01.
A: Individuals are eligible for Medicare either when they turn 65 or after they have been collecting Social Security Disability benefits for 24 months. Enrollment is only automatic if you are already collecting Social Security; either retirement benefits or disability benefits.
If you are not collecting Social Security when you become eligible for Medicare, you must enroll through Social Security; either by phone, via the Social Security website or in person at their local Social Security office.
Whether you are automatically enrolled or do so yourself, it only applies to Medicare Parts A and B. If Part D (prescription drug coverage) is desired, you must enroll yourself.
02.
You should apply for Medicare during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is a seven-month period surrounding your 65th birthday. It begins 3 months before you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65 and continues for the following 3 months.
You can also apply during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you did not enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Losing employer coverage is the most common reason for an SEP, but there may be other circumstances allowing enrollment outside of your Initial Enrollment Period.
03.
We proposed that they implement a strategy often called the “working spouse rule” and presented a few different ways they could approach the idea:
04.
The best way to know when your Original Medicare begins is by referring to the letter you received from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Alternatively, you can look for the date on the lower right corner of your Medicare card. The effective dates for other programs, like Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) vary depending on when you enroll and which election period you qualify for.
05.
There may be a time when your health care needs change and you may want to change Medicare plans. When can you do this? Changes in plans can take place at different times, depending on the change you want to make:
During the Annual Election Period - from October 15 through December 7 each year (AEP) you can change Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D Prescription Drug plans. Your new coverage will begin on January 1 of the new year.
During the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period - If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan and would like to change back to Original Medicare, Parts A and B, you are permitted to do so during the OEP, which runs from January 1 through March 31 each year. Additionally, you can enroll in a stand-alone Prescription Drug (Part D) coverage during this period. The effective date of the Part D coverage would be the first day of the month after the new plan receives your enrollment form.
During a Special Election Period - Medicare recognizes that special circumstances may occur that could necessitate a need to change your plans. As such, you may be able to change plans if:
The dates and types of changes that can be made vary so be sure to check for details.
06.
Medical underwriting is the concept that describes a process where an insurance company reviews your past medical history to determine your level of medical risk. If you are enrolled in Original Medicare and would like to add a Supplement (Medigap) plan, medical underwriting may be required, depending on when you enroll. The private insurance companies that provide Medigap Plans cannot require medical underwriting if you enroll during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This means you are guaranteed acceptance into the program.
However, if you apply for a Medigap Plan outside your Open Enrollment Period, the insurance carrier may require medical underwriting. As a result of the information obtained through the underwriting process, the carrier can decide if they would like to offer you coverage, the premium they will charge you and whether they want to cover your pre-existing conditions.
01.
Most people going on to Medicare would prefer to keep the doctor they’ve been using, especially if they have a long history with that doctor. However not all doctors accept Medicare assignment, so it is important to find out whether or not they do. Using a doctor that accepts Medicare assignment will generally save you out-of-pocket expenses.
Medicare.gov has a physician compare tool that you can use to find out if your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. Also, if you are looking for a new doctor that accepts Medicare assignment, you can use this tool to find a doctor in your area.
02.
Generally speaking, your out-of-pocket expenses will be less if your doctor accepts Medicare assignment. Situations regarding Medicare assignment generally fall into one of the following categories:
03.
Medicare premiums are tax deductible as a portion of your medical expenses. If the total of your medical expenses in any given year exceeds 10% of your gross income, you can deduct them. Always consult with a tax professional for guidance, however, before deducting any medical expenses.
04.
Low-income individuals can receive some assistance with out-of-pocket expenses if they qualify for one of four Medicare Savings Programs. The four types of programs are:
Benefits of each program vary, but all of them except the QDWI Program help pay for Medicare Part B premiums. Additionally, eligibility for some of these programs also automatically qualifies you for the Extra Help Program, which helps enrollees save on the cost of prescription drugs.
For more information about these programs or to apply for one of the programs, check the Medicare website or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
01.
Medicare Parts A and B won’t cover all your medical expenses and as a result, many people might desire additional coverage to fill in the gaps. Both Medigap and Medicare Advantage are good options offered by private companies but it’s important to understand the differences.
Medigap (also known as Medicare Supplement) Plans are designed in a sense to “wrap” around Original Medicare. This means that the Medigap Plan will pay after Medicare Parts A and/or B pays, picking up any applicable copays and deductibles based on the plan you purchase.
Medicare Advantage, on the other hand, is often looked at as a replacement to Original Medicare. If you choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage, you will receive your benefits directly from the plan chosen, not Medicare. Most of these plans will require you to utilize the plan’s network of providers, except for emergency medical situations. Copays may apply to various aspects of the benefit plan.
02.
Currently, there are 10 Standard Medicare Supplement plans, labeled Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. In 1990, Medicare established guidelines that required all plans of the same letter include the same benefits regardless which insurance company is offering them. This holds true for 47 of our 50 U.S. states, as Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin provide their own standardized plans. Please note, however, that insurance companies are not required to offer all the plans and costs are not standardized, so the price you pay for Plan G, for instance, could vary from one insurance company to another.
03.
Many people find it difficult to decide between enrolling in Original Medicare and perhaps a supplement versus Medicare Advantage. It might be helpful to take a look at the pros and cons of a Medicare Advantage plan:
Pros:
Cons:
01.
You can choose to leave your group health plan and enroll in Medicare but your employer cannot require you to do so. Be aware that the rules are different if you are on a retiree health plan from a former employer. They are not required to provide a health plan for former employees.
02.
If you take a job after retirement and would like to take advantage of employer-based coverage, you can cancel your Medicare Part B coverage. If you later retire again, you will be able to obtain Part B coverage again using a Special enrollment period due to loss of employer coverage.
03.
To avoid being imposed with penalties, it is important to understand how Medicare coordinates with COBRA, as it works differently than with active employer coverage. While you are actively at work with a large employer (20 or more employees), your group insurance is primary and Medicare is secondary. With COBRA, Medicare is primary and COBRA is secondary.
As a result, if you are on COBRA coverage through an employer and then become eligible for Medicare, you must enroll in Part A and B during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Your COBRA coverage will usually end when your Medicare coverage begins. If you don’t enroll during your IEP you may incur a lifelong penalty. (This will not affect any dependents you may have, as they can continue on COBRA for up to 3 years provided they are not yet 65 or otherwise eligible for Medicare.)
If you are actively at work past the age of 65 and decide to retire at some point, you would be permitted to enroll in COBRA coverage, but you must also enroll in Parts A and B no later than your 8th month on COBRA coverage. This is true even if your COBRA coverage continues beyond that since Medicare will be primary and COBRA secondary. If you don’t enroll in Medicare you can incur a permanent late enrollment penalty for Part B. Perhaps even more importantly, it could delay your Medicare Part B coverage until July of the following year. An exception exists for anyone with End-Stage Renal Disease. In this scenario, your COBRA coverage will be primary during a special 30-month coordination period between Medicare and COBRA.
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