How do i enroll in medicare part a and b

Summary:

You have several options when the time comes for you to enroll in Medicare. For some people, Medicare enrollment is automatic, while for others, it may depend on when and how they become eligible.

What is the process of enrolling in Medicare? – here’s what you need to know

When the time comes for Medicare enrollment, it can feel a little overwhelming trying to decipher what kind of coverage you will need. Here is a breakdown of what each Medicare Part includes so you can find the right coverage for your needs.

What are the 4 types of Medicare?

1. Part A: Hospital coverage (inpatient).
2. Part B: Medical coverage (outpatient) Parts A and B offered together are referred to as Original Medicare.
3. Part C: Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare, offered through private insurance companies. This usually includes additional coverage for prescriptions, vision care, and dental services.
4. Part D: This is a prescription drug plan that can be added onto Original Medicare for prescription drug coverage.

You can enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B in the following ways:

• Online at www.SocialSecurity.gov.
• By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM.
• In person at your local Social Security office.

If you worked at a railroad, enroll in Medicare by contacting the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) at 1-877-772-5772 (TTY users 1-312-751-4701). You can call Monday through Friday, 9AM to 3:30PM, to speak to an RRB representative.

Can I sign up for Medicare plans online?

Enrolling in Medicare coverage options online is generally easy and quick. More and more people are signing up online, according to an eHealth study. According to eHealth’s survey, the majority of enrollees are happy with their Medicare coverage with 88% saying they are “very satisfied” with their plans.

What documents do I need to apply for Medicare?

The documents needed to apply for Medicare include:

• Social Security card
• Your original birth certificate or certified copy
• An alternate form of identification such as immunization records, medical records, insurance records or others in order to prove your age if you don’t have your birth certificate.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. passport, a Naturalization Certificate, a Certificate of Citizenship, or a U.S. consular report of birth if you were born outside of the United States.
• Proof of legal residency if you are not a U.S. citizen, including your Permanent Residency Card (Green Card).
• A record of your service or discharge papers if you had served in the U.S Military before 1968.
• A W-2 or self employment tax information.
• Your Social Security statement or records of your earnings.

Medicare Enrollment Periods – What are the enrollment months for Medicare?

For most people, enrolling in Medicare Part A is automatic. However, there are several instances where you may have to manually enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), the seven-month period that begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your 65th birthday, and ends three months later.

Some situations where you would enroll in Medicare during your initial enrollment include:

Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) – The IEP is for enrolling in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, but you can generally enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare prescription drug plan, or Medicare Supplement insurance plan during this period. The dates for this period depend on when you become eligible for Medicare. The IEP is usually a 7-month window.

General Enrollment Period (GEP):  If you did not enroll during the IEP when you were first eligible, you can enroll during the General Enrollment Period. This is another opportunity to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B, from January 1 – March 31 each year. Keep in mind that you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for Medicare Part A and/or Part B if you did not sign up when you were first eligible.

Medicare Special Enrollment Period: You may choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B when you are first eligible because you are already covered by group medical insurance through an employer or union. If you lose your group insurance, or if you decide you want to switch from your group coverage to Medicare, you can sign up at any time that you are still covered by the group plan or during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

Your eight-month special enrollment period begins either the month that your employment ends or when your group health coverage ends, whichever occurs first. If you enroll during an SEP, you generally do not have to pay a late enrollment penalty. The Special Enrollment Period does not apply if you’re eligible for Medicare because you have ESRD, COBRA, and retiree health coverage. 

Annual Election Period: You can change your coverage in several ways (for example, enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan). It runs October 15 – December 7 annually.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: If you already have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can change plans during this period.

How and when should I start applying for Medicare?

Do I automatically get enrolled in Medicare when I turn 65?

Yes, if you are receiving Railroad Retirement Board or Social Security benefits the Social Security Administration will automatically enroll you for Medicare Parts A and B once you turn 65.

Can I get Medicare benefits at age 62?

In short, no. You only qualify for Medicare once you turn 65, unless you have a disability.

When to enroll in Medicare if I am receiving retirement benefits

If you’re already collecting Railroad Retirement Board or Social Security retirement benefits when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance) if you sign up for Medicare Part B at the time you sign up for retirement benefits.

If you live outside of the 50 United States or D.C. (for example, if you live in Puerto Rico), you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A, but will need to manually enroll in Medicare Part B.

