If you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you may be automatically enrolled. If you are automatically enrolled, you don’t need to pay a premium for Part A. For more information about automatic enrollment, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. If you are not automatically enrolled, you can enroll by calling Social Security or enroll online at www.ssa.gov.

Medicare covers health care services and items that are medically necessary and reasonable as follows:

• Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, inpatient skilled nursing facility stays, home health care, and hospice care.

• Part B covers outpatient medical services such as doctor visits, diagnostic lab tests, and preventive care.

• Part D covers most prescription drugs.

Note: Part C refers to Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. An MA plan is an alternative to original fee-for-service Medicare. MA plans are sponsored by Medicare, which pays private insurance companies to provide health services. For more information, see Medicare Advantage.

Part A (hospital insurance) premium

• Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse has 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

• The premium is $248.00 per month for people having 30–39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

• The premium is $450.00 per month for people who are not otherwise eligible for premium-free hospital insurance and have less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Part B (medical insurance) premium
If your income is above $85,000 (single) or $170,000 (married couple), your Part B premium may be higher than $174.70 per month. For more information about income-related adjustment amounts or to apply for Parts A or B, visit www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/ or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

If you have creditable prescription drug coverage (as good as or better than the standard Part D benefit), you may delay Part D enrollment without penalty—for example, VA benefits or TRICARE for Life.
If you do not have creditable coverage, you may pay a 1% per month penalty on future premiums for each month without a prescription drug plan. Since Medicare doesn’t cover all my health care costs, what are some ways to supplement it? Most people supplement Medicare with other coverage, such as a Medigap plan, retiree plan, or VA benefits (if eligible). Others choose Medicare Advantage plans.

Both are offered by private insurers:

• Medigap plans fill the gaps in Parts A and B (deductibles, copays, coinsurance).

• Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) provide all Part A and B benefits through a private plan and often include additional services like prescription drugs. Advantage plans may be HMOs, PPOs, or private fee-for-service plans. Original Medicare does not pay for services when you’re enrolled in an Advantage plan.

If you do not have creditable coverage, you may pay a 1% per month penalty on future premiums for each month without a prescription drug plan. Since Medicare doesn’t cover all my health care costs, what are some ways to supplement it? Most people supplement Medicare with other coverage, such as a Medigap plan, retiree plan, or VA benefits (if eligible). Others choose Medicare Advantage plans.

We can help you compare plans and guide you through enrollmen – contact us! Or compare Part D plans at medicare.gov.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans can be purchased in addition to Original
Medicare to help cover additional costs that are not covered by Original Medicare, while
Medicare Advantage plans are a combination of Part A, Part B, Part D, and sometimes additional benefits.

For most individuals, your first time signing up for Medicare will be in your Initial Enrollment Period, which begins three months before you turn 65 and lasts for seven months.

If you are receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, you may be
automatically enrolled. If you are automatically enrolled, you don’t need to pay a premium for Part A. For more information about automatic enrollment, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
If you are not automatically enrolled, you can enroll by calling Social Security or enroll online at www.ssa.gov.

Medicare to help cover additional costs that are not covered by Original Medicare, while
Medicare Advantage plans are a combination of Part A, Part B, Part D, and sometimes additional benefits.