Introduction To Medicare

What is Medicare?

How is Medicare Different From Other Health Insurance?

• Choose hospital and medical coverage delivered through the federal government.
• Add prescription drug coverage delivered through a private company.
• Purchase a supplemental insurance policy from a private insurer that can help cover some of the costs.
• Choose coverage from a private insurer that combines hospital, medical and often prescription drug coverage into one plan.

Who is Eligible for Medicare?

Age 65 +

Under age 65 with certain disabilities

Have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

When and How Do I Enroll?

If you’re receiving benefits

from any of these sources at least four months before you turn 65:

• You’ll automatically get Medicare 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.

If you’re not receiving benefits

from any of these sources at least four months before you turn 65:

• You’ll need to sign up with Social Security to get Medicare Part A and Part B.
• You can apply online at socialsecurity.gov, at your local Social Security office or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).
• If you worked for a railroad, call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772.

If you’re under 65 and have a qualifying disability,

you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B:

• After you get disability benefits from Social Security for 24 months.
• After you get certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months.
• The month your disability benefits begin if you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

If you have ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease),

you can choose to enroll in Part A and Part B:

• You’ll need both Part A and Part B to qualify for the full benefits that cover certain dialysis and kidney transplant services.
• You can apply online at socialsecurity.gov, at your local Social Security office or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).

What If I Continue to Work Past the Age of 65?

Stay with the employer health plan as your primary coverage and delay Medicare enrollment.

Enroll in Medicare Part A and use it as secondary coverage to help pay for things the employer health plan doesn’t cover. One thing to note - you can no longer contribute to a commercial HSA once enrolled in Medicare Part A.

Choose to delay enrolling in Medicare Part B until the employment ends or the coverage stops, without paying late enrollment penalties if you enroll later.