How Long Does It Take For Your Medicare Application To Be Approved
Your Medicare application can take as little as a few weeks to be approved, and you can check your online account to find out the status of your application. However, the timing of when your coverage begins depends on when you apply. Most people will have their Part A and B coverage start on the first day of the month they turn 65. But if you apply during your birthday month or the three months after, your Medicare Part B benefits could begin one to three months after your application.
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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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.
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 for Part B and pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.
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When Youre Ready Contact Social Security To Sign Up:
- Apply online This is the easiest and fastest way to sign up and get any financial help you may need. Youll need to create your secure my Social Security account to sign up for Medicare or apply for Social Security benefits online.
- Contact your local Social Security office.
- If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.
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If You Are Under Age 65 And Disabled:
If you are under age 65 and disabled, and have been entitled to disability benefits under Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for 24 months, you will be automatically entitled to Medicare Part A and Part B beginning the 25th month of disability benefit entitlement. You will not need to do anything to enroll in Medicare. Your Medicare card will be mailed to you about 3 months before your Medicare entitlement date. , you get your Medicare benefits the first month you get disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.) For more information about enrollment, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit the Social Security web site. See also Social Security’s Medicare FAQs.
For more information, see Medicare.gov
When Should I Enroll
There is a seven-month period when you can first enroll in Medicare. Its called the Initial Enrollment Period and it happens three months before the month you turn age 65, the month of your 65th birthday and the three months after. If your birthday is on the 1st of the month, your coverage can begin on the first day of the previous month.
If you are disabled and under age 65, there is a seven-month period surrounding the 25th month you begin receiving Social Security Disability payments. Enrollment time frames are different for people who become eligible because of end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrigs Disease .
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It Pays To Enroll On Time
If you miss your initial enrollment window to sign up for Medicare, you can do so later on. But know this: For each 12-month period youre eligible for coverage but dont apply, youll risk a 10% surcharge on your Part B premiums.
If youre still working during your initial enrollment period and have group health coverage, youll get a special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare later on, and you wont have to worry about that penalty. But otherwise, enrolling on time can not only save you money, but ensure that you have coverage when you need it.
Maurie Backman has been writing professionally for well over a decade, and her coverage area runs the gamut from healthcare to personal finance to career advice. Much of her writing these days revolves around retirement and its various components and challenges, including healthcare, Medicare, Social Security, and money management.
Canceling Part B Because You Got A Job With Insurance
If you have had Part B for a while but no longer need it because youve rejoined the workforce with access to employer-sponsored health insurance, congratulations! But before you drop Part B, find out if your jobs coverage is primary or secondary to Medicare.
A primary payer health plan pays before Medicare. That means your employer-provided health plan will cover its share of your health care costs first, and if theres anything left over that Medicare covers, Medicare will pay what remains.
Conversely, a secondary payer health plan covers only costs left over after Medicare covers its share.
If your health plan at work is a primary payer, thats great. Feel free to drop your Part B coverage if you wish. The Part B premiums might not be worth any additional coverage you receive. But if you have secondary-payer insurance at work, its usually better to keep Part B, or you could get stuck paying Medicares share of your health care expenses.
Talk to your human resources department at work to find out if your employer-sponsored plan is primary or secondary to Medicare. Generally, businesses with 20 or fewer employees have secondary payer plans, while larger companies have primary payer plans.
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How Do I Sign Up For Medicare Part B If I Already Have Part A
If you are already enrolled in Medicare Part A and you would like to enroll in Part B under the Special Enrollment Period , you can apply online at Apply for Medicare Part B Online during a Special Enrollment Period. You can upload your application and documents that verify your group health plan coverage through your employer.
You can also fax or mail your completed CMS-40B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare Part B and the CMS-L564, Request for Employment Information enrollment forms and evidence of employment to your local Social Security office. If you have questions, please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 .
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 your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion as best as you can on behalf of your employer without your employer’s signature.
- Also submit one of the following forms of secondary evidence:
- Income tax returns that show 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.
Cost Savings And Other Benefits
In addition to covering the cost of medical services, Medicare Part B can also help you save money. According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, people with Medicare Part B spend an average of $1,964 less per year on health care than those without coverage. In addition, Medicare Part B can help protect you from unexpected medical costs and give you peace of mind.
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By Step Instructions For Filling Out This Application
How Do I Enroll In A Prescription Drug Plan
The 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.
