Friday, March 22, 2024

When Do You Get Your Medicare Card

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Is My Social Security Account The Same As My Medicare Account

Getting Your Medicare Card: Who, What, When, Where & How

A: They’re not the same thing, but they do have many similarities, and most older Americans receive benefits simultaneously from both programs. Social Security, which was enacted in 1935, is a government-run income benefit for retirees who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least ten years.

Important Information Regarding If You Enroll In Other Medical Coverage At A Future Date:

Once you enroll in another medical plan with Part D prescription coverage, Employee Benefits will receive notification from the plan administrator. After confirmation is received of your enrollment in another Part D prescription plan, Employee Benefits will automatically dis-enroll you from the medical plan you have with the City of Oklahoma City.

Why Would Your Card Be Stolen

Sometimes people steal Medicaid benefit cards. They most often do this in order to use your benefits for themselves, or to sell your Medicaid benefits to other people. This is a form of identity theft, and its very common. You must not allow anyone other than yourself to use your Medicaid card, since any of the services the card is used for inevitably get charged to your account. Apart from the waste this creates, false medical records under your name can be very serious if you ever need care yourself. You could also be charged with a crime if your card is improperly used to get benefits and the authorities think you were involved.

Lost cards are less serious at first, but once a card has gone missing, you simply dont know whether somebody is using your name to get expensive healthcare. Even if your lost card is never found, you generally cant get medical treatment without it, so you have every reason to request a replacement Medicaid card fast.

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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 sign up for 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:

  • Fax or mail your CMS-40B, CMS-L564, and secondary evidence to your local Social Security office .
  • 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 their behalf 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 .

    I Am Turning 65 In A Few Months And Want To Go On Medicare Will I Be Automatically Enrolled In Parts A And B Or Do I Need To Sign Up

    What Those Extra Letters on Your Medicare Card Mean?

    It depends. If youre receiving benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board at least four months before you turn 65, you do NOT need to sign up youll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month that you turn 65. You should receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. If you are NOT receiving benefits from Social Security or the RRB at least four months before you turn 65, you will need to sign up with Social Security to get Parts A and B. To sign up to receive Parts A and B, you can enroll online with Social Security, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office.

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    When Will My Coverage Start

    If you sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B during the first three months of your Initial Enrollment Period, your coverage starts the first day of your birthday month, unless your birthday is on the first day of the month. Then your coverage would start the first day of the month before your birthday month.

    Timeline for when your Medicare coverage starts based on when you sign up for Parts A and B

    If you sign up for Part A/ B in this month: Your coverage starts:

    The month you turn 65

    1 month after you sign up

    1 month after you turn 65

    2 months after you sign up

    2 months after you turn 65

    3 months after you sign up

    3 months after you turn 65

    3 months after you sign up

    During the Jan. 1Mar. 31 General Enrollment Period

    Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

    Medicare Prescription Drug Plans are sold by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. All people new to Medicare have a seven-month window to enroll in a PDP three months before, the month of and three months after their Medicare becomes effective. The month you enroll affects the PDPs effective date. All people with Medicare are eligible to enroll in a PDP however, unless you are new to Medicare or are entitled to a Special Enrollment Period, you must enroll or change plans during the Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. There is a monthly premium for these plans. If you have limited income and assets/resources, assistance is available to help pay premiums, deductibles and co-payments. You may be entitled to Extra Help through the Social Security Administration. To apply for this benefit contact SHIIP at 1-855-408-1212 or the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or www.socialsecurity.gov.

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    What You Need To Know About The New Medicare Cards

    On May 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released information on the new Medicare cards that would be sent out beginning next year. Department of Justice statistics indicate that between 2012 and 2014, identity theft crimes rose from affecting 2.1 million Americans to 2.6 million people. Identify theft, which can happen when criminals steal valuable personal information, such as social security numbers, can have far-reaching effects. Among these are damage to personal finances, inaccurate medical records, false claims and poor credit ratings.

