Quick tips to help you properly enroll in Medicare

Here are your Quick tips to help you properly enroll in Medicare

Are you eligible for Medicare? Your quick tips to enroll in Medicare. Medicare enrollees are eligible to enroll for a specific seven-month period unless otherwise authorized due to an event such as becoming disabled. In the seven-month period, enrollees can sign up during the three months before their 65th birth month, during their birthday month or the three months immediately following their birth month. Coverage will always be effective on the first of your birth month regardless of where your birthday falls on that month. So for example, if your birthday is June 30th, your Medicare policy will start on June 1. Websites such as Medicare.gov can help you calculate when you are eligible to enroll and can help you estimate how much your premium amount will be.

Learn if  you have to sign up for will be enrolled in Medicare automatically

• Medicare has two sections, Part, A which pays for some hospital charges and Part B, which pays for some medical charges including physician charges. As a taxpaying U.S. citizen, you are automatically enrolled your Medicare Part A only, and a card will be mailed to you in the three months leading up to your 65th birthday.
• You will need to manually sign up for Medicare Parts A & B if:
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease and so qualify for Medicare and therefore may qualify at a younger age or are considered disabled by Social Security Laws

Decide How You Want Your Medicare Coverage 

• In addition to Medicare Part D which provides prescription drug coverage, there are two other Medicare parts: Parts A & B (original Medicare) and Part C which are Medicare Supplemental or Medicare Advantage plans. To help you decide what is the best choice for you, discuss your options with a licensed experienced insurance broker. They can offer you free assistance and information about the various Medicare programs and can help you make an informed decision.

Complete your Initial Enrollment Questionnaire

• Three months leading up to your Medicare coverage going into effect, you will receive your Initial Enrollment Questionnaire (IEQ) in the mail. This questionnaire asks for details pertaining to your current medical coverage such as Group Insurance through an employer, workers comp or liability insurance that may pay out before Medicare. This form can also be completed at MyMedicare.gov

How Will Medicare Work with Your other Insurance?

When you have more than one insurance policy, your benefits are coordinated and it is determined which policy or “payer” pays your claims first and then sends the remainder to your secondary policy. What does this mean for you? What this means is that your insurance that pays first, your primary payer, will pay up to the limits of its coverage and if there is a remaining balance it is then sent to the secondary payor. However, your secondary payer (which may be Medicare) may not pay the remaining balance. Depending on your primary policy, say if it is employer-based insurance, you may need to enroll in Medicare Part B before your primary will make any payments on claims.

I have Retiree Medical Coverage from a former Employer, Who Pays my Claims first?

If you are retired and have retiree coverage, generally your Medicare plan is your first payor, then your group health plan pays second. How much it pays differs from plan to plan and if you are able to maintain group coverage after retirement, it is important to find out how your specific plans will work with your Medicare coverage. Yes, this is all very complex and another reminder to talk with a properly licensed agent or broker.  Feel free to take advantage of my Free Consultations on Medicare by calling me at 877-549-1212. Helping folks understand and navigate Medicare for over 29 years.  Tracy McManamon on Google+