HOW TO ENROLL
If you are getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you'll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. Since, you must pay for Part B, you have the option of turning it down. If you don't turn down Part B, you'll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. The one exception is if your birthday is on the first day of the month, then you'll receive Part A and Part B the first day of the prior month. Social Security will send you a confirmation letter of your eligibility a few months prior to your birthday. You'll also automatically get Part A and Part B after receiving 24 months of Social Security Disability (SSDI), RRB benefits or if you have ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also call Lou Gehrigs's disease.
Initial Enrollment Period For all individuals not automatically enrolled in Medicare, including individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you will usually need to sign up for Part A and Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period. Your Initial Enrollment Period is a once in a lifetime event. Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long and begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. Here's all you need to do to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period:
General Enrollment Period Didn't sign up for Part A and/or Part B when you were first eligible? Don't worry. You can sign up between January 1 through March 31 each year, which is called your General Enrollment Period. Here's what you need to know:
Special Note: The cost of Medicare Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t take it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare Part B. If you or your spouse are still it may benefit you to delay Medicare Part B enrollment without paying higher premiums. Please call us at 1-888-312-3677 or get a free MisterMedicare Checkup™ to confirm that delaying Part B is your best option until after you (or your spouse) stop working.
Special Enrollment Period A Special Enrollment Period can occur if you didn’t take Medicare Part B when you were first eligible because you or your spouse were working and had group health plan coverage through your or your spouse’s employer or union and was considered "creditable coverage." You are considered to have "creditable coverage" if your group health plan benefit is at least as good as the benefit provided by Medicare. If this coverage ends for any reason, you may be able to sign up for Medicare Part B during a Special Enrollment Period. You may sign up:
March 31 of each year. You may then have to pay a higher Medicare Part B premium because you could have had Medicare Part B and didn't take it. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-888-312-3677.
Don’t miss out benefit you have earned. Our government is working hard to make sure you have basic health care and income that can minimize the risks that we all face from loss of income, injury, or illness as we grow old and/or reach the point where we can no longer work. Medicare and Social Security are frequently misunderstood for many reasons but it is important for you to choose the right options for yourself. What you select will depend on the complicated combination of your medical situation, financial resources, family situation, and what you want for yourself and your family. Recent changes in Medicare and other government programs may entitle you to quality health care at a cost you can afford, more income, and a better lifestyle. Even if you already know the ins and outs of Medicare and Social Security and other government programs in your area, are you aware of the many supplemental plans provided by private companies that may give you coverage and income beyond what the government provides? Unfortunately, fewer than half of all seniors and retirees that are entitled to these benefits actually apply for them.
Initial Enrollment Period For all individuals not automatically enrolled in Medicare, including individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), you will usually need to sign up for Part A and Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period. Your Initial Enrollment Period is a once in a lifetime event. Your Initial Enrollment Period is 7 months long and begins 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. Here's all you need to do to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period:
- Contact Social Security at 800-772-1213 three months prior to your birthday (Monday thru Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on holidays), or in person at your local social security office to enroll in Part A (usually premium free) and Part B (for which you pay a monthly premium) or you can online at your convenience, 24 hours/7 days, a week at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retirement. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may also call 800-325-0778 (for TTYusers).
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Place of Birth
- Marriage dates (if applicable). If you are unsure of the exact date, you may estimate.
- Divorce dates (if applicable). If you are unsure of the exact date, you may estimate.
- Spouse (or Ex Spouse) date of birth or date of birth and place of birth.
General Enrollment Period Didn't sign up for Part A and/or Part B when you were first eligible? Don't worry. You can sign up between January 1 through March 31 each year, which is called your General Enrollment Period. Here's what you need to know:
- Your coverage will start July 1 of the year you sign up.
- If need Part A and Part B or if you have Part A and didn't sign up for Part B, during this time, you can sign up at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY users should call 1-800-325-0778).
- If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), call your local RRB office or 1-877-772-5772.
Special Note: The cost of Medicare Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t take it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare Part B. If you or your spouse are still it may benefit you to delay Medicare Part B enrollment without paying higher premiums. Please call us at 1-888-312-3677 or get a free MisterMedicare Checkup™ to confirm that delaying Part B is your best option until after you (or your spouse) stop working.
Special Enrollment Period A Special Enrollment Period can occur if you didn’t take Medicare Part B when you were first eligible because you or your spouse were working and had group health plan coverage through your or your spouse’s employer or union and was considered "creditable coverage." You are considered to have "creditable coverage" if your group health plan benefit is at least as good as the benefit provided by Medicare. If this coverage ends for any reason, you may be able to sign up for Medicare Part B during a Special Enrollment Period. You may sign up:
- Anytime you are still covered by the employer or union group health plan through your or your spouse’s current or active employment.
- During the 8 months following the month the employer or union group health plan coverage ends, or when the employment ends (whichever is first).
- If you become disabled and working (or you have coverage from a working family member).
March 31 of each year. You may then have to pay a higher Medicare Part B premium because you could have had Medicare Part B and didn't take it. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-888-312-3677.
Don’t miss out benefit you have earned. Our government is working hard to make sure you have basic health care and income that can minimize the risks that we all face from loss of income, injury, or illness as we grow old and/or reach the point where we can no longer work. Medicare and Social Security are frequently misunderstood for many reasons but it is important for you to choose the right options for yourself. What you select will depend on the complicated combination of your medical situation, financial resources, family situation, and what you want for yourself and your family. Recent changes in Medicare and other government programs may entitle you to quality health care at a cost you can afford, more income, and a better lifestyle. Even if you already know the ins and outs of Medicare and Social Security and other government programs in your area, are you aware of the many supplemental plans provided by private companies that may give you coverage and income beyond what the government provides? Unfortunately, fewer than half of all seniors and retirees that are entitled to these benefits actually apply for them.
Request our free MisterMedicare Checkup™ now. It can help you determine if you may be eligible for benefits from programs that may assist you with your expenses. Our goal is to help you get all the benefits that you are eligible for and assist you in determining the value of any supplemental plans that may minimize your personal risk and/or increase your access to cash when needed. Remember, Medicare and Social Security work together to form a safety net for American workers and their families who are either to old to work or unable to work because of illness, injury, or disability. Medicare and Social Security are different sides of the same coin, Medicare provides health care and Social Security provides income. Together, these two major government programs provide much needed benefits to the poorest of Medicare beneficiaries and additional benefits to the wealthy. Add the many supplemental plans provided by private companies that may give additional coverage and income beyond what the government provides and even the wealthiest of Medicare beneficiaries would be wise to review their current benefits. Yet, few Medicare beneficiaries whether wealthy or poor apply to receive benefits from these programs.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of our "Get Your Free MisterMedicare Checkup™" page. This is an exclusive offer only available from MisterMedicare™ to current Medicare beneficiaries, at any age, residing in the states of Illinois and Indiana. In addition, citizens in these two states that are between 64 - 65 years old are also eligible for this valuable service. This service is provided to you at no cost and any information you share is always private.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of our "Get Your Free MisterMedicare Checkup™" page. This is an exclusive offer only available from MisterMedicare™ to current Medicare beneficiaries, at any age, residing in the states of Illinois and Indiana. In addition, citizens in these two states that are between 64 - 65 years old are also eligible for this valuable service. This service is provided to you at no cost and any information you share is always private.