Turning 65 Soon
If you’re about to turn 65 and confused about your Medicare options, you’re not alone.
My goal is to help you understand your options and to make the decisions that are right for you.
The first decision is deciding if you need to enroll in Medicare now.
If you are turning 65 and plan to continue to work, you have two options:
- If you work for a company with less than 20 employees, you MUST enroll in Part A and Part B of Original Medicare.
- If you work for a company with more than 20 employees, Medicare does not require you enroll in Part A or Part B (you can delay until you retire). Contact me and we can review.
If you are turning 65 and you do not plan to continue to work, then your first step is to enroll in Part A and Part B of Original Medicare.
Original Medicare is the federal health insurance program that serves people ages 65 and older or people with qualifying disabilities. To qualify for Medicare, you must be a legal resident living in the United States for at least five consecutive years and meet one of the following requirements:
- Age 65 or older
- Younger than 65 with a qualifying disability (a medical or physical condition lasting, or expected to last, more than 12 months and that prevents you from working)
- Any age with end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant)
Original Medicare is a fee-for-service plan managed by the federal government. When you sign up, you receive a Medicare card, which makes you eligible for Medicare-approved services.
Original Medicare allows you to choose any doctor, hospital or other facility that accepts Medicare. Original Medicare includes:
To enroll in Original Medicare, you need to sign up during the 7-month time period that begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and continues for three months afterward.
If you are already receiving Social Security benefits when you turn 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. You should receive your Medicare card in the mail prior to or around your 65th birthday.
If you are not receiving Social Security benefits, you may apply for Medicare Part A and Part B 90 days prior to your 65th birthday by clicking here.
After enrolling in Part A and Part B of Original Medicare you will have the option of supplementing your Original Medicare coverage with a:
Note – Neither Original Medicare Part A nor Part B nor a Medicare Supplement plan will cover prescription drug benefits. For prescription drug coverage, you will have to enroll in a separate Part D plan. Many of the Medicare Advantage plans DO include prescription drug benefits.
Choosing the right Medicare coverage can feel overwhelming, but there are a variety of resources to help and I can guide you through them.