits: If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you should automatically receive your Medicare card in the mail about three months before you turn 65. If you qualify for Social Security benefits, you will automatically qualify for Medicare Part A as well. You will need to enroll in Medicare Part B at the time that you apply for retirement benefits in order for Medicare coverage to begin when you turn 65.

    To qualify for Medicare, you need to be an American citizen or legal permanent resident of at least five continuous years who is at least 65 years old, or who qualifies by disability .

    If you are receiving disability benefits: If you are currently receiving certain Social Security or RRB disability benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare after 24 months of receiving disability. You should receive your Medicare card in the mail in the 25th month after you receive your first Social Security check.

    For individuals with ALS , you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare the same month that your disability benefits begin.

    For individuals with end-stage renal disease , you may manually enroll for Medicare Part A and/or Part B through Social Security any time before or after turning 65.

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