{"id":484,"date":"2010-01-25T10:39:36","date_gmt":"2010-01-25T15:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.billlosey.com\/?p=484"},"modified":"2010-01-25T10:39:36","modified_gmt":"2010-01-25T15:39:36","slug":"how-and-when-to-sign-up-for-medicare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billlosey.com\/knowledge-center\/how-and-when-to-sign-up-for-medicare\/","title":{"rendered":"How and When to Sign Up for Medicare"},"content":{"rendered":"

Medicare enrollment is automatic for some of us.<\/strong> In fact, anyone who has received a Social Security check or 24 months worth of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. Part A is hospital insurance; Part B is medical insurance.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re getting Social Security checks and approaching age 65, you\u2019ll get a Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. Medicare benefits begin on the first day of the month in which you turn 65. If you are getting SSDI (regardless of your age), the card will arrive coincidental with your 22nd monthly payment and you are entitled to Medicare coverage with your 25th monthly payment.<\/p>\n

Oh yes, there is another important criterion: you must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of this country for five years or longer to be eligible for Medicare.<\/p>\n

Some of us have to contact the SSA.<\/strong> If you\u2019re coming up on 65 and not receiving Social Security benefits, SSDI or benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, you can still apply for Medicare coverage. You can visit your local Social Security Administration office or dial (800) 772-1213 or go to www.ssa.gov to determine your eligibility. (If you\u2019re going online, don\u2019t just type in ssa.gov; you need the www. to get to the site.)<\/p>\n

In this case, if you are eligible you have the choice of accepting or rejecting Part B coverage. If you want Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, then you should sign your Medicare card and keep it in your wallet. If you don\u2019t want Part B, you put an “X” in the refusal box on the back of the Medicare card form, and send the form to the address shown right below where your signature goes. About four weeks later, you will get a new Medicare card indicating that you only have Part A coverage.<\/p>\n

When can you add or drop forms of Medicare coverage?<\/strong> Medicare has enrollment periods that allow you to do this.<\/p>\n