How & When does one enroll, sign up for Medicare ONLINE?
Part A – Hospital, usually for no premium and
Part B Doctors for around $170/month?
It's best to enroll in Medicare A & B 3 months #before you turn 65
Graphic of when you can enroll based on turning age 65 * Publication 11036 *
- Chart from Medicare.Gov on when coverage starts
- Be sure to work on your Enrollment in Parts A & B as soon as your eligible to do so. We will NOT take the flack if you run into SNAFU's. Some brokers make you sign this form, if you don't enroll early.
- Video from HHS.Gov on Initial Enrollment Period
- Use this Medicare tool to Find out when you’re eligible for Medicare.
- The best time to sign up is 3 months before your 65th birthday and coverage will start on the 1st of the month of your birthday. Be sure to let your prior carrier know at least 30 days in advance that you have new coverage and want to cancel. Especially if it's Covered CA! That way you don't have double premiums and duplicate coverage.
- Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to starting January 1, 2023 change the effective date to the month after enrollment! If you're late. CMS.Gov Fact Sheet * Proposed Rule *
- Once you enroll in Parts A & B, you are then eligible to get a Medi Gap Plan and part D Rx or Medicare Advantage (HMO) to fill in the gaps that Medicare doesn't pay. Please note that prescription drug coverage is effectively mandatory as there is a penalty when you eventually sign up, if you didn't sign up when you are supposed to.
How to #Apply - sign up ONLINE for Medicare Part A & B
Publication # 10530

Applying for Part B ONLY?
- If you already have Part A, you can’t enroll online. In the past you had to fill out form OMB No. 0938-1230 ! So, Try ONLINE first, things have been updated
- You can mail it in, but be sure to follow up that Social Security has the form. If not, go to your local Social Security Office and enroll. Make sure you get a receipt!
- Please note also, that it’s been reported that your Social Security number is required, even though there is NO PLACE on the form for it!
- If you're enrolling past age 65, use CMS form to fill out L 564 E to prove you had Employer Coverage and get a special enrollment period, when you retire. VIDEO
Should you start taking Social Security too?
Screen Shot of Medicare's Enrollment Site
Checklist of what information you need to enroll
- Direct Link to Medicare's Enrollment Website
- Medicare's Video on how to enroll on their site
Our webpages on:
- enrolling online
- creating a Social Security Account
- Which will also let you know sooner, that you've been approved!
- When to Start Receiving Retirement Benefits
FAQ's
Open up FAQ’s below for answers
I went to Social Security and got all signed up. Now they say they have a record of me being there, but no record of signing up. What do I do?
disability secrets.com/social-security-office-lost-my-appeal-paperwork-what-do-i
We did have a client who reported that her local Congressperson helped her out and got the problem resolved.
- house.gov/find-your-representative
-
nytimes.com/how-senators-and-representatives-can-help-constituents
I won’t have 40 quarters until I’m 68. When is my initial enrollment period? I don’t want any penalties.
Use this tool to determine when you are eligible for Medicare.
Your Initial Enrollment Period based on your age
Your Initial Enrollment Period based on your age contextual help
October 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020
Am I eligible to enroll?
Medicare is for people age 65 and older and those who have special condition or disability. You’re not eligible to enroll in Medicare now because you don’t meet the special condition/disability requirements.
If you’re a U.S. citizen or you meet the lawful presence and residency requirements, the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is your first chance to sign up for Medicare. It starts 3 months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.
Sign up for Medicare
Costs for Medicare since you won’t get it for free…
Costs for Medicare… How does that compare to the under 65 plan you have now?
What if I have Employer Coverage?
See our webpage on that
Just to make sure, is renewal automatic?
Yes, everything Parts A Hospital, B Doctor Visits, Medi Gap, Medicare Advantage and Part D Rx automatically renew.
I’m having trouble finding citable sources. I don’t count other agent websites, as it seems I’m the only one, who cites a source.
https://www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
Didn’t you get a January bill for Parts A & B? Just pay it.
Does your prior coverage before enrolling in Parts A & B have anything to do with the coverage you will receive?
Part B Doctor Visits is exactly the same for everyone.
To get the “best” greatest selection of MD and providers you would want to sign up for a Medi Gap plan. Plan F has the most comprehensive benefits. This would be most similar to PPO and not the restrictive provider lists in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD). MAPD though generally has zero premium.
If you are thinking of keeping your COBRA beyond age 65 and not getting Part B, that won’t work, see Medicare Publication 11036 Enrolling in A & B page 13.
