Medicare is a type of health insurance available for people age 65 or older. If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare after 24 months of receiving disability benefits or when you turn 65 – whichever comes first. You will receive a welcome package from Social Security with your Medicare card three months before your Medicare coverage begins.
If you have ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease), you will get Medicare automatically as soon as you start getting disability benefits.
Working past the age of 65
If you or your spouse are still working when you turn 65, the Medicare enrollment process is slightly different. Knowing when to sign up is critical to avoid missing the enrollment window. You can follow the “Getting Social Security benefits after 65” path to obtain all the necessary information.
What do Social Security benefits have to do with Medicare?
Before you turn 65:
- Suppose you apply for retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board at least four months before 65. In that case, you will automatically be enrolled in Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) once you reach 65.
- You will need to decide how to obtain coverage, including drug coverage.
If you are about to turn 65 and do not plan to take retirement benefits, you must sign up for Medicare to get coverage. When you are ready, contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare. You can also apply online or by phone. Our team at Senior Help is available to help you apply online.
After 65:
- You must contact Social Security when you want to sign up for Medicare.
- Depending on your work situation and if you have health coverage through your employer, you may want to wait to sign up for Medicare.
If you miss the initial enrollment period, you can still enroll between January 1 and March 31 each year. However, you will likely face a lifelong penalty if you sign up during this time. Rest assured; special enrollment periods are available for unique situations.
If you need more help.
If you are still unsure about which path to take, or if you don’t think any of these situations apply to you, our team at Senior Help And You is here to help! You can call us at 1-877-835-9806 or send us an email at info@seniorhelpandyou.com. Talk to a licensed insurance agent.
