SIMPLE IS BETTER. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICARE.

As always, if you want more detail, you can speak to one of our Benefits Consultants at 1-888-492-8633 (TTY 711) October 1- March 31, 7 days a week, 8 am - 8 pm April 1-September 30, Monday-Friday, 8 am – 8 pm, or visit www.medicare.gov.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD).

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) 

Part B covers certain doctors' services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.

Signing up for Part A & Part B

Some people get Part A & Part B automatically

You may qualify for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) if one of the following applies to you:

If you're automatically enrolled, you'll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of disability.

Some people need to sign up for Part A & Part B 

You need to sign up for Part A and Part B if you aren't getting Social Security or RRB benefits (for example, because you're still working).

When you first get Medicare

When you're first eligible for Medicare, you have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B.

Example

For example, if you're eligible for Medicare when you turn 65, you can sign up during the 7-month period that:

In most cases, if you don’t sign up for Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible, you’ll have to pay a late enrollment penalty. You'll have to pay this penalty for as long as you have Part B and could have a gap in your health coverage.

Your Medicare Coverage Choices

There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage— Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Some people get additional coverage, like Medicare prescription drug coverage or Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). Use these steps to help you decide what coverage you want:

Step 1: Decide if you want Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Iike an HMO or PPO)

You can choose Original Medicare. 

You can choose a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan.

Step 2: Decide if you want prescription drug coverage (Part D)

You chose Original Medicare in Step 1.

You chose a Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan in Step 1. 

Step 3: Decide if you want supplemental coverage

You chose Original Medicare in Step 1.