See link above to use our Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliate sites to view benefits, pricing and enroll online. We also have tons of detail on each page in our website.
Where and how do I shop all the Insurance Companies to get the best coverage and premium for Part B Doctor Visits?
The Federal Government – Medicare is the ONLY place to get Part B Dr Visits. I guess one could argue though that if they have employer coverage available, that would be “Part B.”
Some people might get confused though, thinking Medicare Advantage is giving them their Parts A & B…
The decisions on getting Part D Prescriptions, Medi Gap or Medicare Advantage are separate and give you additional coverage on top of Medicare Part A Hospital and Part B Dr. Visits.
Probably the first decision is if you want a Medi Gap Plan which allows you to go to any MD or Hospital that accepts Medicare, which most do or a Medicare Advantage plan with oftentimes zero premium.
Here’s our web page on helping you make that decision
Our page on how most all doctors take Medicare and if they don’t the limit on what they can charge over Medicare allowance and how if they don’t take Medicare at all, they must have you sign a form that you understand that.
Medicare #Enrolling in Parts A & B # 11036
- Welcome to Medicare 2022 Publication # 11095
- Our webpage on Enrolling ONLINE for Medicare Part A Hospital & B Doctor Visits
- Part A Hospital rules for zero premium
- Part B – Doctors – How to sign up – Benefits
- How to apply for Part B when you lose employer coverage - during your special enrollment period # 10012
- Fact Sheet Deciding Whether to Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B When You Turn 65 15 pages
- Medicare & You: Deciding to Sign Up for Medicare Part B VIDEO
- CMS form to fill out L 564 E to prove you had Employer Coverage and get a special enrollment period, when you retire. VIDEO
FAQ's from Medicare.Gov
#Should I get Parts A & B?
Most people should enroll in Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) when they're first eligible, but certain people may choose to delay Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). In most cases, #How
It depends on the type of health coverage you may have.
- Deciding to Sign Up for Medicare Part B VIDEO
- You must pay your Part B premium every month for as long as you have Part B (even if you don’t use it).
- If I'm low income - are there any breaks?
- Interactive Q & A from IRS on when to sign up for Medicare
- I have coverage through my spouse who is currently working.
- I have retiree coverage (from my former employer or my spouse’s former employer) or COBRA coverage.
- I have TRICARE, and I'm a retired service member.
- I have TRICARE, and I'm an active-duty service member.
- I have CHAMPVA.
- I have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
- I have Marketplace Covered CA or other private insurance.
- I don't have any of these.
- medicare.gov/should-i-get-parts-a-b
- How to apply for Part B during your special enrollment period # 10012
- Fact Sheet Deciding Whether to Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B When You Turn 65 15 pages
- FAQ's that we did
Should I apply for Part A Hospital?
Part B Hospital?
Wait?
Medicare Part B Hospital
#Late Enrollment Penalty
In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, (FAQ Calculate the dates) for Medicare, during the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B. you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty. You’ll have to pay this penalty for as long as you have Part B.
Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for it. Medicare.Gov *
Medicare Initial Enrollment, Part B late penalty, high income surcharge Eligibility & Premium Calculator
Resources
Why are you being forced into Medicare at 65? Verywell.com
FAQ’s on late enrollment penalty
- Why do I get penalized because I make a lot of money?
- Our FAQ’s on Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
- Los Angeles Times 4.26.2015 Signing up late for Medicare Part B can trigger a lifelong penalty
Ways to avoid Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
Usually, you don’t pay a late enrollment penalty if you meet certain conditions that allow you to sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period, namely loss of employer coverage.
If you have limited income and resources, your state may help you pay for Part A, and/or Part B.
You may also qualify for Extra Help LIS to pay for your Medicare prescription drug coverage.
The New York Times:
Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Sign Up For Medicare Part B
[George Zeppenfeldt-Cestero] should have signed up for Medicare Part B three years earlier when he turned 65. By delaying, he had missed the best window — the so-called Initial Enrollment Period — to apply for Part B, which covers much of what we consider health care: doctor visits, tests, injectable drugs (including chemotherapy), ambulances, physical therapy and other non-hospital services.
As a result, he has to pay permanently higher premiums, and he had to endure an unsettlingly long period — from December to July — before the coverage actually kicked in. (Span, 10/26) New York Times:
FAQ's
See below for FAQ’s
how high can the Part A Hospital, part b Doctor Visits & D Rx penalty be? My parents have green cards since 2005, continuous residence since 2012 and they never enrolled in Medicare My Dad is 80 and Mom is 72.
Really high – Here’s a video where I used the Medicare Calculator, but didn’t get a full bottom line answer, yet.
