Enrolling In and Getting Set Up For Your Medicare Coverage
If you know prior to 65 that you will want to be on both Medicare Part A and Part B, then by the time you turn 64½ you should be starting the process of making sure that you will be receiving both Part A and Part B when you turn 65.
I say this because, many Medicare beneficiaries have overlooked this process. While, it seems, that most of the time you will be automatically enrolled in both Part A and Part B, sometimes for whatever reason, Medicare doesn’t give you Part B automatically. Then when you try to get Part B, you either have to wait and/or you may end up with the Part B Late Enrollment Penalty. And you don’t want that to happen, do you?
Step 1: Make Sure You Are Enrolled In Both Medicare Part A and Part B
As I said, many people are automatically enrolled into both Part A and Part B and will receive their Medicare card 3-6 months prior to turning 65. If you don’t receive a Medicare card by 3 months before you turn 65, then it is in your best interest to contact Social Security either in-person at a local office (if you have one that is convenient) by going Online to https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/#anchor4 or by calling them on the phone at 800-772-1213. You can also visit this for more info: https://www.medicare.gov/sign-up-change-plans/get-started-with-medicaretarget.
Step 2: Learn About and Review ALL Of Your Medicare Coverage Options By Meeting With Me
Call or e-mail to schedule an in-person or phone meeting to discuss your specific Medicare options.
I want you to make a wise and confident decision about your Medicare coverage options. The more you tell me about any health conditions, health concerns, medications, lifestyle, future plans…then the better I can help you make a wise and confident decision about your additional Medicare coverage.
During our meeting we will:
- Review whatever health conditions and concerns you want to share to help you best select the right coverage for your unique needs.
- Review your medications and use the Medicare Rx Calculator to make sure you are getting a plan that covers your medications well.
- Review specific plan options, premiums and benefits. For Medicare Part C and Part D, this does require that you sign what is called a Scope Of Appointment (SOA) form. This is required by Medicare and it must be done before I can review in detail specific plan benefits pertaining to Medicare Advantage Part C and Part D drug plans.
- Answer any questions or concerns you may have.
Step 3: Enroll In The Plan(s) Of Your Choice
Once you decide on the coverage you want, I will enroll you into the appropriate plan(s) either in-person (if you are local…usually within 60-90 minutes of my home in Charlottesville) or through electronically secure forms via e-mail and/or the Internet.
Question: Do you have to provide payment information when you enroll?
Answer: You will never pay me directly for anything.
For Part C and Part D, you have the following options for paying your premiums:
- Social Security or Railroad Retirement withdrawal: Your premiums for Part C and/or Part D can be automatically deducted from your monthly Social Security check. This is the simplest and most popular choice.</li?
- Automatic Bank Withdrawal: If you choose this option, then you will need to provide your bank information at the time I enroll you. This is me simply putting your bank account information into a secure, electronic form.
- Coupon Book: You can receive a monthly coupon book where you will write a check and send in your payment on a monthly basis. Yes, you can make more than one payment at a time this way.
- Credit Card: I recommend you don’t choose this option. But, if that’s what you want, then you will need to provide the credit card account information.
For a Medicare Supplement policy, almost every carrier/insurance company requires you submit your first payment with the application via an Automatic Bank Withdrawal.
For future payments, depending on the carrier, you may choose from Automatic Bank Withdrawal, coupon book and perhaps a credit card.
My recommendation is to ALWAYS choose the Automatic Bank Withdrawal. The reason is simple: If you choose a coupon book and miss a payment, then you could lose your Medicare Supplement policy and if you aren’t in good health, you will not get it back!
Step 4: Getting Started With Your New Coverage
Check Your Mail: After you enroll, you will receive your new cards and policy information typically within 14 days. At that time, review the information and if you have any questions, call me right away.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan you should receive a book called the Evidence of Coverage (EOC). This is a very detailed book about your plan benefits. You do not need to read the whole book, but you should review it to become familiar with it’s content and how all the benefits work and what is and isn’t included.
Welcome To Medicare Visit: Now that you are on Medicare, you have the option of visiting your doctor for your Welcome To Medicare Visit. You can learn more about what this visit entails by going here.
Preventive Services: Medicare and/or Medicare Advantage covers many Preventive Services at no cost to you (be sure to use plan approved providers). Services such as:
- Cancer screenings
- Flu Shots
- Mammograms
- Tobacco use cessation counseling
- Depression screening
- Alcohol misuse counseling
- Obesity screening and counseling
Go To Your Local Fitness Center: If your plan includes Silver Sneakers or some other fitness center membership and you have a center nearby, then visit that center and let them know that you have a Medicare plan that covers a fitness center membership. Have your new card with you to show them.
Use Your Additional Benefits: If you plan includes additional benefits like dental, vision or hearing, then find a network provider and start using those benefits.
Mail Order Pharmacy: If you are on prescription medications, you may want to sign up for the mail order pharmacy affiliated with your plan. Using mail order for your medications can be more convenient and many times can save you a good bit of money with lower copays through the mail order pharmacy.
Tell Your Friends and Family: If you have benefited from my services, then please refer your friends and family to me…it is the highest compliment you can give me.
