People Are Eligible for Medicare for Different Reasons.
Some people are eligible when they turn 65. People under 65 may be eligible if they have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or certain Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) disability benefits for a minimum of 24 months. If they have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), there’s no waiting period for Medicare. Some people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) may be eligible for Medicare. It’s essential to know the different ways that people qualify for Medicare so you can help current and former employees and their dependents make appropriate and suitable decisions about their enrollment.
Some Individuals Get Medicare Part a (hospital Insurance) and Part B (medical Insurance) Automatically Whereas Some People Need to Sign up For Them.
People staying in the United States and U.S. Territories (except Puerto Rico) who are collecting Social Security—either disability or retirement are automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B as soon as they’re first eligible. They will receive a packet of information a few months before they turn 65 or get their 25th month of Social Security Disability or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits. At that time, they can opt to keep or decline Part B. However, they can’t decline Part A unless they withdraw their original application for Social Security and pay back all Social Security cash benefits.
People who aren’t collecting Social Security, or aren’t eligible for Social Security Retirement, will not automatically be enrolled in Medicare. They must sign up for it.
Enrollment in Medicare Can only Happen at Certain Times.
If someone is eligible for free Part A of Medicare due to their age, they can enroll in Part A any time after they’re first eligible for Medicare during the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Anyone may be eligible for premium-free Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. If someone is eligible for free Part A, coverage for Part A begins 6 months prior to the date they apply, but not earlier than the first month of being eligible for Medicare.
However, the law only allows for enrollment in Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and premium-Part A (Hospital Insurance), at specific times.
