Navigating Enrolling in Medicare Rules What is my Effective date??

Toni:

I have a very different Medicare problem concerning how to enroll than any problems, I’ve seen in your Medicare column.

I turn 65 on Oct 10 of this year.  I am on my husband’s group health plan and have already met my total out of pocket for this year.  I would like to begin my Medicare with Part B effective January 1, 2015.

I am a non-working spouse and do not have enough quarters to receive Medicare on my own.  What do I do?

Looking forward to your response… Ann from West U area.

Anne:

Medicare has what is called the enrollment effective date schedule, which is not mentioned in the 2014 Medicare & You Handbook.  But on page 21 of the handbook, under “Initial Enrollment Period”, it states, “If you enroll in Part A and/or Part B the month you turn 65 or during the last 3 months of your Initial Enrollment Period, the start date for your Medicare coverage will be delayed”.

By discussing this enrollment situation with the Social Security rep at 1/800-772-1213, I learned that is may be possible for you to have your Medicare Parts A and/or B begin with a January 1^st  effective date.

The “effective date schedule” is the 7 month period which occurs 3 month before turning 65, the month you turn 65 and 3 after turning 65, but it is not as simple as this.

Below is the Medicare effective date schedule:

• Enrolling anytime 3 months before turning 65, your Medicare begins the first day of the month you turn 65.

Since you, Ann will turn 65 on October 10, 2014 you could have enrolled in Medicare                    Part A             and/or B in July, August or September (3 months prior) for an Oct. 1^st effective       date.

• Enroll the month you turn 65, then Medicare will begin 1 month after you sign up.

Ann could enroll in October; her Medicare begins November 1^st

• Enroll 1 month after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 2 months after you sign up.

If Ann enrolls in Nov; her Medicare begins January1^st  which is when she wants her                        coverage to begin.  She still needs to talk with Social Security to verify her effective date.

• Enroll 2 months after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 3 months after you sign up.

Had Ann enrolled in December; her Medicare will begin March 1^st.

• Enroll 3 months after you turn 65, your Medicare will begin 3 months after you sign up.

Had Ann enrolled in January (3 months after the month you turn 65); her Medicare will begin April 1^st

It is so very important to plan ahead, when you are retiring, then you do not have to worry you are doing everything correctly.  We all know that one wrong move and then you could be caught by the famous Part B penalty.

When you are speaking to Social Security about applying for Medicare; ask how you can apply under your husband’s Medicare.  They will schedule an appointment either over the phone or at a Social Security office.  They will advise how to apply under your husband’s work record.  You will need an “original” certified marriage license to verify that you are currently married.

Toni King, author of the new Medicare Survival Guide®, which is a simple guide explaining Medicare is on sale at www.tonisays.com. Email questions to www.tonisays.com/ask-toni or call 832/519-TONI (8664).