Immigration status and enrollment
To enroll in either Part A or Part B, an individual must either be a U.S. citizen or be lawfully present in the
United States. In most cases, as discussed in detail below, a non-citizen who does not qualify for premium-free Part
A must be a lawful permanent resident (LPR) with five years of continuous residence in the U.S. immediately prior to Medicare enrollment. Justice in Aging Older Immigrants & Medicare
***So, the penalties wouldn’t start till 2017 based on the start of continuous residence of 2012.
More from the Medicare Calculator
You may not be able to get premium-free Part A (Hospital Insurance) based on the work history of you or your spouse (living, deceased or divorced). You can buy Part A for a monthly premium.
If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium will be $471.00. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, the standard Part A premium will be $259.00. Some people pay a higher premium if they don’t enroll when they’re first eligible.
Part A Late Enrollment Penalty
If you aren’t eligible for premium-free Part A, and you don’t buy it when you’re first eligible, your monthly premium may go up 10%. You’ll have to pay the higher premium for twice the number of years you could have had Part A, but didn’t sign up.
***So they would pay 10% more for the next 10 years.
Part B Late Enrollment Penalty
If you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible or if you drop Part B and then get it later, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare. Your monthly premium for Part B may go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t sign up for it.
***So, that would be 50% more.
2021 Part B premium (most people pay this amount)
$148.50
You can get coverage here as a new immigrant besides or in addition to the Bridge Plan.
See this page for the Part D Rx Penalty
I was incarcerated and wasn’t able to pay my Part B Premium. Is there any way, I can avoid the late penalty?
It is usually best to keep Medicare Part A and Part B coverage while you are incarcerated. Although Medicare will not cover your care, keeping it will ensure that you avoid late enrollment penalties and gaps in coverage when you are released.
- Medicare Interactive
- incarcerated-and-recently-released-consumers.pdf
- cms.gov/Items-Services-Furnished-to-Beneficiaries-in-Custody-Under-Penal-Authority-Fact-Sheet-ICN908084.pdf
Is a way to argue about the Part D Prescription LEP Late Enrollment Penalty
We have a whole webpage on that
How do I show “Good Cause?” for not paying the premium on time?
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/clm104c29.pdf
240.2 – Conditions and Examples That May Establish Good Cause for Late Filing by Beneficiaries
Good cause may be found when the record clearly shows, or the beneficiary alleges, that the delay in filing was due to one of the following:
• Circumstances beyond the beneficiary’s control, including mental or physical impairment (e.g., disability, extended illness) or significant communication difficulties;
• Incorrect or incomplete information about the subject claim and/or appeal was furnished by official sources (CMS, the contractor, or the Social Security Administration) to the beneficiary (e.g., a party is not notified of her appeal rights or a party receives inaccurate information regarding a filing deadline);
NOTE: Whenever a beneficiary is not notified of his/her appeal rights or of the time limits for filing, good cause must be found.
• Delay resulting from efforts by the beneficiary to secure supporting evidence, where the beneficiary did not realize that the evidence could be submitted after filing the request;
• When destruction of or other damage to the beneficiary’s records was responsible for the delay in filing (e.g., a fire, natural disaster);
• Unusual or unavoidable circumstances, the nature of which demonstrates that the beneficiary could not reasonably be expected to have been aware of the need to file timely;
• Serious illness which prevented the party from contacting the contractor in person, in writing, or through a friend, relative, or other person;
• A death or serious illness in his or her immediate family;
• A request was sent to a Government agency in good faith within the time limit, and the request did not reach the appropriate contractor until after the time period to file a request expired; or
• Delay due to additional time required to produce the beneficiary’s Medicare documents (such as an MSN) in an accessible format (e.g., large print, Braille, etc.);
• Delay as the result of an individual having sought and received help from an auxiliary resource (such as a SHIP or senior center), due to his or her disability, in order to be able to file the appeal.
Following are examples of cases where good cause for late filing is found. This list is illustrative only and not all-inclusive:
• Beneficiary was hospitalized and extremely ill, causing a delay in filing;
• Beneficiary is deceased. Her husband, as representative of the beneficiary’s estate, died during the appeals filing period. Request was then filed late by the deceased husband’s executor;
• The denial notice sent to the beneficiary did not specify the time limit for filing for the redetermination; and
• The request was received after, but close to, the last day to file, and the beneficiary claims that the request was submitted timely.
