On the other hand, Medicare Part A enrollment if you’re still working at 65 will depend on if you have enough work history to get Part A without a premium. If you’ve worked at least 10 years (40 quarters) and qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Part A when you turn 65 even if you’re still working at the time. However, if you don’t have enough work quarters to get Medicare Part A without a premium, you’ll also need to manually enroll in Part A.
If you need to sign up for Part A and/or Part B, you can sign up during the following times:
• Initial Enrollment Period — When you are first eligible for Medicare, you have a seven-month period to sign up. This seven-month period begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn 65, and ends three months after you turn 65.
• General Enrollment Period — If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up between Jan. 1 through March 31 each year. Your coverage will begin July 1. You may have to pay a higher premium for late enrollment.
• Special Enrollment Period — If you or your spouse (or family member if you are disabled) is currently working and you are covered by a health insurance through an employer or union, you will have a Special Enrollment Period when your coverage ends. There is also a Special Enrollment Period for international volunteers if you are serving as a volunteer in a foreign country.
For example: If your 65th birthday is Oct. 20, and you automatically qualify for Medicare, your Medicare effective date would be Oct.1. If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Medicare Part A and Part B will be effective on the first day of the prior month. So then, if your 65th birthday is Oct. 1 ,your Medicare effective date would be Sept. 1.
If you are under age 65 and receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits, you automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits from Social Security or certain benefits from the RRB for more than 24 months. You will get your Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday or your 25th month of disability.
If you have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease), you automatically get Part A and Part B the month your disability benefits begin.
If you have end-stage renal disease (ESRD), different rules apply. You can contact the Social Security Administration to learn more about Medicare eligibility because of end-stage renal disease by calling 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 7AM to 7PM (TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778).
Changing plans: Annual Election Period
The Annual Election Period, which is when you can change your Medicare health or prescription drug coverage, is Oct.15 through Dec. 7. You coverage will begin Jan. 1 of the following year, as long as the plan gets your enrollment request by Dec. 7. In most cases, you must stay enrolled for the calendar year.
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