When to & How to apply for — MediCare!

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Call John C Parker's Google voiice #  today at (860) 451-9793 to meet and eliminate the confusion on signing up! 

The sections of this page, to the right and below, highlight the  —  correct steps for when & what to do:

Some background on MediCare:

  ● When you sign up for Part A & Part B [called original Medicare] it is important to understand Part B  —  does not pay 100% of Medicare"s approved amount for the outpatient treatment you received.. 

  ● The question then is —What to do about the part of the approved amount MediCare does not pay?    Answer —Buy a plan from either of these private company, which work with MediCare:  

    + a Medicare Advantage Plan.  —  Details on how they work and what you gain are on this page  

    + a Medicare Supplement approved for CT.  —  Details on how they work and what you gain are on this page   

Quick answer — Nothing — unless you want to sign up! 

 ● Social Security (SS) not MediCare develops the eligibility & enrollment regulations to sign up for Part A & Part B — I like to call them rules! They tell us: 

     -> a person becomes what MediCare calls — "eligible" to sign up for coverage the 1st day of the month when 65! 

      Note: Individuals under 65  who have been receiving Social Security disability for 24 months also become eligible.

Remember — you do not have to sign up at 65! 

Key — most importantly — SS  processes a person's applications so I recommend calling the Local SS office in New London - it's (866) 643-3401:

  -> ask to speak with or time to call a retirement person 

Note: When your application is complete and are covered you are consideed "entitled" which is MediCare's name for the date your coverage began for..

    -> Part A for inpatient hospital services.

    -> Part B for medically necessary outpatient services.

BTW — entitled is - printed on each ID card above Part A and Part B to show when each part of a person's coverage started!

The IEP is a seven month period with the person's eligible month in the middle. 

    Note: Eligible month is moved to the previous month when an individual's birthday is on the 1st.  

Want to sign up at 65? 

Good News:  Starting January 2023 SS's sign up rules for individuals turning 65 are less complicated..   

A person can submitt an application for Part A & Part B during:  

● Either of the three months before eligible. If applying during this time you will be considered what MediCare calls entitled (covered) for both A &  B the first day of your eligible month.  

● Their  eligible month or in either of the three months after. This results in: 

   ->  Part A continuing to be the first of their eligible month.

   -> Part B being effective the first of the month after the date of the application. 

Call John C Parker's Google Voice # at (860) 451-9793  if any questions about the IEP. 

The most common SEP is when an Individual, over 65 and covered by an employer medical plan, decides to sign up for Medicare's Part B.

The SEP rules say: 

● A person can sign up anytime, IF covered by their or a spouses employer medical plan. 

● Part B can begin, whichever is first, the month after: 

    -> employment or 

    -> employer coverage ends  

If apply while still on the employer plan: 

● Part B can start the First of any of the following three months.

If apply after leaving the employer plan Plan B can start the first of:

 ● That month if apply in the month after leaving – thus no days without coverage.

● Next month if apply in any of remaining eight months of their SEP: 

What are the — steps to sign up: 

● Call the Local Social Security office to talk to a Retirement person, or for a time to call, about:

     -> Completing the Part B application. 

     -> Options to pay your share of the monthly cost of Part B

     -> Getting Form CMS-L564. Your employer fills in dates covered by the medical benefit plan and signs.

● Returning the CMS-L564 means the person:

      -> qualifies for the Part B SEP.  

      -> will not have to pay Part B's late enrollment penalty. 

     Note: If proof of prior coverage is not available - an additional 10% is added to Part B's cost for each 12 months after eligible. 

● You can also get the sign up forms on this link –  CMS-40B the Part B sign up form and  – CMS L564 form to show you have coverage.

     Alert - If working past 65 and participating in a HSA and planning to sign up for Part B Part A will be activated back six months from the date they become entitled to B!  This means HSA contributions must stop six months before Part B's date. 

Call John C Parker at (860) 451-9793. [Google Voice #] if any questions about this SEP.

The GEP is available for a person, who for some reason, did not apply during their IEP when turned 65 nor had a life change situation to qualify for a SEP

The GEP has special rules which limit when a person can apply for Part B:

 ● An application can only be submitted to SS between Jan 1st and March 31st.

Good News: Beginning Jan 2023 Part B will be effective the first of the month after applying.

OK! If a GEP has to be used what can a person do about medical treatment coverage? 

  ● If Part A was:

      ->  just activated they have coverage for any hospital situations and can sign up for a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan and have coverage for medications.

       ->  previously effective they have coverage for any hospital situations.

The disadvantage if using a GEP   — having to wait until Jan, Feb, or Mar to sign up for coverage of outpatient treatment. 

Call John C Parker at (860) 451-9793. [Google Voice #] if any questions about the GEP  

You can also send a note —  John@MedicarePlansSECT.com