Where Can I Go To Apply For Medicare

If You Disagree With Our Decision

How to Apply for Medicare Step by Step ð

If you disagree with the decision we made about your income-related monthly adjustment amounts, you have the right to appeal. The fastest and easiest way to file an appeal of your decision is online. You can file online and provide documents electronically to support your appeal. You can file an appeal online even if you live outside of the United States.

You may also request an appeal in writing by completing a Request for Reconsideration , or you may contact your local Social Security office to file your appeal. You can use the appeal form online, or request a copy through our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 . You dont need to file an appeal if youre requesting a new decision because you experienced one of the events listed and, it made your income go down, or if youve shown us the information we used is wrong.

If you disagree with the MAGI amount we received from the IRS, you must correct the information with the IRS. If we determine you must pay a higher amount for Medicare prescription drug coverage, and you dont have this coverage, you must call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-MEDICARE to make a correction. Social Security receives the information about your prescription drug coverage from CMS.

When Do I Get My Medicare Card

In most circumstances, youll get a Medicare I.D. card several weeks after your initial application. However, waiting times can be up to 90 days. If you are automatically enrolled in Medicare because you already get Social Security benefits, you will receive your I.D. card two months before turning 65.

You Automatically Get Medicare

You should already have Part A and Part B , because you have ALS and youre already getting disability benefits.

We mailed you a welcome package with your Medicare card.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.

Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card 3 months before your Medicare coverage starts.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.You get Part A automatically. If you want Part B, you need to sign up for it. If you dont sign up for Part B within 3 months after your Part A starts, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card 3 months before your Medicare coverage starts.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.You get Part A automatically. If you want Part B, you need to sign up for it. If you dont sign up for Part B within 3 months of turning 65, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

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When Is My Initial Enrollment Period For Medicare Part D

You can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan during your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D. You are eligible for prescription drug coverage if:

You live in a service area covered by the health plan, and

You have Medicare Part A AND/OR Medicare Part B.

Generally, your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D will occur at the same time as your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B .

Once you are eligible for Medicare Part D, you must either enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, or have creditable prescription drug coverage . Some people may choose to delay Medicare Part D enrollment if they already have creditable prescription drug coverage through an employer group plan.

However, if you do not sign up for prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible for Part D, you may have to pay a late-enrollment penalty for signing up later if you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for 63 or more consecutive days.

You Automatically Get Medicare When You Turn 65

Well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card 3 months before your Medicare coverage starts.

Sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.You get Part A automatically. If you want Part B, you need to sign up for it. If you dont sign up for Part B within 3 months of turning 65, you might have to wait to sign up and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.

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Ways To Apply For Disability Benefits:

If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.

Once your disability benefits start, well mail you a welcome package with your Medicare card.

Do I Need Other Documents If Im Enrolling In A Specific Part Of Medicare

Youll need to provide the documents listed above when you enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B . Together, parts A and B are known as original Medicare.

Youll need to enroll in original Medicare before you can enroll in any other Medicare parts. Other parts of Medicare include:

Medicare Part D, which is prescription drug coverage
Medicare supplement insurance, also called Medigap

You shouldnt need to submit any additional documentation when you enroll in these other parts.

Youll just be asked to provide your Medicare number and your Medicare Part A start date. You can find your Medicare number and Part A start date on your Medicare card.

You can get new copies of any documents you no longer have. Its a good idea to start gathering documents before you apply for Medicare.

If you need new copies of any documents, you can follow the steps below.

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When To Apply For Medicare

Medicare is separate from your application for Social Security income benefits. People age into Medicare at age 65, regardless of whether they are taking retirement income benefits yet. If you are a citizen age 65 or older and need medical insurance, you are entitled to enroll in Medicare. You can also qualify for Medicare early due to certain disabilities, having Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis , or End-Stage Renal disease and need a transplant or on dialysis.

Dont expect that Medicare will notify you of when its time to sign-up either. This can be especially important for those who live out of the country.

If you are already taking Social Security income benefits or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B at age 65. Your card should arrive 1-2 months before you turn 65. This timeframe also applies to those who qualify early due to disability. However, you will not automatically receive Part B benefits if you live in Puerto Rico. This means you will need to apply for Part B even if you receive Social Security benefits before age 65.

If you are NOT yet taking retirement benefits, then you will need to submit a Medicare application yourself. The government expects for you to know when to enroll. Lets look at the timeline for when and how to register for Medicare.

Do You Need To Apply For Medicare

Do I Have to Apply for Medicare?

Most people do need to apply for Medicare. But if you reach age 65 and youre already receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, youll be signed up for Medicare Part A and Part B automatically.

And if you arent receiving retirement benefits and you dont have health coverage through an employer, you will need to apply for Medicare as you approach age 65. If you need to apply, Medicare gives you several options.

Where Do You Go To Apply For Medicare

You apply for Medicare through the U.S. Social Security Administration. You can do this online, by telephone or at your local Social Security office.

The Social Security Administration can only enroll you in Original Medicare Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and Medigap plans are sold through private insurers.

But the Social Security Administration can help with other services through the Medicare benefits section on its website.

