Medicare is a health insurance program for American citizens age 65 years or older. Most people who paid into Medicare during their employment years are eligible to receive social security retirement benefits, and are therefore, automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they turn 65 years old. While signing up for Medicare Part B is an individual's choice, delaying enrollment can cost you more money in premiums when you do finally sign up. Therefore, it is important to understand the guidelines governing eligibility requirements and enrollment.
Instructions
1. Apply for Medicare and social security benefits at the same time. Call or visit your local Social Security Office (see Resources below) at least 3 months before the month in which you will turn age 65 years. If you wait until after your 65th birthday to apply, your Medicare Part B coverage start date will be delayed.
2. Submit an application online (see Resources below). Depending on your answers to certain questions, you may be able to sign up for both Medicare and social security retirement benefits online. Among the criteria to qualify you to apply online, you must be at least 61 years and 9 months old when you apply and agree to receive your social security benefits by direct deposit.
3. Sign up for Medicare Part B during the general enrollment period if you did not enroll when you first became eligible. The enrollment period begins January 1 and runs until March 31 of each year. Understand that even after you enroll, coverage will not begin until July 1.
4. Find out if you can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B without having to pay a penalty. You may qualify to enroll during the special enrollment period if you or your spouse were still working when you first qualified and were covered by an employer or union group health plan. If you sign up after you are no longer actively employed or during the 8 months following the month after your health insurance coverage has been terminated, Medicare coverage usually begins the month after you enroll. Again, if you fail to enroll during the special enrollment period once you qualify, you will have to wait until the next general enrollment period to sign up, and you may have to pay a higher premium.
5. Reestablish U.S. residency. If you are a U.S. citizen over the age of 65 years who is "not eligible" to receive social security benefits but who lived out of the country at the time you turned age 65 years, you must now reside in the United States in order to enroll in Medicare Part B. You will become eligible to sign up for Medicare coverage the month you return to the United States and take up residence. Higher premiums will not apply.
Tags: Medicare Part, enrollment period, social security, security benefits, social security benefits, after enroll