    In an effort to thwart fraud, abuse and identity theft common and rampant problems in the Medicare program the CMS is issuing new cards that will no longer feature beneficiaries social security numbers.

    Sensitive Information

    A social security number provides access to a multitude of personal information, which gives hackers and thieves the opportunity to commit crimes of identity theft. Old Medicare cards featured members social security numbers, allowing criminals easy access to this information when the cards were sent via mail or presented at places like physicians offices, pharmacies or other provider agencies.

    The New Cards

    Your current card includes your name, the effective date of coverage and information about your current program. When your provider submits a claim, your social security number is used as the claim number. These features will change once the new card arrives.

    What Your Medicare Card Should Contain

    How to Find Medicare Your Number (Without Your Card)

    When you receive your Medicare card, there a few things you should do right away. The first of which is to review the information on the card for its accuracy.

    Check to see that your name is spelled correctly. Your name is located under beneficiary and has a claim number below it. The claim number should be the same as your Social Security number, with a letter or letters behind it. Make certain the numbers are the same as your Social Security number.

    Moving down to the middle of the card, you will find a description of the coverage you are eligible to receive. Be certain the type of coverage you signed up for is what appears on the card . Part A is the portion of Medicare that provides coverage for hospital stays, home healthcare and hospice. Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient services and care.

    If there is any incorrect information on your card, or you have a question or questions regarding your coverage or card information contained on it, there is a toll-free number located on the top portion of your Medicare card. This is the number for you to contact a Medicare Health Insurance representative. Call Medicare Health Insurance at Medicare .

    And finally, at the bottom of the card will be a signature line. If all the information on your card is correct, be certain to sign your name on the signature line indicated.

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    How Do I Apply For Medicare Online

    You can apply for Medicare online by visiting the Social Security website at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare. Learn more about when and how to enroll in Medicare.

    What if you want to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan, or a Medicare Supplement plan? Thats covered below.

    Communicate Now With Health It Vendors

    Your systems must be ready for the MBI to avoid delays in reimbursement, but software changes can take months. Prepare now to process MBI claims by testing office systems for the MBI format . If an upgrade is necessary, ask about the timeline.

    to your technology vendors to ensure they have the necessary information to ensure they are prepared for the transition to the New Medicare Card.

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    Does Medicare Automatically Send You A Card

    Once you’re signed up for Medicare, we’ll mail you your Medicare card in your welcome packet. You can also log into your secure Medicare account to print your official Medicare card. I didn’t get my Medicare card in the mail. View the Medicare card if you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board.

    Replacing Your Card By Mail Or In Person

    All About How to Get a Replacement Medicare Card For Yourself

    If you dont have an online account or dont meet any one of the other criteria listed above, youll have to fill out an application form and either mail it or take it to your local Social Security office.

    Local offices fully reopened April 7 after being closed to walk-in traffic for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Social Security Administration recommends calling in advance and scheduling an appointment to avoid long waits.

    Youll need to provide what the SSA calls primary proof of identity either a passport, a drivers license or a state-issued photo ID card. If you dont have any of those, Social Security will ask to see a current, secondary ID that shows your name identifying information such as age or date of birth and, preferably, a recent photograph for example, an employee, student or U.S. military ID or a health insurance card .

    Social Security typically requires the original of your primary ID document, or a copy certified by the agency that issued it. Photocopies, even if notarized, are not accepted.

    However, the SSA advises against mailing original primary documents that should be kept secure in your possession. As an alternative, you may send secondary evidence of identity, or contact your local office about dropping off your evidence or making an appointment. Social Security will return any documents you do submit once they process your new card.

    Keep in mind

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    How To Log In To Mymedicaregov

    Once you have a MyMedicare account, you can use it to log in to MyMedicare.gov using the following steps.

  • Go to the MyMedicare log-in page. You can do this by visiting Medicare.gov and clicking the link in the top-right, as you did when setting up your account. Alternatively, you can just type MyMedicare.gov in your browsers address bar.
  • Type the username and password you selected into the fields on the log-in page.
  • You are now logged in to MyMedicare.gov. If you cannot remember your username and password, you can click the links underneath the fields on the log-in page to be reminded of them or set new ones.

