People who receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement income payments when they turn 65 are automatically enrolled in Medicare A and B. Those not receiving benefits will have to apply on their own. The majority of the time the application can be done online, but certain circumstances will only allow you to apply directly through Social Security, typically over the phone at a set date and time. We pride ourselves on helping clients both apply online or being present for their phone meeting.   

To apply online, you first need to establish a My Social Security Account. These can be established prior to becoming eligible for Medicare. Below is a link to the site:

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/create.html

Once you have established a My Social Security Account, you can apply online at:

https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/rib

Save time and frustration by having us become your advocate. We want to work for you!  

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Part B:

For each 12-month period you delay enrollment in Medicare Part B, you will have to pay a 10% Part B premium penalty, unless you have insurance based on your or your spouse’s current work (job-based insurance) or are eligible for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP).

In most cases, you will have to pay that penalty every month for as long as you have Medicare. If you are enrolled in Medicare because of a disability and currently pay premium penalties, once you turn 65 you will no longer have to pay the premium penalty.

Part D:

The late enrollment penalty (also called the “LEP” or “penalty”) is an amount that may be added to a person’s monthly premium for Medicare drug coverage (Part D). A person enrolled in a Medicare plan may owe a late enrollment penalty if they go without Part D or other creditable prescription drug coverage for any continuous period of 63 days or more after the end of their Initial Enrollment Period for Part D coverage. Generally, the late enrollment penalty is added to the person’s monthly Part D premium for as long as they have Medicare drug coverage, even if the person changes their Medicare plan. The late enrollment penalty amount changes each year. The cost of the late enrollment penalty depends on how long the person went without Part D or other creditable prescription drug coverage.

If you did not sign up for Medicare when you were first eligible, you may be subject to penalties. There are steps to take to avoid these penalties. Contact us today and we can show you how.

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There are a lot of factors that go into the decision to switch from your current health insurance plan through work to Medicare. If your spouse or dependents are covered, what you pay for a premium, or how comprehensive your current plan is are a few factors that are taken into account when making this decision. We help sort through these factors by giving you a side-by-side comparison of what typical costs would be through a Medicare plan as compared to your current work plan. This allows you to make an informed decision on what is in your best interest to do.  

Feel free to contact us today for a comparison! 

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There are several programs available that can help reduce or eliminate your Part B premium and reduce the co-payments for prescriptions.  We encourage all of our clients to apply for these programs. Many were uncertain if they qualified, but could not have been happier once they did!  We help people apply for:

• Low Income Subsidy or LIS
• Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program
• Medicare Savings Program
• Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
• Extra Help

If you would like assistance when applying for these programs, we are here to help!

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Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income. Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage to individuals who can not afford it on their own. 

Most Medicaid beneficiaries are required to enroll into Medicare when they turn 65. Many are worried that if they enroll in Medicare, they will lose their Medicaid benefits. This is not the case. The two work together to provide a level of care above what either offers individually. Medicaid pays the Medicare Part B premium and covers the majority of co-payments for prescriptions. There are several other additional benefits available. If you have questions about this transition, we are here to help! Contact us today so we can walk your through what to expect.

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