Orlando Harmon
Medicare is the US health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, or those with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. There are several ways to enroll in Medicare, depending on your situation. You can apply online, by phone, or by mailing a form to your local Social Security office. If you are already receiving Social Security retirement benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare when you turn 65. If you are under 65 and disabled, you will be automatically entitled to Medicare after receiving disability benefits for 24 months.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who is eligible for Medicare? | People aged 65 or older, or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. |
| How to apply for Medicare? | Online at Social Security, by calling the Social Security Administration, or by filling out form CMS-40B and sending it to your local Social Security office by fax or mail. |
| When to apply for Medicare? | The Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. |
| What is included in Medicare? | Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) is a private insurance option that covers hospital and medical costs, while Part D covers prescription medications. |
| Are there any costs associated with Medicare? | Most people don't pay a premium for Part A coverage, but there is a monthly premium for Part B coverage that can change each year and may be higher depending on your income. |
| What if I want to cancel my Medicare coverage? | You can submit CMS Form 1763 to your local Social Security office. |
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What You'll Learn
Medicare Part A and Part B
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as younger people with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure.
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A covers inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. Most people get Part A for free, but some have to pay a premium for this coverage. To be eligible for premium-free Part A, you must have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, or be eligible based on a spouse's work history. You can also get Part A for free if you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) cash benefits at least four months before turning 65. In this case, you will receive Part A automatically at age 65.
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B covers medical insurance. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B, and the amount depends on your income level. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S., you need to sign up for Part B. If you don't sign up within three months of turning 65, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.
How to Apply for Medicare Parts A and B
You can apply for Medicare Parts A and B online at Social Security, or by calling the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 if you or your spouse worked for a railroad. If you are still working past the age of 65, you can apply for Medicare only. You will receive a welcome package with your Medicare card about two weeks after signing up.
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Medicare Savings Programs
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 or older or with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. If you are enrolled in Medicare and have a low income, you may be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to help cover some of your out-of-pocket Medicare costs. MSPs are a subset of Medicaid, designed to help people with low incomes afford their Medicare costs.
There are four types of MSPs, each with different income and resource eligibility limits. These are:
- Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): For Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), people may qualify if they have income less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and resources under $9,660 if single, $14,470 if married. For those eligible, QMB will cover the Medicare premiums (Part A, if applicable, and Part B), deductibles, copayments and/or coinsurance.
- SLMB: SLMB pays for a person's Medicare Part B premium.
- QDWI: QDWI helps pay for a person's Part A premium.
- QI: QI is only available for people who don't qualify for any other Medicaid coverage or benefits, but you may qualify for help from another Medicare Savings Program.
To apply for an MSP, you will need to contact your state to find out which program(s) you qualify for.
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Applying online
Applying for Medicare online is a straightforward process. Firstly, you need to establish whether you are eligible for Medicare. Medicare is a health insurance program for people aged 65 or older or those with certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure.
If you are eligible, you can then proceed to apply online. You will need to create a secure 'my Social Security' account to sign up for Medicare or apply for benefits. You can contact your local Social Security office for assistance. If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, you will need to call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772.
After you have signed up, you will receive a welcome package with your Medicare card in the mail within about two weeks. If you are applying for Part B and live outside the U.S., you may need to get help signing up. You will then receive a welcome package with your Medicare number, which you will need to create your secure Medicare account.
It is important to note that you can only sign up for Part B at certain times. If you do not sign up for Part B when you turn 65, you may have to pay a monthly late enrollment penalty.
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Cancelling Medicare coverage
Cancelling Medicare Part B
Cancelling Medicare Part B involves contacting the Social Security Administration by calling 800-772-1213 or using the Social Security office locator to contact a local office. If you were recently automatically enrolled and received a welcome packet, you can follow the instructions in the packet for dropping Part B and return the enclosed Medicare card.
Cancelling Medicare Part C
Medicare Part C plans are contracted plans that lock you in until December 31 unless you have another enrollment period. You can only terminate a Medicare Advantage plan during a valid enrollment period. If you have an enrollment period, you can cancel by contacting your plan.
Cancelling Medicare Part D
You can drop your Medicare Part D drug plan during the Open Enrollment period between October 15 and December 7 each year. To disenroll, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), mail or fax a signed written notice to the plan, submit an online request, or call the plan and ask them to send you a disenrollment notice to complete and return.
Cancelling a Medicare Supplement Plan
Contact your Medicare Supplement insurance company for their specific disenrollment process. Some programs require written notice, while others allow cancellation over the phone.
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Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as some individuals under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. There are four parts to Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D, each covering different aspects of healthcare.
Part A provides inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home healthcare. It is free if you have worked and paid Medicare taxes for a minimum of 10 years, or if you are eligible based on your spouse's work history. You will automatically receive Part A when you turn 65, but if you want to sign up for it earlier, you can do so by applying for benefits from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.
Part B covers outpatient/medical services. Most people pay a monthly premium for Part B, and the amount depends on your income level. You need to sign up for Part B if you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S. If you do not enroll within three months of turning 65 or within three months of Part A starting, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty.
Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a private insurance option that serves as an alternative to Parts A and B. It typically includes Parts A, B, and sometimes D, but with different rules, costs, and restrictions. Medicare Advantage plans often have network restrictions, which may limit your choice of doctors and hospitals.
Part D covers prescription medications, including certain shots and vaccines. You can obtain Part D by joining a stand-alone Medicare drug plan or by enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage.
To apply for Medicare Parts A and B, you can do so online through the Social Security Administration or by calling the Railroad Retirement Board if you or your spouse worked for a railroad. You will receive a welcome package with your Medicare card about two weeks after signing up or three months before your coverage starts.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to apply for Medicare:
- Online at Social Security
- By calling the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772 if you or your spouse worked for a railroad
- By calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213
- By filling out form CMS-40B and sending the completed form to your local Social Security office by fax or mail
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) are the two main components. If you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S., you need to sign up for Part B. Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) is a private insurance option that covers hospital and medical costs, while Part D covers prescription medications.
Medicare is generally for people aged 65 or older. However, you may be able to get Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure), or ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