Medicare Services Available Through the Social Security Administration

Apply for Medicare Part A
Apply for Medicare Part B
Request a replacement Medicare card if yours is lost or stolen

Update address, phone number or other personal information

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.

Should I Use A Rapid At

The two main types of COVID-19 tests are rapid antigen tests and PCR tests. Antigen tests can be taken at home and return results in about 10 or 15 minutes. PCR tests are more accurate but require lab work and generally don’t provide results for at least 12 hours or even up to 5 days.

Both tests typically use nasal swab samples, though some collect saliva: PCR tests administered by a professional may require a nasopharyngeal sample that involves a much deeper nostril swab. Rapid antigen tests usually require swirling a swab in the nostril less than an inch deep.

PCR tests amplify genetic material from the collected sample up to a billion times to detect even the slightest amount of COVID-19 genes, making them highly accurate. They’re also more expensive, usually costing more than $100 apiece.

Rapid antigen tests simply detect the presence of COVID-19 antigens — the substances that prompt your immune system to create antibodies — and work much like home pregnancy tests. If your sample contains COVID-19 antigens, the thin line of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on the test strip will change color.

Because rapid tests are simply looking for the existence of antigens, they work best when someone is symptomatic. Rapid antigen tests are less successful with early infections and asymptomatic cases. The risk of a false negative is much higher with a rapid test than a false positive.

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period

How to Apply For Medicare Without Going to the Social ...

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.

Read more info in our Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Guide.

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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?

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.

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If You Already Receive Benefits From Social Security:

If you already get benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you are automatically entitled to Medicare Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn age 65. You will not need to do anything to enroll. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your 65th birthday. If your 65th birthday is February 20, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be February 1, 2010.

How Do I Apply For Medicare Advantage

How To Apply For Medicare Online 2020 (Step by Step)

Medicare Advantage plans provide the same benefits as Original Medicare, and many plans may offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesnt cover.

If you are eligible for Original Medicare, you may also be eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan. To find out more about your eligibility and to compare plans that are available where you live, call to speak with a licensed insurance agent today.

You can also compare plans online for free, with no obligation to enroll.

Find Medicare Advantage plans in your area

What If I Cant Get Copies

You should submit your application even if you dont have copies of some of these documents. Social Security might be able to help you track them down.

In fact, Social Security can often request copies and verification from your states Bureau of Vital Statistics. If not, it can help you get the forms you need in order to get the documents yourself.

The way you enroll in Medicare depends on which parts of Medicare you choose. There are different methods for enrolling in original Medicare as opposed to Medicare Advantage , Medigap, and Part D plans.

What Can I Do Next

Part B

Generally, youre first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65.

Because the company has less than 20 employees, your job-based coverage might not pay for health services if you dont have both Part A and Part B.

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What Should I Do If I Test Positive For Covid

If you take an at-home test and it’s positive for COVID-19, it’s recommended that you share the results with your medical provider and local health department. Methods of reporting self-tests to health departments vary wildly, though: Some have online forms, others require email and still others use phone reporting. Check your local health department website for specific info on how to report a positive result.

After receiving a positive test result, you should isolate for at least five days — longer if you’re symptomatic — according to the CDC. Though the risk of false positives from rapid tests is low, most medical experts and health officials still recommend confirming a positive at-home test with a subsequent PCR test.

For more information, here’s the latest on the federal vaccine mandate and everything you need to know about the Moderna booster shot.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Signing Up For Original Medicare

If you dont meet the requirements for automatic Medicare enrollment, you can apply for Medicare online, in person, or by phone.

To sign up, youll need a few important documents:

Your birth certificate, or other proof of birth

Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residence
Social Security card if youre already drawing benefits
Your current health insurance information

Employment information, if applicable
U.S. military discharge papers

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Signing Up For Medicare

Follow the steps below if you need to actively enroll in Medicare.

If you decide to enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up for Parts A and/or B by:

Visiting your local Social Security office
Mailing a signed and dated letter to Social Security that includes your name, Social Security number, and the date you would like to be enrolled in Medicare

Or, by applying online at www.ssa.gov

If you are eligible for Railroad Retirement benefits, enroll in Medicare by calling the Railroad Retirement Board or contacting your local RRB field office.

Keep proof of when you tried to enroll in Medicare, to protect yourself from incurring a Part B premium penalty if your application is lost.

Take down the names of any representatives you speak to, along with the time and date of the conversation.
If you enroll through the mail, use certified mail and request a return receipt.
If you enroll at your local Social Security office, ask for a written receipt.

If you apply online, print out and save your confirmation page.

How Do I Check On My Online Medicare Application

You can check on the status of your Medicare application at any time using your My Social Security account. You can use the confirmation number you received when you submitted your application.

Youll be able to see when your application has been received, is processing, and is approved. You can also call Social Security at 800-722-1213 to check on your status.

Youll receive a decision letter in the mail when Social Security is done processing your application.

Youll also receive your Medicare card in the mail, as long as your application was approved. It generally takes less than a month from the time you apply to the time you receive your card in the mail.

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