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How to sign up for Medicare?

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 getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board, you'll need to sign up for Medicare and it must be done 3 months before you turn 65. 

 If you live in Puerto Rico and get benefits from Social Security or the RRB, you'll automatically get Part A  the first day of the month you turn 65 or after you get disability benefits for 24 months. However, if you also want to have PART B, you'll need to sign up for it.
Check  CMS.gov/medicare/cms-forms/cms-forms/cms-forms-items/cms017339.html or contact your Social Security or RRB for more information.

You can either go for Initial Enrollment Period which is signing up during the 7-month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn 65. If you sign up during the 3 months of your first enrollment period, your coverage starts on the first day of your birth month. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, coverage starts on the first day of the earlier month.

If you enroll the month you turn 65, the starting date of your coverage will very much likely be delayed.

If all of those don't work for you, there is still a chance to sign up using the Special Enrollment Period. This is during the 8-month period that begins the month after the employment ends or the coverage ends, whichever happens first. In this enrollment, the penalty for late employment does not apply. However, this is not applicable for those who have End-Stage Renal Disease and those who are still on the Initial Enroll
ment Period.

If you didn't sign up for a Part A and/or Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period and you don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can still sign up using the General Enrollment Period which happens between January 01- March 31 of each year. However, your coverage won't start until the 1st of July of that year and you may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment.

So better set your priorities, track down your schedules and be on time to prevent higher premium pays and delays on your coverage.

Next blog will be, whether you should get Medicare Part B or not.

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