For assistance with Part D plan comparisons and enrollments, please call our team of Medicare specialists at 1-855-408-1212 or you may log onto MyMedicare.gov to shop for prescription drug plans available in your area.
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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Medicare Part B Premiums
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the Medicare Part B premium amount. CalPERS sets the standard Medicare Part B premium reimbursement amount on January 1 based on the amount determined by the CMS. According to the CMS, most Medicare beneficiaries will pay the standard Medicare Part B premium amount.
However, if your Modified Adjusted Gross Income as reported on your IRS tax return is above the set threshold established by the CMS, youll pay the standard Medicare Part B premium amount plus an additional Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount . If youre required to pay an IRMAA, youll receive a notice from the Social Security Administration advising you of your Medicare Part B premium cost for the following calendar year, and how the cost is calculated.
You may defer Medicare Part B enrollment because you are still working. Contact the SSA at 772-1213 to defer. This will ensure that you avoid a late enrollment penalty when you decide to retire and enroll in Medicare Part B upon retirement.
If you choose to enroll in Medicare Part B while still actively working, youll remain in a CalPERS Basic health benefits plan and your CalPERS Employer Group Health Plan will be the primary payer, and Medicare becomes the secondary payer.
Resolving Errors In Your Application
If you find errors or discrepancies in your application, you can contact the Social Security Administration to resolve them. You will need to provide documentation to prove your identity and correct any errors. According to the National Council on Aging, If errors are found after your initial application has been processed, you will receive a notice asking you to provide evidence of identity.
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General Tips For Working Members Age 65 And Older
Four months before your 65th birth month you will receive a letter from CalPERS titled Important Information Concerning Health Coverage at Age 65. This notice contains information regarding the CalPERS Medicare enrollment requirements. We encourage you to carefully review and save this letter for future reference.
We recommend you also review and save all mail received from the Social Security Administration , as it will contain valuable information regarding your Medicare enrollment. You may remain enrolled in a CalPERS Basic health benefits plan until retirement. When you retire, you’ll no longer be eligible to remain in a CalPERS Basic health plan if you are eligible for Medicare Part A at no cost.
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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.
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Sign Up: Within 8 Months After You Or Your Spouse Stop Working
- Most people dont have to pay a premium for Part A . So, you may want to sign up for Part A when you turn 65, even if you or your spouse are still working.
- 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 for as long as you have Part B. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. How much is the Part B late enrollment penalty?
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Can I Decline Medicare Altogether
Medicare isnt exactly mandatory, but it can be complicated to decline. Late enrollment comes with penalties, and some parts of the program are optional to add, like Medicare parts C and D. Medicare parts A and B are the foundation of Medicare, though, and to decline these comes with consequences.
The Social Security Administration oversees the Medicare program and recommends signing up for Medicare when you are initially eligible, even if you dont plan to retire or use your benefits right away. The exception is when you are still participating in an employer-based health plan, in which case you can sign up for Medicare late, usually without penalty.
While you can decline Medicare altogether, Part A at the very least is premium-free for most people, and wont cost you anything if you elect not to use it. Declining your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits completely is possible, but you are required to withdraw from all of your monthly benefits to do so. This means you can no longer receive Social Security or RRB benefits and must repay anything you have already received when you withdraw from the program.
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What if I dont enroll in Medicare Part B when I am first eligible?
A penalty will be assessed to your Medicare Part B premium if you do enroll after your initial 7-month Part B enrollment period and do not have other creditable coverage through an employer or union. The penalty could be as much as 10% for each full 12-month period you did not have Part B and were eligible.
Additionally, if you do not sign up for Medicare Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period and you do not have a Special Enrollment Period due to loss of group coverage, you will have to wait until the General Enrollment Period to enroll in Part B. This period occurs from January 1st to March 31st, and your coverage benefits will start on July 1st of that year.
Am I eligible for Part B benefits if I have coverage through the Veterans Administration?
Medicare and the VA do not work together, but an individual can choose to use either for different health care needs. If you have VA benefits and do not enroll for Part B during your initial enrollment period, you may be assessed the Part B premium penalty if you decide to enroll for Part B at a later date.
Get the benefits you deserve when you turn 65 by enrolling in Medicare. To find out more information about enrolling in Medicare Part B, take a look at our Medicare Part B Enrollment Guide.
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