42 CFR § 478.22 – Good cause for late filing of a request for a reconsideration or hearing.
Our Medicare Appeals Page
CMS FAQ’s Technical on the process
I don’t like to cite non official sources, but here’s Q1Medicare
If I have Part B and move out of country or go back to work and have employer coverage, how do I cancel Part B?
Voluntary Termination of Medicare Part B
You can voluntarily terminate your Medicare Part B (medical insurance). It is a serious decision. You must submit Form CMS-1763 to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
You’ll need to have a personal interview with Social Security before you can terminate your Medicare Part B coverage. To schedule your interview, call the SSA or your local Social Security office.
Form you get back from CMS Medicare when they confirm they got your request to cancel Part B Doctor visits. Note the FAQ’s!
Here’s what was reported to us in an email about cancelling a pending application for Part B
1) I called the SSA domestic line, waited for half an hour, and was told that the person on that line couldn’t help me because we had an international application. She gave me a number for “international operations” (in Baltimore).
2) I called the “international operations” number and connected directly (no answering machine) to a very helpful young woman who cancelled the Part B application for myself and my wife in about 5 minutes.
3) I strongly suspect that it is policy that you can withdraw an application for which Medicare coverage has not year come into force. In any event, it worked for us.
Steve —
I learned a few things today that I thought I might share with you.
1) Because I enrolled for Part A from abroad (Italy), and declined Part B, I became a candidate to receive an unsoliticed phone call from a US government employee in Rome who handles SS/Medicare issues!! This person wanted to make sure I understood the issues with respect to Part B penalties. This person was very helpful, but knew nothing about MediGap. He didn’t even know what it was.
2) Medicare Part B penalties increment after each full year in which you could have had Part B but chose not to. What then is the date in which you could have had Medicare? You can sign up for Medicare for 3 months before eligibility, and since if you do so your coverage date begins on the first day of the month of your birthdate (unless your birthday is the 1st of the month). For example, if you decline Part B in your initial enrollent period in 2018 but opt for Part B in the first general enrollment period of 2019, your coverage will start July 1, 2019. If your birthday is in July, your full-year penalty clock will start on July 1 and will have traversed a full year. If your birthday is in August, the clock will start on August 1 and it will have been only 11 months … hence no penalty for that year.
Cheers,
Ted W
If I live outside of the USA, do I need to sign up for Part B when I turn 65 or is there a guaranteed enrollment period when I return to USA – California?
Living outside the U. S.
(Excerpt copied from publication 11036 Enrolling in Parts A & B)
I live outside the U. S., and I don’t have Part B. Can I get Part B and will I pay more?
It depends on your situation:
Situation #1: If you’re over 65, currently getting Social Security benefits and Part A, and you didn’t take Part B when you were first eligible, (our webpage on eligiblity) (Medicare Eligiblity Tool) you may only apply for Part B during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from January 1 – March 31, and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B.
Situation #2: If you live outside of the U.S., you’re over 65, and you’re eligible for Social Security benefits, you may file an application for monthly benefits and Part A. You’ll have to file for Part B during the General Enrollment Period. This period runs from January 1 – March 31, and you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.
Situation #3: If you’re a U. S. citizen, you’re over 65, you’re not eligible for Social Security benefits, and lived in a foreign country when you turned 65, you must live in the U. S. to file for Part B. You’re first eligible to enroll in Part B the month you return to the U. S. to establish your new residence.
You won’t have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you enroll in Part B when you first return to the U. S. Although you may be able to enroll, in most cases, you won’t be able to get Medicare-covered services while living outside the U.S. Medicare generally can’t pay for any of your hospital or medical bills unless you get your medical care in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa). Under certain limited circumstances, medical services provided in outside of the United States also may be covered by Medicare, but only if you’re living in the U.S.
How can I tell if the Part B application went through correctly?
Check the Social Security and Medicare Accounts that you must have set up when you enrolled.
We can help you do that, if you Set a Meeting – Zoom, Skype
#General Enrollment Period (GEP)
Didn't sign up for Part B at the right time
If you didn’t sign up for Part B Doctor Visits on time, then you have to wait for the General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 to enroll in Part B. Coverage will start July 1 of that year.
THERE is a proposed rule under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to starting January 1, 2023 change the effective date to the month after enrollment! CMS.Gov Fact Sheet * Proposed Rule *
For more detail see Publication 11036 Enrolling in Medicare it’s at the right on a full screen monitor or scroll down for smartphone. See also Medicare & You
Please note, if you already have Part A, you can enroll online, or fill out #application for Part B OMB No. 0938-1230 !
