When To File For Medicare Part A

How Do I Know Im Enrolled In Medicare

After you apply for Medicare, Social Security will review and process your application. Theyll contact you if they need more information.

When youre approved for Medicare Part A and/or Part B, Social Security will send you a welcome packet that includes the following:

• Your confirmation letter
• Your red, white and blue Medicare ID card
• A Welcome to Medicare booklet that walks you through decisions you may have to make with your Medicare coverage
• The Medicare & You handbook

If youve applied for a private Medicare plan such as a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Cost, Medigap or Medicare Prescription Drug plan, when your enrollment is accepted youll get a separate confirmation letter and ID card.

Medicare helps pay for your health care costs and covers preventive care including a visit with your doctor each year. So once you get Medicare Part B, schedule your initial Welcome to Medicare visit with your doctor. And each year you get an Annual Wellness Visit with your doctor.

For more helpful tips, review this checklist, how to use Medicare your first year.

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:

How To Apply For Medicare Through The Rrb

If you worked for the railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 877-772-5772 or submit an online service request through the RRB website.

The best time to apply is during the Medicare Initial Enrollment Period. Or, you can sign up during the Medicare General Enrollment Period.

Note: If you are still working, you can still sign up for RRB Medicare coverage when you turn 65. No need to retire.

If you, or a family member, are already receiving a railroad retirement annuity, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. Coverage begins when you turn 65.

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Do I Need To Notify Anyone If Im Delaying Medicare

You don’t need to provide notice that you’d like to delay enrolling unless you’re receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. If you are receiving either, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B when you turn 65, and you’ll need to let Social Security know you wish to delay Part B. By law though, if you receive Social Security benefits and are eligible for Medicare, you must also have Medicare Part A.

What Is Medicare And Who Can Get It

Medicare is a government health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . According to a CMS report, over 55 million people were Medicare beneficiaries as of 2015, including over 39 million enrolled in Medicare Part D .

Can you answer yes to at least one of the following statements?

• I am 65 years of age or older.
• I am under 65, but I receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board .
• I have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis .
• I have end-stage renal disease , which is permanent kidney failure that requires a transplant or dialysis.

If so, then you are likely to be eligible for Medicare benefits. You must be at least 65 years old and an American citizen or permanent legal resident of at least five consecutive years. You may also qualify at any age through disability or by having end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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How Do I Enroll In Medicare

Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to enroll in Medicare or to ask questions about whether you are eligible. You can also visit their web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.

The Medicare.gov Web site also has a tool to help you determine if you are eligibile for Medicare and when you can enroll. It is called the Medicare Eligibility Tool.

Special Enrollment Period For Parts A And B

Some people with health care coverage through their job or union, or through their spouse’s job or union, wait to sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B . If you or your spouse are actively working for an employer with more than 20 employees when you turn 65, you can get a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Parts A and/or B:

• Any time you’re still covered by the employer or union group health plan through you or your spouses current employment or
• During the eight months following the month the employer or union group health plan coverage ends, or when the employment ends .

If you delay enrolling even longer, you may have to wait for coverage and you may pay a lifetime late enrollment penalty surcharge on your Medicare premiums.

If you’re under age 65, and eligible for Medicare because you’re disabled and working , the SEP rules also apply to you as long as the employer has more than 100 employees.

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More On Social Security And Retirement

• Earning Income After Retiring: Collecting Social Security while working can get complicated. Here are some key things to remember.
• An Uptick in Elder Poverty: Older Americans didnt fare as well through the pandemic. But longer-term trends arent moving in their favor, either.
• Medicare Costs: Low-income Americans on Medicare can get assistance paying their premiums and other expenses. This is how to apply.
• Claiming Social Security: Looking to make the most of this benefit? These online tools can help you figure out your income needs and when to file.

Medicare offers an Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday. If you miss that window, you will be subject to a late enrollment surcharge equal to 10 percent of the standard Part B premium for each 12 months of delay a penalty that continues forever. That can really add up. In 2017, 1.3 percent of Part B enrollees paid penalties , according to the Congressional Research Service. On average, their total premiums were 31 percent higher than what they would have been.

Medicares prescription drug program comes with a much less onerous late enrollment penalty, equal to 1 percent of the national base beneficiary premium for each month of delay. In 2019, the base monthly premium is $33.19, so a seven-month delay would tack $2.32 onto your plans premium.

Late enrollment also exposes you to significant gaps while waiting for Medicare coverage.

Here are the most common situations that lead to costly errors.

Sign Up: Within 8 Months After Your Family Member Stops Working

• If you have Medicare due to a disability or ALS , youll already have Part A .
• Youll pay a monthly premium for Part B , so you may want to wait to sign up for Part B.

