In the year before I turned 65, I realized that I had to apply for Medicare. If I had not known this, the wealth of solicitations, including multiples from the same few companies, that I received made it abundantly clear.
Technically, I had to apply within the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, which:
Begins 3 months before the month you turn 65
Includes the month you turn 65
Ends 3 months after the month you turn 65
I waited until May and applied online. In short order, I received my Medicare card dated March 1. “Most people should enroll in Part A when they turn 65, even if they have health insurance from an employer. This is because most people paid Medicare taxes while they worked so they don’t pay a monthly premium for Part A.” Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care.
“Certain people may choose to delay Part B. In most cases, it depends on the type of health coverage you may have.” Some coverage might cover for Pulse Vascular (for vascular specialist in New Jersey). Since I’m still working at a job with decent health benefits, I am presuming I can postpone signing on to that section, which covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive services.
I HOPE that’s correct because “you may have to pay a Part B late enrollment penalty, and you may have a gap in coverage if you decide you want Part B later.” And the penalty is 10% per year.
I know a friend of mine who signed to Part B when she did not have to. And once you’ve signed on, you can’t UNsign.
In anticipation of this, I’ve been going to every doctor I’ve thought I should have seen years ago. My podiatrist has provided me with a pair of shoe inserts that compensate for my pigeon-toedness that I’ve experienced at least since I was in 7th grade.
My dermatologist checked my skin for irregularities and discovered actinic keratosis, a pre-cancerous condition, on the tip of my ear, which she sprayed with liquid nitrogen. So I’m redoubling my effort to use sunscreen ALL of the time, SPF 70 or better; and wearing a floppy hat, not just a cap that covers my pate. This is why I’ve been wearing long-sleeved shirts, even in the summer, for the past 15 years.
For ABC Wednesday
RE: Penalty for delaying enrollment in Part B: You will have a penalty-free “Special Enrollment Period” in which to enroll in that when you lose employer-provided benefits. I don’t recall whether that’s 30 or 90-days in which to do that.
I BELIEVE it’s the 1st 3 months of the year, and they’d take effect on July 1
Right points. Medicare is needed.
Hope God keeps us safe so that we won’t need it 🙂
This is something to look forward to 🙂
Since hubby had to do this 5 years before I, he knew the drill -so I have forgotten when I had to sign up, but I think I did A plus a complementary insurance (can’t remember if it was cheaper that way or some other reason – sorry, a blondie here!)
Hope you’ll get it all figured out in time:)
A much needed facility now.
Hope it goes smoothly for you.
Happy ABCW!
Being born, living in, a country where Healthcare is manadatory, I can not image how it must be to live without… I presume that it brings lots of worries eitherway
Have a splendid, ♥-warming ABC-Wednes-day / -week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♪ (ABC-W-team)
http://melodymusic.nl/22-Y
Thanks for making sense of Medicare especially the late enrollment fee ~ crazy world ~
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Someone told me that we have to pay that 10% penalty annually even after we’ve signed up late. I haven’t double-checked the detail yet. Medicare starts in December for me so I’ve been delaying seeing the doctor until then even though I have a decent health insurance plan. I hope I’m being wise.
I still have a few years left before I’m able to draw either social security or medicare.
I’m a personal care giver and I’ve help my client though the bureaucracy and I have no desire to have anything to do with medicaid.
But it would be nice if expand Medicare to all
Coffee is on
One of the joys of turning 65!!
Ann
Our health insurance system is completely different and obligatory for everybody. The amount is already deducted in your net salary. If you want more options then it’s private.
It’s very complicated… Like in Gattina’s country, our insurance system is obligatory. We pay it all life.