More detail & info:
- cms.gov - NEW can enroll online
- medicare.gov/ready-to-sign-up-for-part-a-part-b
- Our Webpage on Employer Plans and Medicare
You can mail the application in, but be sure to follow up that Social Security has the form. If not, go to your local Social Security Office and enroll. Make sure you get a receipt!
Please note also, that it’s been reported that your Social Security number is required, even though there is NO PLACE on the form for it!
Eligibility & Premium Calculator
Related Web Pages
- Seminar – Medicare Information ONLINE
FAQ's
FAQ's
See below for FAQ’s
So I foolishly did not pay my Medicare premiums and my part B got cancelled. Can you tell me how to get it back?
Fortunately, we are in the General Enrollment Period, till March 31. So, you can sign up now, see the application above and be effective July 1st.
The 2nd problem you may have, is that Medi Gap and Medicare Advantage policies require that you have Part B, so you might be getting cancellation noticies…
Here’s our page on guaranteed acceptance for Medi Gap plans
Medicare Advantage – Special Enrollments
If we don’t have an answer spelled out on those pages, just ask and we’ll research it.
So, after I get Part B back, then I can enroll, check out, etc. Medi Gap and/or Medicare Advantage?
You should get notice of Part B Approval, enrollment well before the July 1st effective date.
So, I would suggest enrollment as soon as April, as long as you have approval.
Medi Gap has a special guaranteed enrollment when you get back on both Parts A AND B. Please enroll early… as I don’t think the written rules are 100% clear, but I’ve written people in the same situation and have checked with my Regional Sales Managers.
Medicare Advantage is a little different!
You have Medicare Part A coverage, and you get Part B for the first time by enrolling during the Part B General Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31). Publication 11219
I’ll check further…
I checked and getting Part B under General Enrollment in July, would not allow one to get Medicare Advantage.
One might try to get in under the 5 star program.
What about Medi Cal Qualification?
Question
Hello Steve
I have a question I hope you can answer.
1. My father has only Medicare Part A [hospitalization] combined with VA healthcare benefits. he did not enroll in Part B [doctor visits] when first eligible because of VA benift among other factors.
2. In November he received a letter from orange county social services that he was eligble for medicaid [Medi-Cal in CA] and that he was also eligible for Medicare QMB [Qualified Medicare Beneficiary] effective November 1, 2015
3. I was told by railroad retirement board that despite his eligibility for QMB that he can not elect immediate enrollmet with a November 1, 2015 retroactive date. That he can enroll now through the open enrollment period but must wait until July 1 to begin benefits.
4. I read somewhere online that Part B enrollment becomes effective the same day as QMB eligibility.
medicarerights.org/Using-MSPs-to-Enroll-in-Part-B
Do you have knowledge on this matter?
Our Reply
4 Thank you SO MUCH for including a link to Medicare Rights.org. They are talking about automatic enrollment in Part B, IF one enrolls in a Medicare Savings Program, which includes QMB’s. Which it sounds like you are doing with Orange County Social Services. So, it sounds to me like you are OK. Apply and see what happens. Here’s the link or have Social Services help you. According to your reference on Medicare Rights.org enrollment is automatic when you are approved for the QMB.
3 Normally what you heard from the Railroad Retirement Board is correct. Having VA coverage is not employement based coverage that would give you a special enrollment period, as mentioned in Medicare and You page 26. They are talking about the General Enrollment Period page 25 where one can sign up January 1 to March 31 and be effective in July. There might even be a financial penalty for late enrollment.
Be sure to read the entire page from CA Health Care Advocates on this subject. They know what they are talking about! See also our page on Cal Medi Connect. Check back with us in a few weeks and we will know more as we will be attending a Blue Cross seminar on Medicare Advantage Plans for those on Medi-Cal on the 17th.
Problems on the phone with Social Security or Medicare?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is providing equitable relief to individuals who could not submit premium-Part A or Part B enrollment or disenrollment requests timely due to challenges contacting us by phone. This relief applies to the 2022 General Enrollment Period, Initial Enrollment Period, and Special Enrollment Period.
If you were unable to enroll or disenroll in Medicare because you could not reach us by phone after January 1, 2022, you will be granted additional time, through December 30, 2022. SSA.gov *
-
Medicare Initial Enrollment, Part B Late Penalty, High Income Surcharge Eligibility & Premium (Penalty_ #Calculator Medicare.Gov
- Amplicare.com Medicare Part D Rx Late Enrollment LEP Penalty Calculator
Visit Our Web Pages on:
Understanding the Medicare Premium Bill
#cms500
- medicare.gov/11659-understanding-cms-500-trifold-may-2023
- hhs.gov/11659-understanding-cms-500
- cms.gov/cms 500
- medicare.gov/How to pay Part B premiums
HTML - Medicare Webpage on Billing
- What are the payment options to pay the Part B Premium?