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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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

Once you sign up for Original Medicare Part A and Part B, you are covered and dont need to renew it. But every year, during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period you have an opportunity to change your Medicare health or prescription drug plan. This happens annually from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. If you make a change during this enrollment period, your new plan benefits are effective Jan. 1 of the following year. If you are unhappy with your current coverage, you should take advantage of AEP to find a better fit for your current health care needs.

Learn more in our Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Guide.

Do You Need Medicare Part B

The short answer is yes, especially if youll need the covered services mentioned above. However, if you have health insurance through a current job or are on your spouses active plan, you can delay your Medicare Part B enrollment without penalty. Once the spouse with employer coverage stops working whether its you or your partner you have eight months to sign up for Part B. Also, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Part B if you want to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan.

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The Parts Of Medicare

Social Security enrolls you in Original Medicare .

• Medicare Part A helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or limited time at a skilled nursing facility . Part A also pays for some home health care and hospice care.
• Medicare Part B helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.

Other parts of Medicare are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

• Supplemental policies help pay Medicare out-of-pocket copayments, coinsurance, and deductible expenses.
• Medicare Advantage Plan includes all benefits and services covered under Part A and Part B prescription drugs and additional benefits such as vision, hearing, and dental bundled together in one plan.
• Medicare Part D helps cover the cost of prescription drugs.

Most people age 65 or older are eligible for free Medicare hospital insurance if they have worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough. You can sign up for Medicare medical insurance by paying a monthly premium. Some beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay a higher monthly Part B premium. To learn more, read .

If Your Claims Arent Being Filed In A Timely Way:

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How Long Does It Take To Apply For Medicare

It only takes 10 to 30 minutes to apply for Medicare through the Social Security Administration, and youll only need to enter basic information like your name, address and birth date. Afterward, it can take longer to compare the coverage options in your area and choose the best plan. But again, the actual enrollment in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Part D is very quick.

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Who Is Eligible For Medicare Part A

Typically, you must be age 65 to enroll in Medicare. To receive Medicare Part A free of charge, you must meet the following criteria:

• Youve worked and paid Medicare taxes at least 40 quarters or roughly 10 years. If your spouse worked, but you did not, you can still qualify.
• You receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits.
• You or your spouse are or were Medicare-covered government employees.

Other people may also qualify for Medicare Part A based on their health, such as if they have:

• end stage renal disease

The federal government automatically enrolls some people in Medicare Part A. Youre automatically enrolled in Part A if you meet the criteria listed above.

If you none of those sound like you, then youll need to apply for Medicare Part A.

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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 dont 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.

When And How To Apply For Medicare

Learn about Medicare enrollment periods and how to sign up for all the coverage you need.

Youre about to get Medicare! Thats great news because the program helps pay for your health care costs and brings peace of mind. But learning how Medicare works and how to apply can be overwhelming. This article breaks down the key Medicare enrollment periods, how they work, and helps you plan for your big enrollment day.

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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.

When To Sign Up For Medicare

If youre not enrolled automatically, you should sign up in the three months before your 65th birthday. That way, coverage will start on the first day of your birthday month .

You technically have seven months around your 65th birthday to enroll: the three months before your birthday month, your birthday month and the three months after. This is called your initial enrollment period. If your birthday is the first of the month, your initial enrollment period includes the four months before your birthday month and two months after.

Your coverage could be delayed if you wait until your birthday month or the three months afterward to apply for Medicare. And if you miss your initial window, you may need to sign up during Medicare’s general enrollment period. However, you may be subject to a permanent penalty unless you have continuous coverage from a large employer group health insurance plan.

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Delaying Medicare Due To Work: Special Enrollment Period

If you didnt enroll in Medicare because you were still working, and you were covered under a group health plan based on employment, you have a Special Enrollment Period during which you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B. While you or your spouse are still working and youre still covered under a group health plan, you can sign up anytime.

After your or your spouses employment ends, your Special Enrollment Period lasts eight months, starting the month after the employment or group health plan ends . You can sign up for Part B anytime during that period and your coverage will begin the month after you sign up .

Special rule for Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans. You have only two months after the month your employment or group health plan ends to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan . You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan starting three months before your Medicare Part B enrollment is due to take effect up to the day before your Part B coverage startsâbut again, enrollment must take place within two months of your employment or group health plan ending.

When coverage begins. If you sign up for Part B while you are still covered by a group health plan, or during the first full month that you no longer have this coverage, your Part B coverage will begin the first day of the month you sign up. But you can choose, instead, to have your coverage begin with any of the following three months.

Apply For Financial Assistance To Make Medicare More Affordable

If you have a low income and are concerned about costs, you can also apply to see if youre eligible for financial assistance.

Applications for financial assistance programs are not automatically included when you apply for Medicare coverage. This means that many people are paying more for Medicare coverage than they need to.

Its estimated that about 30% to 45% of those who are eligible for these programs never apply for the benefits.

For programs administered by the state, the income limits and asset requirements vary. So after applying for Medicare, we recommend checking with your state for the exact eligibility requirements that apply to you.

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