Medicare Benefits
There are several ways in which someone becomes eligigble fo Medicare.
Enrollment
Most people are eligible for Part A hospital insurance free of charge. If you are not eligible for free Part A coverage, you may enroll in it and pay a monthly premium. Part B medical insurance is available to most people age 65 and older, and everyone covered by Part B pays a monthly premium for it. If you want to enroll in Medicare or have any questions about your eligibility for Medicare, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
If you are already receiving Social Security retirement, dependents or survivors benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits, before you turn age 65, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and will begin receiving benefits on your 65th birthday.
You will also be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, regardless of your age, if you have been receiving Social Security disability benefits for two years. Your monthly premium for Part B will automatically is deducted from your Social Security check. If you do not want to be enrolled in Part B because you are still working or are receiving benefits some other way, you may sign a form declining enrollment in Part B.
When To Enroll
If you are not automatically enrolled in Medicare, you must enroll in both Parts A and B during the initial enrollment period. If you or your husband are covered by a group employer health insurance plan when you turn 65, you can enroll without penalty during the eight months following the earlier of either:
- The termination of your coverage under the group plan, or
- Termination of employment.
You have the right to remain in the group plan and also enroll in Medicare.
(However, if you enroll in Part B, it will trigger the 6 month open enrollment
period under Medigap coverage, described below, which could cause you problems.)
Whether you wish to claim Social Security benefits and Medicare or just Medicare,
you are eligible to apply as early as three months before your 65th birthday.
Signing up early is important because:
- It ensures that your coverage begins as soon as you are eligible — on your 65th birthday.
- If you wait more than three months after your 65th birthday to enroll, you will not be allowed to enroll in Part B until the following January 1, and your eligibility will not begin until July 1 of that year.
Important Reminder: If you wait past the initial enrollment period for Medicare, you will have to pay additional premiums. The enrollment period lasts seven months and begins three months prior to your 65th birthday. If you do not enroll during this seven-month period, you will have to wait to enroll during a general enrollment period, which is January 1st through March 31st of every year. If you miss the deadline, Part A premiums increase by a maximum of 10% no matter when you enroll and Part B premiums increase by 10% each year after the deadline.