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    How Do I Replace My Medicare Card

    Before applying for a replacement card for a lost or stolen Medicare card, be certain to have your personal information ready. This includes your name, address, telephone and Social Security numbers, date and place of birth and your mothers maiden name.

    You can then contact your local Social Security Office, either in person or by phone and they will assist you in obtaining a new card. Or, you may choose to call the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at MEDICARE for assistance in applying for a replacement card. In either application site or location, it will take about 30 days for you to receive your new replacement card by United States mail.

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    If I Keep My Work Insurance Do I Need To Enroll In Medicare

    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.

    Part A: For most people, Part A does not charge a premium. Typically, Part A pays after your work insurance. Part A probably wont pay much of the bill, but doesnt cost anything to have. For that reason, most individuals enroll in Part A at age 65.

    Part B: Everyone pays a monthly premium for Part B. Part B typically pays after your work coverage and may not pick up much of the bill. Enrolling in Part B will also start your one-time guarantee to purchase a Medicare Supplement. Once this 6-month time frame starts, it cannot be stopped. For these two reasons, most people wait until their work coverage ends to enroll in Part B.

    Part D: Everyone pays a monthly premium for Part D. As long as you have other “creditable coverage,” you do not have to enroll in a Part D plan. Creditable coverage means the insurance is as good as, or better than, a standard Part D plan. Check with your HR department to verify if your policy is creditable coverage. Typically, prescription insurance through work offers better coverage than what you can get through Medicare. For this reason, most people wait until their work coverage ends to enroll in Part D.

    When Will I Get My Medicare Card

    How to Access Your Medicare Number Online

    Once you sign up for Medicare, you’ll get your red, white and blue Medicare card in the mail that looks like this:

    Be sure to keep your card and number safe. Do not share them with anyone except your medical providers.

    If you sign up for Part C , Part D or a Medigap plan, or have Medicaid, these plans will mail you a separate membership card. Keep these cards safe and bring them with your Medicare card to the medical provider or the pharmacy. You will need to let your providers know which plans you have.

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    What Documents Do I Need To Provide The Ssa To Get A New Card

    You may need to provide one or more of the following documents for the SSA or Medicare to verify your identity:

  • Drivers License
  • Employee ID card
  • Letter from a medical professional or doctor stating your name, address, SSN, doctors name, and a signature
  • Burth Certificate
  • U. S. Hospital record
  • Depending on how you request your replacement card or a new card you may not have to provide those documents. But have them on hand just in case.

    Do I Get Id Cards For Medicare Advantage Plans

    If you get a Medicare Advantage plan or other private insurance plan, your insurance cards arrival date may differ if the plan provides printed cards. The best place to find information about your insurance card is to call the insurance provider directly. Call your plan’s customer service number and speak to a representative.

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    If Youre New To Medicare

    Youll have to manually apply for Medicare if:

    • You live in Puerto Rico. You may get automatically enrolled in Part A as described above, but youll need to sign up for Part B.
    • You arent receiving retirement benefits yet.
    • You have end-stage renal disease .

    If you have end-stage renal disease , you can apply for Medicare at any time. Otherwise, youre first eligible to enroll during your seven-month Initial Enrollment Period, which typically starts three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your 65th birthday, and ends three months later. When your Medicare coverage begins and when you get your Medicare card depends on the month you sign up during this period.

    If you dont enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, in most cases youll have to wait until the General Enrollment Period, which takes place from January to March 31 every year. You may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B .

    Some people decide to delay Medicare Part B enrollment if they have other coverage, since Part B comes with a premium. If youre working and have health coverage through an employer, you can sign up for Part B with a Special Enrollment Period when you stop working or that coverage ends. You wont have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Special Enrollment Period.

    If you worked for a railroad, youd apply for Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board. Otherwise, youd sign up through Social Security.

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