Enrolling in Medicare

Medicare can be confusing, but as soon as you understand the different parts of Medicare and how they work together, it all makes sense in short order

UNDERSTANDING AND AVOIDING THE TOP 10 MEDICARE MISTAKES FOR NEW MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES

HELPING YOU TO UNDERSTAND MEDICARE PDP PLANS Prescription drug plans help cover the costs of medications not included in original Medicare. They are offered by private insurance companies that contract with the Medicare program. These plans may come with various premiums, deductibles, and copayments. It's essential to understand how these different components work to select the most beneficial plan.

THE QUESTION "HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MEDICARE PLAN FOR YOU AND YOUR NEEDS" MAY SOUND SIMPLE, BUT IT IS SO TRUE. YOU NEVER WANT TO GET A PLAN BASED ON OTHER PEOPLE'S RECOMMENDATIONS, BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE AREN'T YOU.

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE ENROLLMENT DEADLINES Medicare enrollment deadlines are specific periods when you can sign up for or make changes to your Medicare coverage. These deadlines are crucial because they determine when you can enroll in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), Part B (medical insurance), Part C (Medicare Advantage), and Part D (prescription drug coverage). Here are the main enrollment periods to keep in mind: Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This is a

Once you’re enrolled in Parts A and B, the next step is determining how you want to receive your benefits. You have two primary options: stick with Original Medicare, which allows you to visit any provider and any hospital in the US, or choose Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, which bundles hospital, medical, and often drug coverage into one plan.

When your Medicare card arrives, the first thing to do is verify your Part A and Part B effective dates. These dates are essential because they determine when your coverage begins. Mistakes, although rare, can still occur, so be sure to double-check your Medicare Card for accuracy.

There can be consequences and penalties if a new Medicare Beneficiary does not enroll in Medicare within their IEP, provided they have no other "Creditable Medical Coverage", such as a Group Employer Health Plan from a company with more than 20 Employees, or FEHB Members.

Getting older can be challenging.  The healthcare options available to you may seem confusing or unnecessary.  Your inexperience in this new chapter, coupled with ongoing health concerns, creates a recipe for disaster.   With age comes wisdom, and knowing how to navigate the system will demonstrate it.  Getting the coverage and protection that you need is much easier than it seems.  Here are three essential parts of enrolling in Medicare that will help guide you through the p

One of the interesting aspects of enrolling in Medicare is the fact that you apply for Medicare benefits through the Social Security Administration.  The SSA processes each Medicare enrollment application because it has access to all of your personal information, and it is more efficient for them to vet each prospective Medicare beneficiary first.  Once your application is approved, you will receive a letter confirming your enrollment and that your Medicare Card will arrive b

When you are new to Medicare and Enrolling in Medicare, your first chance to sign up for Medicare is during your Initial Enrollment Period, which we’ll discuss a bit further in the next section.

The best available rate may depend on factors such as your age, gender, smoking status, marital status, and location. To ensure that you are getting the best available rate, you may want to check with your SHIP. If you purchase a Medigap during your open enrollment period, policies are limited in their ability to exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions, meaning conditions you had before you enrolled.

Most Americans do not realize that you apply for your Medicare Card through the Social Security website. Then, once you have received your card, all of your Medicare questions and inquiries will go through the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov or by calling Medicare 24/7 at 1-800-MEDICARE. This is the easiest and best way to apply for Medicare. You can do it online at www.ssa.gov. It is straightforward and takes about 10 minutes to complete.Look for the Blue Tab that say

Everything you need to know about Medicare starts here: there are three ways to receive Medicare coverage: Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D. Each option has its own benefits and costs. 

I know most Medicare Beneficiaries understand what they can do and what they need to do during AEP, which runs from October 15th through December 6th each year. Hopefully, this article is a quick read and full of timely information, serving as both a reminder and a call to action where applicable. Enjoy....................................

Here at Braden Medicare Insurance, it is almost an oxymoron to say the words Medicare and Reader's Digest Form in the same sentence. That is simply because Medicare is so broad and complex that it is challenging to encapsulate the concepts in a book, let alone a chapter, and have them make sense. In this article, we have done our best to present the condensed Reader's Digest version of Medicare. We hope you find the article helpful and worthwhile.