I'll soon be
65 – when can I sign up for MediCare?
This is a common question. When a person looks for information on when it's often confusing or incomplete. So to eliminate the confusion I am pleased to share the rules for those who decided to sign up when 65.
Individuals:
Individuals:
● Are no longer automatically signed up at 65!
● Can
apply in the 3rd, 2nd, or month before 65. MediCare says when 65 is the eligible month. Part A (Hospital) and Part B
(Outpatient) coverage will be effective the first of the eligible month.
● Can
apply during the eligible month. Part B is effective the first of the next
month but A stays the first of the eligible month.
● Can
apply the month after eligible, two months after, and three months after. Part
B will be effective either two or three months after applying. A stays the first of the eligible month and can be as much as six months back from B!
Those are the rules SS follows for when a person can signup at 65.
Let’s now look at how to sign up. An Individual can:
Let’s now look at how to sign up. An Individual can:
● Sign up through Social Security's online system which is responsible to enroll people in MediCare.
● Go to the Local Social Security office. I encourage people
to do this. Why? A face to face meeting with a retirement person is easy, less
confusing for most, and they will:
+ complete the Part A & B application for them,
+ review the options to pay the 25% share of Part B's monthly base cost so the one best for their situation can be selected. B’s base cost is $144.60 in
2020.
Note: An additional amount is added to B's base cost if the IRS 1040 AGI from two years
ago is above 87 k for Single & 174 k for Joint. The rules for higher-income individuals have five other higher
income levels’ and each adds an additional amount to B's base cost.
+ review SS's informative charts which are helpful in deciding the best age to start receiving
benefits.
When a person has completed the signup MediCare
considers them "entitled". [not enrolled] They
are then covered by:
● Part
A for inpatient care in a hospital.
● Part
B for medically necessary outpatient services.
+ The
MediCare ID card shows entitled above Part A & B.
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