- Easy Pay Premium Statement 11071
- Learn more about how to pay bill online
- Why did the Part B premium go up to $170? Los Angeles Times
- Live Chat with Medicare - Call 1 800 Medicare
FAQ's - Medicare Billing
Open up the FAQ’s below
I just got Medicare Part B and the ID card. They said I would get a bill immediately. I don’t have it. What do I do? Should I worry?
Here’s Medicare’s webpage on paying A & B premiums
What if my premium payment is late?
If your First Bill payment is late, you’ll get a Second Bill. Your Second Bill will include both past amounts and next month’s premium. If you don’t pay the total amount due by the 25th of the month, you’ll get a Delinquent Bill. If you get a Delinquent Bill and you don’t pay your total amount due by the 25th of the month, you’ll lose your Medicare coverage.
What if I have questions about my bill or the status of my coverage?
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778)
If you’re having trouble paying your premiums now or if you have any questions about your Medicare premium bill, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE. TTY: 1-877-486-2048.
When should I get my bill?
On or about the 10th of the month. Medicare.gov
Sample Bill
How about setting up an ONLINE Medicare & Social Security Account?
Introduction
Since Medicare benefits are available only in the United States, it may not be to your advantage to pay the premium for Part B medical insurance if you will be out of the United States for a long period of time. But be aware that when you return and sign up for Part B, your premium will be 10% higher for each 12-month period you could have been enrolled in Part B, but were not.
If you return to the United States, you must re-enroll in Part B, but you may only do so from January through March each year, your benefits will not begin until July, and you may have to pay a premium penalty. CA Health Care Advocates HICAP
See also our page on Part B late enrollment penalty
So, how do I figure out the penalty vs paying the premium, which is better?
Try Medicare’s Calculator above
Your Initial Enrollment Period ended September 30, 2009. You waited to sign up for Part B until the General Enrollment Period in March 2012. Your Part B premium penalty is 20%. (While you waited a total of 30 months to sign up, this included only 2 full 12-month periods.) You’ll have to pay this penalty for as long as you have Part B. Enrolling in Medicare # 11036 *
******************
Jeremy turned 65 in 2011. He did not sign up for Medicare Part B until 2017.
His penalty is:
10% x 6 years = 60 His penalty is thus 60% on top of the premium 0.6 X $134 (2017 Part B premium) = $80.40 penalty $80.40 + $134= $214.4 Jeremy will pay $214.4 on a monthly basis as his penalty Part B premium. United Medicare Advisors So, how does the penalty compare to if he had paid the $134 premium for 6 years?
10 years to even out
Here’s where a web site visitor did a spread sheet.
Spreadsheets are beyond my pay grade.
Bibliography
- Los Angeles Times 4.26.2015 Signing up late for Medicare Part B can trigger a lifelong penalty
- Enrolling for Part A & B #11036 Page 28 Living outside USA Part B…
Earlier FAQ’s in Paragraph Format
I’m not aware of any way to put a temporary hold on Part B and Part D if one is out of country. You risk the Part B Late Enrollment Penalties and wouldn’t be able to get Part D Rx until the next open enrollment period.
If you are out of country more than say 6 months… or change residency, you may lose Part D and MAPD.
If you enroll for Part A from abroad (Italy), and declined Part B, you became a candidate to receive an unsoliticed phone call from a US government employee in Rome who handles SS/Medicare issues!! They want to make sure you understand the issues with respect to Part B penalties. I was told by a website visitor that the person was very helpful, but knew nothing about MediGap. He didn’t even know what it was.
The late enrollment penalty takes the standard premium amount and increases it by 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Part B, but didn’t. For example, if you were first eligible for Part B in July 2015, but didn’t enroll until January 2018, you’d have a 20% late enrollment penalty. The standard premium amount would be increased by 20% for as long as you have Part B. Publication 11036 Enrolling in Part A & B * CA Health Advocates.org *
Medicare A & B if you don't #live in USA
Publication 11871
Medicare just visiting Out of County Publication # 11037
- Medicare VIDEO Medicare & You: Traveling Abroad
- Our webpage on Medicare Coverage outside of USA
- FAQ - Buying Medi Gap if you live outside USA
- Get Travel Quotes & Information
*********Social Security*****
Payments if you are living outside of USA # 10137
- What if you work in two or more different Countries?
- International Social Security agreements,“Totalization agreements,” have two main purposes.
