Medicare

Medicare is the federal program that offers health insurance to U.S. Citizens and Legal Residents for: 

• People 65 and older 
• People of any age who qualify for social security disability benefits and have been receiving these benefits for at least 24 months 
• People of any age diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) 
• People of any age diagnosed with ALS 

You need to apply for your Red, White, and Blue – Medicare Card! 

If you’re turning 65 in the next 3 months and not already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you will need to sign up with Social Security to get  Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and  Part B (Medical Insurance). You can enroll online at  www.ssa.gov/medicare, you can call Social Security 1-800-772-1213 or you can visit your local Social Security office. 

If you already get benefits from Social Security or the RRB (or will be getting benefits at least 4 months before you turn 65), you will get Medicare Part A and Part B and automatically receive your Red, White, and Blue Card when you’re first eligible and do not need to sign up. Once you have your Medicare card, you can sign up for a Medicare Supplement, Part D or a Medicare Advantage Plan. 

If you are working at the age of 65 and your medical insurance coverage is through a current employer’s group health plan, you may want to enroll in Medicare if your employer has less than 20 employees. You will want to review the cost and benefits of your employer group health plan and compare it to the cost and benefits of enrolling in Medicare Part B. 

If you already have Medicare Part A and need to apply for Part B
You will need this Form signed by your employer showing that you had coverage through your employer group health insurance, so you do not pay a penalty for late enrollment and qualifies you for a special enrollment period. You will submit the completed and employer signed form with your Part B application. 

Deciding when to enroll in Medicare can sometimes be confusing. Judy can help you decide when to enroll in Medicare and walk you through the process. Reach out with your questions, Judy is here to help you.  

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is 7 months long. It includes your 65th birthday month plus the 3 months before and the 3 months after. If you enroll in Medicare in the first 3 months of your IEP, your Medicare coverage will begin the first day of the month you turn 65. If you enroll during the last four months, your coverage will start from one to three months after you enroll.  

If you delay Part B, due to being actively employed with health insurance through your employer or your spouse is actively employed, and you are covered under their employer group health plan. You will get a “Special Enrollment Period” (SEP). During your SEP, you can enroll in Medicare anytime you are actively employed and up to 8 months after you leave active employment or employer coverage ends. Once you enroll your coverage will begin the first day of the following month. However, you cannot use a SEP during your IEP. 

 If you have additional questions, give Judy a call. 

There are two ways to get additional coverage after enrolling in Original Medicare.  

Option 1 is to keep original Medicare Parts A and B as your primary coverage and add on a Part D drug plan, and then add a Medicare Supplement Plan (Medigap) to help pay expenses Original Medicare does not cover. 

Option 2 is to choose a Medicare Advantage Plan also know as Medicare Part C. These plans are offered by private insurance companies and provide all your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage all in one plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage (Part D), often for no additional premium.  

Deciding between a Medicare Supplement Plan and a Medicare Advantage Plan can be tricky, contact Judy to help you understand all your options before you enroll so you can feel confident in your decision.

There are many plans to choose from and based on your budget goals, health and wellness needs we will find a plan that is best for you. We will discuss your current coverage, what you like and dislike about it and your doctors’ names so that we may ensure they are on the chosen plan.  

Judy will provide unbiased review along with comprehensive plan comparisons based on your preferences. 

Call Judy to discuss your current: 

• Name of Medications 
• Dosage 
• Frequency 
• Pharmacy choice
  

Using this information, we can compare all available plans and help you choose the best one for you.