When can I enroll in Medicare if I do not qualify for retirement benefits?

If you are not eligible or not receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the RRB, you will not be automatically enrolled into Original Medicare. However, you can still sign up for Medicare Part A and/or Part B during your IEP. You will still have to pay a Medicare Part B premium.

When to enroll in Medicare if I am receiving disability benefits

If you are under 65 and receiving certain disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board, you will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, after 24 months of disability benefits. The exception to this is if you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). If you have ESRD and had a kidney transplant or need regular kidney dialysis, you can apply for Medicare. If you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease), you will automatically be enrolled in Original Medicare in the same month that your disability benefits start.

What is the Medicare Part B late-enrollment penalty?

If you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you are first eligible, you may need to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare. Be aware that, with certain exceptions, there are late-enrollment penalties for not signing up for Medicare when you are first eligible.

How to Sign up for Medicare Advantage: when can I enroll?

Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is another way to receive Original Medicare benefits and is offered through private insurance companies that have contracts with Medicare. At minimum, all Medicare Advantage plans must offer the same Medicare Part A and Part B benefits as Original Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans also include additional benefits, such as prescription drug coverage. You must have Original Medicare, Part A and B, to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan through a private insurer.

You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during two enrollment periods, the Initial Coverage Election Period and Annual Election Period.

What is the Medicare Advantage plan Initial Coverage Election Period?

This enrollment period takes place at the same time as your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), starting three months before you have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and ending on whichever of the following dates falls later:

• The last day of the month before you have both Medicare Part A and Part B, or
• The last day of your Medicare Part B Initial Enrollment Period.

If you’re under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to disability, your IEP will vary depending on when your disability benefits started.

When is the Medicare Advantage plan Annual Election Period?

You can also add, drop, or change your Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Election Period (AEP), which occurs from October 15 to December 7 of every year. During this period, you may:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, and vice versa.
• Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to a different one.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescription drugs, and vice versa.

When is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is a limited annual enrollment period. It goes from January 1 – March 31 every year. During this time, you can:

• Switch Medicare Advantage plans, if you already have a Medicare Advantage plan
• Disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.

Outside of the Annual Election Period and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, you cannot generally make changes to your Medicare Advantage plan unless you qualify for a Special Election Period.

When can I enroll in Medicare prescription drug coverage?

Medicare prescription drug coverage is optional and does not occur automatically. You can receive coverage for prescription drugs by either signing up for a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage, also known as a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, but not both. Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans are available through private insurers.

When is my Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare Part D?

You can enroll in a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan during your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D. You are eligible for prescription drug coverage if:

• You live in a service area covered by the health plan, and
• You have Medicare Part A AND/OR Medicare Part B.

Generally, your Initial Enrollment Period for Part D will occur at the same time as your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare Part B.

Once you are eligible for Medicare Part D, you must either enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan, Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan, or have creditable prescription drug coverage.).

When is the Medicare Part D Annual Election Period?

If you did not enroll in prescription drug coverage during IEP, you can sign up for prescription drug coverage during the Annual Election Period (AEP) that runs every year from October 15 to December 7.

During AEP, you can:

• Sign up for a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Drop a Medicare prescription drug plan.
• Join a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.
• Switch from a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan that does (and vice versa).

How to sign up for Medicare Supplement insurance plans: when can I enroll?

Medicare Supplement insurance plans (or Medigap) are voluntary, additional coverage that helps fill the gaps in coverage for Original Medicare. The best time to enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan is during your individual Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which is the six-month period that begins on the first day of the month you turn 65 and have Medicare Part B. If you decide to delay your enrollment in Medicare Part B for certain reasons such as having health coverage based on current employment, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period will not begin until you sign up for Part B.

Medigap plans are offered through private insurance companies, and are available for purchase through brokers like eHealth Insurance Services, Inc., and it is helpful to explore and learn more about these options.

Do you have more questions? Connect with any of our licensed insurance agents to discuss a Medicare plan that may be right for you.

*The online enrollment figures included in this report are based on submitted applications for MA and Medigap products during the fourth quarter (October through December) of 2017 and 2018. This includes the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which ran from October 1 through December 7 in both years. Unless otherwise noted, “MA” and “Medicare Advantage” are used in this report to refer to all Medicare Advantage products, including those that offer prescription drug coverage (elsewhere referred to as “MAPD plans”).

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