Your Important Medicare Benefits

Turning 65 soon?  Here is your guide to Your Important Medicare Benefits.

Time to start thinking about enrolling in Medicare, it is important to carefully consider any steps you take when going through the process. Simple mistakes made when enrolling can lock you out of certain types of coverage down the road and cost you thousands in additional premiums and out-of-pocket costs over your lifetime. To help you through the process, here are the most important do’s and don’ts for Medicare enrollment. Your Important Medicare Benefits.

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Sign up for Medicare before you turn 65

Some enrollees are automatically signed up for Medicare Part A, and if you are one of these, you will receive your Medicare card in the mail about three months before your 65^th birthday. However, you may not because you aren’t getting Social Security or Rail Road Retirement Benefits, or have End-Stage Renal Disease. If this is the case then it is strongly encouraged that you sign up in the three months preceding your 65^th birthday.

While you have seven months to initially enroll, three before your birthday month, your birthday month and the three following, not all these months are created equal. If you sign up before your 65^th birthday, your Medicare coverage will begin on the first of your birthday month. If you sign up during your birthday month your coverage will begin on the first of the following month. However, if you choose to not sign up until the three months following your birthday you will face lengthy delays to the beginning of your coverage. For example, if your birthday is in June but you do not sign up until October, you may have to wait until December for your coverage to begin and/or you could be subject to underwriting.

Don’t Delay Signing up for Medicare Part B

 Delaying signing up for Medicare Part B can be the biggest trap in the Medicare program. Medicare part A which covers some hospital expenses is free to anyone who has paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years or is married to someone who has. Medicare Part B covers some medical care, has a monthly premium, which will cover some of your costs minus prescription drugs. If you choose not to sign up for Medicare Part B in the suggested time frame, you can be hit with a permanent increase in your premium: an additional 10 percent for every year that you could have been signed up but didn’t. Unless you are otherwise instructed by your employer, sign up for Medicare Part B as soon as either you or your spouse stops actively working.

Still confused about all of this..  give me a call at 877-549-1212. I am right here and will gladly help you along the confusing path of Medicare.  I have been helping people navigate and understand Medicare for over 29 years.  My consultations are free.

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