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.
How Else Can I Contact Medicare
You can mail your questions or hard copies of documents to:
Medicare Contact Center Operations Lawrence, KS 66044
Or fax Medicare at 1-844-530-3676.
Medicare also has a live chat service that you can use to seek help or information in a text format online. This service is available 24/7.
Currently, Medicare does not offer an email option for general information and questions.
To request information in an accessible format call 1-877-486-2048 or email Medicare at .
Can You Explain How To Sign Up For Medicare
Many people are enrolled automaticallythey dont have to do anything but look for their red, white, and blue Medicare cards to arrive in the mail. If you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits before your 65th birthday, youll most likely be automatically enrolled.
If youre still working, or youve postponed your Social Security benefits, youll have to sign up for Medicare, either online at the Social Security website or by visiting your local Social Security office. Youll also have to manually apply if youre under age 65 and have a disability or ESRD.
Most people enroll in premium-free Part A as soon as they become eligible, but you may decide to delay your enrollment in Part B, especially if you have group health insurance through your own or a spouses employer. If youre retired and get health benefits from TRICARE or the VA, youll need to enroll in both Part A and Part B when youre first eligible to keep your existing benefits.
If you live in Puerto Rico and get Social Security benefits, youll automatically be enrolled in Part A on your 65th birthday, but youll need to manually sign up for Part B if you want coverage.
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When Do I Sign Up For Medicare Advantage
Before you sign up for Medicare Advantage, make sure you weigh the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplements. If you choose to sign up for Medicare Advantage, you can do so during your IEP.
If you missed your IEP, you can join during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. For those currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also have another opportunity to make changes during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
Signing Up For Medicare Online Step
Signing up for Medicare online through the Social Security Administration is the fastest way to apply.
Enrollment takes less than 10 minutes online, according to the Social Security Administration.
How to Apply for Medicare Online
You will be asked to provide your current health insurance information or, if you receive Medicaid benefits, your Medicaid number.
You may be required to provide additional documentation if you are:
- Not a U.S. citizen
- Applying under your spouses work record
- Over age 65 and transitioning from your employers health coverage
After youre enrolled, CMS will send you a welcome packet in the mail along with your Medicare card.
If you sign up for Medicare on your own, the packet should arrive about two weeks after you sign up.
You will also receive a Medicare & You handbook, which includes important information about your coverage.
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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.
Do Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans Renew Automatically
Yes, coverage is guaranteed renewable on an automatic basis as long as premium payments are maintained. Again, it is important to look into multiple polices and providers when it comes to Medicare Supplement coverage, as policies and rules can vary among states and providers.
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Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealths Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage. Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.
NEW TO MEDICARE?
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Medigap Plan C And Plan F Changed In 2020
A slight but important change was made to the selection of standardized 2020 Medigap plans available in most states.
Plan C and Plan F are no longer available to new Medicare beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020.
If you were already eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you may still purchase Plan C or Plan F in 2020 and beyond if either plan is available where you live.
But anyone who became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020, will not be allowed to enroll in either of those two plans.
Anyone currently enrolled in Plan C or Plan F will be allowed to keep their plan going forward.
This 2020 Medigap plans change comes as a result of federal legislation that prohibits full coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible. Plan C and Plan F are the only standardized Medigap plans that provide this benefit.
Ask: Have My Health Care Needs Changed
Things change in life, and some changes may affect the kind or amount of health care you need. For example:
- A new diagnosis might mean more doctor visits or new medications
- An advancing illness may increase the number or length of hospital stays or require home care
- Additional medications may be needed to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis or heart disease
- Maybe you have a planned surgery coming up.
Examples like these can help get you thinking, but whats important is to look carefully at your health care needs past, present and, as much as possible, future. Only then can you choose the type of coverage and specific plans that may best meet your personal needs.
Once you have a good handle on your health care needs, its time to look at your current coverage.
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When Do I Have To Sign Up For Medicare
If youre collecting Social Security, youll automatically be enrolled in both Part A and Part B. If youre not receiving Social Security, then youll want to sign up manually during your Initial Enrollment Period.
Three months before your 65th birthday, your Initial Enrollment Period window will start. Your IEP is a once-in-a-lifetime enrollment window that you dont want to miss.
If you do happen to miss it, youll have another opportunity to enroll during another enrollment period. However, you could get a penalty for not signing up when you first become eligible. The only way around the penalty is if you have creditable coverage.
When Is The Medicare Advantage Plan Annual Election Period:
You can also add, drop, or change your Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period, which occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year. During this period, you may:
- Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, and vice versa.
- Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different one.
- Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescription drugs, and vice versa.
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Medicare Eligibility If You Have End
You may qualify for Medicare at any age if you have end-stage renal disease , need regular kidney dialysis, or if youve had a kidney transplant. In addition, youll need to be already receiving or eligible for retirement benefits or have worked long enough under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or as a government employee in order to qualify. You can also qualify for Medicare through the work history of your spouse or dependent child.
