For Part A coverage , you don't usually pay a monthly premium if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxed while working for a certain amount of time. This is a  premium-free Part A . If you are not eligible, then you will need to buy Part A. In most cases, if you choose to buy Part A, you must also have part B and pay monthly premiums for both. But you can still buy Part B even if you choose not to take Part A. People who have to buy Part A will pay up $458 every month in 2020. PART A LATE ENROLLMENT PENALTY If you aren't eligible for premium-free Part A and you don't buy it when you're first eligible, your monthly premium may go up to 10%. You'll have to pay higher premiums for twice the several years you could have had Part A but didn't sign up. For example, You were eligible for Part A for 2 years but didn't sign up, you'll have to pay a 10% higher premiums for 4 years. Standard Part B premium amount in 2020 is $144.60. Mo...

When you have other insurance aside from Medicare, there are rules on whether who pays first. If you have a Retiree Insurance , Medicare pays first.  If you are 65 years or older and you have a group plan coverage based on your or your's spouse's current employment and the employer has 20 or more employees, your group health plan pays first. If you're under 65, have a disability and a group health plan coverage based on your or your family member's current employment, and the employer has more than 100 or more employees, your group health plan pays first. If you're under 65 and have a disability and the employer has fewer than 100 employees , Medicare pays first.  If you have Medicare because of End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD ) , your group health plan will pay first for the first 30 months after you become eligible to enroll in Medicare. Medicare will then pay after this 30-month period.  If you have Medicaid , Medicaid pays first. ...

Do I need to get Medicare Part B?, I am so undecided, can you help me get the best choice? If you're in a level of great confusion about whether to get Medicare Part B or not, perhaps this will help you decide or this will give you an ample idea as to what you need to know just in case. If you have one of the following aside from Medicare Part A, then you must know these; EMPLOYER/UNION COVERAGE : If you or your spouse or family member (disability) is still working and you have health coverage through that employer, contact your employer to find out how your coverage works with Medicare.  This includes federal or state employees and active-duty military service.  It might be an advantage to you to delay Part B enrollment. Remember, coverage based on current employment does not include  COBRA, RETIREE COVERAGE, VA COVERAGE, and INDIVIDUAL HEALTH COVERAGE. TRICARE : If you have  TRICARE  ( health care program for active-duty and retired service m...

I bet you have already made up your mind after reading my earlier blog. I hope so. Indeed, being insured will be the best decision anyone can make. Now, the next big question is, how will I sign up for Medicare? Some people get Medicare Part A and Part B automatically. These are those who are already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board ( RRB ). Usually, this starts from the first day you turn 65 or if you're not under 65 but you have a  disability. Also, if you have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease) , you'll also get Part A and part B automatically on the month your Social Security disability benefits begin. Once enrolled, you will get a red, white and blue Medicare card. This either comes thru mail 3 months before you turn 65 years old. However, while others have the luxury to automatically get a Medicare policy, some people have to sign up to get it. If you're close to 65 but not get...

For anyone who might not know, Medicare is a healthcare plan provider. It has 3 parts, Medicare Plan A, Medicare Plan B, and Plan D or commonly known as Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plan, and Prescription Plan.  Original Medicare is usually applicable for in-patient hospital service, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and home health care. It is also known as Hospital Insurance . While Medicare Advantage Plan or commonly known as Medical Insurance  covers mainly your Outpatient and Physician Services, laboratory tests, wellness, and others.  And lastly, Medicare Plan D  or the Prescription Drug Coverage which covers the cost of your prescription drugs. This plan is usually run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare. You have your options as to what Medicare Plan to get. Either you choose Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or you'll have Original Medicare and add on it a Medigap or Medicare Supplement Plan....

For free, personalized help with questions about appeals, buying other insurance, choosing a health plan, buying a Medigap policy and Medicare rights and protections. ALABAMA    State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIPs) -  1-800-243-5463 ALASKA    Medicare Information Office -  1-800-478-6065       TTY: 1-800-770-8973   ARIZONA  Arizon State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) 1-800-432-4040 ARKANSAS  Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) 1-800-224-6330 CALIFORNIA California health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) 1-800-434-0222 COLORADO State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) 1-888-696-7213 CONNECTICUT Connecticut's Program for Health Insurance Assistance, Outreach, Information & Referral, Counseling, Eligibility Screening (CHOICES) 1-800-9944-9422             DELAWARE Delawar...