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Medicare

As hard as it is to believe, we are nearing Medicare eligibility. One of my responsibilities at my job is to assist people with getting there Medicare/Medicare Supplemental/Rx benefits. I hope the information I post on this page will be helpful. Medicare benefits and laws are constantly changing. I will try and keep it current & simple.

www.medicare.gov

Medicare is health insurance offered by the federal government to people who are 65 or older and meet the eligibility requirements.

Initial Enrollment

When you turn 65 years old, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B if you are receiving benefits from Social Security or from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

If you are age 65 and you are not yet getting Social Security or RRB benefits yet (because you’re still working), you won’t get Part A and Part B automatically: you need to sign up for them. You may initially enroll in a Medicare plan any time from 3 months before to 3 months after your 65th birthday. For example, if you turn 65 years old on June 20, you may enroll in a Medicare plan anytime between March 20 and Sept 20.

Medicare is effective the month you turn 65. If your 65th birthday were June 20, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be June 1, 2010. (If your birthday is on the 1st day of any month, Medicare Part A and Part B will be effective the 1st day of the prior month. For example, if your 65th birthday were June 1, 2010, your Medicare effective date would be May 1, 2010.)

Medicare has four parts:

• Medicare Part A is the original Medicare insurance coverage and helps pay for hospital bills. It is the only part that is automatically covered, and for most people has no monthly cost.

• Medicare Part B is a supplemental insurance option for people who qualify for Medicare. It pays for physician services and supplies outside of the hospital. You must sign up for Medicare Part B and pay a monthly premium, and yearly deductible. The cost for the premium is deducted from your Social Security check. For approved services and supplies, you are responsible for a 20 percent co-pay. The premium cost increases each January. If you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible, you may have to permanently pay a higher monthly premium.

• Medicare Part C or, Medicare Advantage Plans (like HMOs and PPOs) are private health plans that are Medicare approved. Medicare Advantage Plans can save you money, since out-of-pocket costs in these plans are generally lower than with Medicare alone. However, your cost will vary by the services you use and the type of policy you purchase.

• Medicare Part D is the newest addition to Medicare. It is prescription drug coverage. You must be enrolled in Medicare before you can apply for Part D coverage. It may help you lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future. Private companies provide the coverage. You choose the drug plan (there are many from which to choose) and pay a monthly premium. If you decide not to enroll in a drug plan when first eligible, you may have to pay a penalty, if you join later.