I’m so glad to hear from you! Several have called about getting their red white and blue Medicare card. Here’s one call I received “I’m turning 65 in October and I don’t have my red white and blue Medicare card. My friend is turning 65 in October and she’s already received her card. Why did she get hers and I haven’t gotten mind?”
Let’s talk about some basic things related to Medicare. First thing is getting your red white and blue card Medicare card. You will get your Medicare card automatically if one of these situations applies to you. If you’re already receiving Social Security, you will automatically get your red white and blue Medicare card showing Medicare Part A and Part B. This will start the first day of the month you turn 65. (There is a tricky rule that if your birthday is the first day of the month, your Medicare will be effective the first of the previous month.) If you’re under 65 and are receiving Social Security disability benefits, you will get your Medicare card showing Part A and Part B on the 25th month of your disability (the 25th month since you have been receiving Social Security disability benefits.). If you have ALS, you will get your Medicare card showing Part A and Part B when your Medicare disability benefits begin. If you fall in one of these categories, you should receive your Medicare red white and blue card 3 months before it goes into effect. If you do not fall in one of these categories, you will need to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B. So if you’re not getting Social Security benefits or have ESRD, you will have to sign up. Where and when? You can either go to one of the local Social Security offices, call Social Security or, if you feel comfortable using the internet, you can enroll online. Another person asked “When do I have to sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B? I don’t want to have to pay a late penalty!” Good question because there are only certain times when you can sign up. Most people sign up when they are first eligible for Medicare benefits - when they turn 65. You have a 7 month “initial enrollment period”. This enrollment period is 3 months before you turn 65, the month you turn 65 and 3 months after you turned 65. Yes, there is a late enrollment penalty in most cases, if you do not sign up for Medicare Part B when you were first eligible. This late penalty will never go away – it will stay with you as long as you have Part B. There are 2 other times you can sign up for Part A and Part B. We’ll talk about those next time. If you need to know before then, call 501-868-6650 and say “Caroline, can we talk? I need to talk about other enrollment periods.
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AuthorCaroline Beauchamp specializes in personalized life and health insurance solutions. Archives
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