Certain waiting periods may apply before your Medicare coverage can start. Contact Medicare for more details on eligibility and enrollment if you have end-stage renal disease by calling 1-800-MEDICARE , 24 hours a day, seven days a week .
Where Do I Go To Sign Up For Medicare
You can sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B in person at a Social Security office near you.
You can also enroll online at www.ssa.gov., or you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 .
The Social Security Administration website features a Medicare section that allows you to perform a variety of tasks, including:
- Request a new Medicare cardNew Medicare cards were recently issued to all beneficiaries. You may request a replacement card if yours has been lost or stolen.
- Update your personal informationIf you moved to a new address or changed your name or telephone number, you may update your information online.
- Apply for MedicareYou may enroll in Medicare Part B online or sign up for Medicare Part A .
- Manage your benefitsUse the online portal to check on your applications and appeals, report your wages, check your earnings, set up direct deposit for your benefits payments and more.
The official U.S. government website for Medicare is Medicare.gov. Here you can do a number of things, including:
- Learn about your Medicare coverage options and when you can enroll
- Find out how to get prescription drug coverage
- Find ways to get help paying for Medicare
- File claims and appeals and check claim statuses
- Learn about your rights as a Medicare beneficiary
You may also create an account at MyMedicare.gov to monitor a claim status, view records and expenses and more.
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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.
When To Sign Up For Medicare Part B
If youre retiring, the best time to enroll in Part B is during your Initial Enrollment Period. For those still working past 65, check with your health administrators whether your employer coverage is creditable.
If it is, you can enroll in Part B when you retire or leave your group health plan. Youll be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period when you can enroll without any penalties. If your group health plan is not considered creditable coverage, then you should register for Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period.
If you missed your Initial Enrollment Period, the next enrollment window you can enroll in Part A and Part B is the General Enrollment Period.
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When To Sign Up For Medicare
In most cases, youre automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, if youre already receiving retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board before you turn 65. In this situation, your Medicare coverage will automatically start on the first day of the month that you turn 65. If your birthday falls on the first day of the month, youll be automatically enrolled in Medicare on the first day of the month before you turn 65.
Youll generally also be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B if youre receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board for at least two years if you qualify for Medicare because of disability, youll be automatically enrolled in Medicare in the 25th month of disability benefits. If you get Medicare because you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , youll be automatically enrolled in Medicare in the first month that your disability benefits starts you dont need to wait two years in this case.
You can expect to get your Medicare card in the mail about three months before your 65th birthday or the 25th month of disability benefits if youre automatically enrolled.
If none of the above situations applies to you, youll need to manually sign up for Medicare. This includes:
How To Apply For Medicare In Georgia
To qualify for Medicare, you must be either a United States citizen or a legal permanent resident of at least five continuous years.
You apply for Medicare in Georgia as you would in any state: by visiting your local Social Security Administration office, registering online, or enrolling over the phone.
- Visit the Social Security website.
- If you worked for a railroad, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 , Monday through Friday, 9AM to 3:30PM.
Georgia residents may be enrolled in the program automatically once they reach age 65, provided they already receive benefits through Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board. Disabled residents can be enrolled sooner if they receive Social Security disability benefits, or certain disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, for more than 24 consecutive months.
If youre looking to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan, or Medigap plan, I can help you understand whats available in your part of Georgia. To learn more about me, view my profile below. Or use one of the other links below to set up a phone appointment with me or get a personalized email from me with plan information. Scroll up and click the Compare Plans button on this page.
New To Medicare?
Becoming eligible for Medicare can be daunting. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you understand Medicare in 15 minutes or less.
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How Much Does Medicare Cost
Original Medicare
Original Medicare is divided into Part A and Part B .
- Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital care, some skilled nursing care, home health care and hospice care.
- Part B helps pay for doctor services, outpatient hospital care, durable medical equipment, home health care not covered by Part A, and other services.Medicare was never intended to pay 100% of medical bills. Its purpose is to help pay a portion of medical expenses. Medicare beneficiaries also pay a portion of their medical expenses, which includes deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by Medicare.The amounts of deductibles and copayments change at the beginning of each year.
Part A – Monthly Premium
If you are eligible, Part A is free because you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while you were working. You earn Social Security “credits” as you work and pay taxes. For each year that you work, you earn 4 credits.
| $458 | $471 |
You are 65 or older, and you receive or are eligible to receive full benefits fr om Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board
You are under 65, and you have received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months You are under 65, and you have received Railroad Retirement disability benefits and you meet Social Security disability requirements You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment You are under 65 and have End-Stage Renal Disease
Ask: What Benefits Did My Plan Not Have That I Want To Have
Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans may change costs and coverage from year to year. You may have lost benefits you loved and thats why youre shopping around. Or, you may have never had them in the past and you want them now. In either case, make a list of the health benefits you want such as dental, vision or hearing coverage. Once you have your list, now you know what kind of plan you should look at and what benefits it must have.
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