- First, they eliminate dual Social Security taxation, the situation that occurs when a worker from one country works in another country and is required to pay Social Security taxes to both countries on the same earnings.
- Second, the agreements help fill gaps in benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the United States and another country.
Learn More
Our Webpages on:
Medicare Part A
(#Hospital Insurance)
Medicare Part A Hospital coverage helps pay for care in hospitals as an inpatient,... skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and some home health care (see publication # 10969) but not Long Term Care.
Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65 at no charge, since they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. You need to sign up close to your 65th birthday, even if you will not be retired by that time. (If you are getting Social Security benefits when you turn 65, your Medicare Hospital Benefits - Part A - start automatically.)
Here's a chart it's just a illustration and is NOT official that shows what Medicare pays, the gaps in Medicare and what you may get when you add a Medi Gap Plan or Medicare Advantage to cover those gaps.
See full brochure I cut and pasted this from
Medi Gap – Supplement Plans
Pays on top of Medicare Parts A & B – Any Medicare Provider
Have Medi Cal pay Medicare Part B $170 Premium #Costs # 10126
Medi Cal * Part B Outpatient Premium Forgiveness
- Medicare.Gov MSP Medicare Savings Programs
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- CA Department of Aging 1-800-434-0222 -
- health care rights.org Serving Los Angeles County
- dpss.lacounty.gov/savings
- Disability Benefits 101
- National Council on Aging MSP
- MSP Medicare Savings Plan CA Health Care Advocates
- khn.org/billions-of-dollars-in-benefits-go-unused
Part B - Outpatient helps Pay For Doctors' services, outpatient hospital care, and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, such as the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care see publication 10969, but not Long Term Care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.
The chart below is a very brief summary. Check the actual Evidence of Coverage for the plan you want to enroll in, Medicare & You or actual Medicare documents.
Our Webpages with more detail:
- Coverage in Part A Hospital & B Doctor Visits? Part D Rx
- Chiropractic – Medicare A & B – MAPD
- Diabetes – Prevention & Coverage under Medicare & ACA
- Durable Medical Equipment
- End Stage Renal – Kidney Failure
- Hearing Aids
- Physical therapy – occupational speech
- Skilled Nursing SNF & Home Health What Medicare Pays
- Togetherness – Loneliness Social Determinants of Health
- Mental Health
- How to sign up for Medicare?
- FAQ Medical Necessity our Medical Necessity Webpage
- Original Medicare & Medi-Gap – Supplement vs Medicare Advantage MAPD
- Medicare Beneficiaries’ Out-of-Pocket Spending for Health Care AARP
How to create a
My #SocialSecurity.Gov & My Medicare.Gov Account on SSA.gov
- Create ONLINE Account Publication # 10540 pdf
- VIDEO on advantages and saving time by creating a Social Security Account
- Our webpage on how to create a Social Security and My Medicare Account
- You need a Social Security Account Enroll ONLINE for Medicare Part A Hospital & B Doctor Visits.
- Create Social Security Account Here
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Get estimates of future benefits based on your actual earnings, see your latest Statement, and review your earnings history.
- What can you do with a my Social Security account? pdf # 10121
- Check your application status
- explanation of benefits for recent MRI and X rays, copies of bills, Etc?
- Set up or change direct deposit
- Request a replacement Social Security card
- Get a Social Security 1099 (SSA-1099) form
- Get a proof of income letter
- Change your address
- Get New ID Cards?
- SSA 3288 Social Security - Authorization to release information
Blue Shield of California Authorized Agent - Broker
Actual Cost for Medicare to Provide you the Medical Benefits
While you might complain about the premiums you pay for Medicare A, B & D is a small portion of what Medicare is contributing to the actual cost to provide Coverage, it's only 25 percent of Part B and Part D program costs.
Resources & Links
Medicare has done an excellent job of explaining how and when to enroll in their:
Guide Medicare & You,
Publication 11036 Enrolling in Parts A & B,
CA Health Line 10.27.2016
Washington Post on how to figure out Medicare and choose the correct plan
Information you need to have to apply for Medicare or Social Security
BROKER ONLY
Medi-Cal & Medicare Lookup Jarvis
https://healthpayerintelligence.com/news/seniors-find-medicare-enrollment-confusing-avoid-changing-plans
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying5.html
I am trying to get my Mom on Medicare part A. She is on part B but not part A.
How can I get this done?
Did your Mom or Dad work over 10 years in the USA and pay into Medicare?
Here’s our webpage on the rules if they have to pay a premium, if they don’t have enough credits
Why didn’t your Mom sign up for Part A previously?
When was she first eligible for Part A?
There are monetary penalties for late enrollment.
Please send the details to the questions above, the answer is not as simple as the question seems. Let us get you the correct information, based on your situation.
You might have to wait for the General Enrollment Period, if you have to pay for Part A Hospital?
How about checking our website and getting information on Medicare Advantage or Medi Gap. We can help you enroll with no extra charge for our expertise.
My husband turns 65 in November. I’m 61. How does that affect my Covered CA coverage and subsidies? How does that affect our MAGI income? All the income is in his name! Does that mean I’ll have to be on Medi Cal as I won’t show any income?
Covered CA rules mandate that married people file jointly.
Thus, your MAGI income doesn’t matter whose name it is in.
Web visitors can get quotes here.
I’ll send you a private email with quotes, just for you with Covered CA
Because my 65th birthday is 10/17/2019, today I submitted an online application for Medicare.
What’s next?
Thank you so much for submitting your enrollment in Medicare A & B on the very first day that one is able too. 3 months before the month one turns 65. See our webpage above for more explanation. There are often SNAFU’s – Situation Normal All Fouled Up that can cause a lot of grief, worry and delays.
Did you get a receipt or confirmation that you submitted your application?
Click here to the links and instructions to get an ONLINE Social Security and Medicare Account so that you can track your progress of getting enrolled into Medicare A & B.
One can always just wait till Medicare sends your ID card…
Once you have your Medicare ID #, then we can submit applications for Medi Gap, Part D Rx & Medicare Advantage. See those pages on our website for more detail. Email us with any questions, visit our scheduling page to make a phone, Skype, What’s App or face to face meeting. Please note that for Part D or MAPD Medicare Advantage Federal Law requires you to sign a form to allow us to discuss those plans with you.
Here’s our page to better explain the advantages – disadvantages of MAPD vs Medi Gap and what the plans add to cover the gaps in Medicare A & B.
This page has a chart on what Medicare Pays, then Plan F Medi Gap, then what is still left for you to pay. Most of the time zero. Note that after 1.1.2020 Plan G will be the most comprehensive. Those that have Plan F, Extra or Innovative can keep Plan F forever!
Here’s one way of knowing in advance of your approval for Medicare A & B so that we can proceed with getting Medi Gap or Medicare Advantage.
See also our webpage on getting a Social Security Account.
I turn 65 in July. I just applied for Social Security and have received two checks so far. Will I be automatically enrolled into Medicare?
Some people get Part A and Part B automatically
If you’re already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A and Part B will start the first day of the prior month.) https://www.medicare.gov/sites/default/files/2018-09/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf
If you’re getting these benefits, in most cases,
You’ll get the “Welcome to Medicare” package that welcomes you to the program. This package is mailed about 3 months before your 65th birthday. In this package, you’ll get your Medicare card. https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/11036-Enrolling-Medicare-Part-A-Part-B.pdf
I suggest you double check and make sure Social Security does it. Do you have an ONLINE account with them? https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
I applied for Medicare, but they are asking for tons of extra paperwork. Will my effective date still be my birthday month or will their scrutiny make it take longer?
Here’s the reply from CA Health Care Advocates:
I imagine the effective date would be retroactive to the original date of entitlement if the person is deemed to be eligible. But I’ve never faced this situation. Region 9 https://www.ssa.gov/sf/contact.htm would be the place to call about that.
My wife needs health insurance from Medicare.
She’s 65 years old us citizen but still working.
Social security can’t support her due to over the limit income.
If you or your wife have worked in the USA for more than 10 years, go ahead and use the enrollment link above.
Here’s the rules about qualifying for no Charge Part A
If you don’t qualify for no cost Part A Hospital, scroll down and view the sub or child pages. If you still have questions post them on the most relevant page. You do not have to put in your name.
What do you mean Social Security can’t support her, your over the Income Limit?
Do you mean Medi Cal, Medicaid? Obamacare/ACA subsidies?
I’m interested in getting Medicare at 63 years old. I have MS and have been told I’m eligible at 63. Is that true?
Yes, if you qualify for SSDI, after two years you automatically get Medicare.
Medicare was enacted in 1965. I first had it deducted from paychecks starting in 1966. I retired in 2016 so Medicare was deducted from all my earnings for 50 years.
I finally had occasion to use my Medicare benefit getting a doctor ordered blood test in order to continue receiving medication for high blood pressure. Medicare paid a whopping $2.94. My share was only $241.84.
See the chatter between high school friends on facebook to respond to this issue.